This is such great advice from everyone! As someone who just went through this exact situation with my pottery business, I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me. Since you mentioned you're planning to start in January, consider setting up a separate business checking account right away, even if it's just a basic free one. This makes tracking your business expenses SO much easier come tax time. Every yarn purchase, craft fair fee, and gas receipt for business trips goes on that card or through that account. I wish I'd done this from day one instead of trying to sort through my personal expenses later to find the business ones. It also makes you look more professional when paying booth fees at craft fairs. And definitely keep a simple log of what you make and sell - even just "blue scarf - $25" in a notebook. This helps you track which items are profitable and gives you good records for taxes. Good luck with your new venture!

Great question about business accounts! I actually started with a free personal checking account that I dedicated solely to my craft business - many banks offer basic free checking if you maintain a minimum balance or set up direct deposit. This gave me all the benefits of separation without monthly fees. Once I was making consistent income (around $5K annually), I upgraded to an actual business account. By then, the monthly fees were easily justified by the tax benefits and professional appearance. Some credit unions also offer free or low-cost business accounts for small businesses. The key is having that separation from day one, whether it's a dedicated personal account or a true business account. You can always upgrade later once your income justifies the fees. Even if you only make $2K in year one, having clean records will save you hours during tax season and potentially save money if you need professional tax help.

I've been researching Open Tax Solver myself and this thread has been incredibly valuable! As someone who's been using FreeTaxUSA but getting tired of the annual costs, I'm really drawn to the idea of open source tax software that keeps everything local. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is the consistent accuracy - multiple people comparing against commercial software and tax professionals with matching results is pretty compelling evidence. The security approach of local-only processing actually seems more trustworthy than cloud-based solutions, especially given how many data breaches we've seen with major companies. I'm planning to follow the advice several people mentioned about downloading it now to practice with last year's data. For anyone else considering this approach, I found the Open Tax Solver website has pretty good documentation and sample files to help get started. The GitHub repository that @Emily Parker mentioned also has helpful discussions in the issues section where users share tips and ask questions. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've made the switch from commercial software, do you miss any specific features, or has Open Tax Solver covered everything you need? I'm trying to decide if there are any deal-breakers I should know about before committing to this approach. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this has been way more helpful than generic online reviews!

I've been following this discussion with great interest as someone who's been considering the switch from commercial tax software myself. The consistent theme I'm hearing about Open Tax Solver's accuracy and security approach is really compelling - especially the multiple accounts of side-by-side comparisons with commercial software and tax professionals showing matching results. What particularly resonates with me is the privacy-first approach of keeping everything local on your computer. As someone who works in cybersecurity, I've seen firsthand how vulnerable centralized data storage can be, regardless of how "secure" companies claim their systems are. The idea of maintaining complete control over my sensitive financial information while still getting professional-level tax calculations is exactly what I've been looking for. I'm definitely planning to follow the advice several people have mentioned about downloading the software now to practice with 2023 data before tax season hits. The learning curve seems very manageable based on everyone's experiences, and the long-term benefits of no annual fees plus enhanced privacy control make it worth the initial time investment. Thanks to everyone who shared detailed real-world experiences rather than just theoretical opinions. This thread has been incredibly valuable for someone like me who was on the fence about trying open source tax software. The community knowledge sharing here is exactly what makes these discussions so helpful!

As someone who's been following this discussion closely, I want to add one more perspective that might be helpful for others in similar situations. What really stands out to me is how this thread demonstrates the importance of understanding the "why" behind sales tax rules, not just the "what." When you understand that sales tax is generally designed to be collected once on the final consumer purchase, it makes sense why Colorado treats permanently installed items as real property improvements - the tax obligation is satisfied when the subcontractor buys materials, because they're the final consumer of those materials in that context. This conceptual understanding helps when you encounter edge cases or work in different states. Instead of memorizing specific rules for every scenario, you can apply the underlying logic: Who is the final consumer? When does the item become part of real property? Has tax already been paid at the appropriate point in the transaction chain? For anyone just starting to deal with these issues, I'd recommend taking time to understand your state's basic sales tax philosophy before diving into specific contractor rules. It makes the whole system much more logical and helps you spot potential issues before they become problems. The documentation and systematic approaches everyone has shared here are absolutely essential, but that foundation of understanding the underlying principles makes everything else much easier to implement correctly.

This entire discussion has been absolutely phenomenal! As someone who's just starting to navigate the intersection of consulting work and occasional construction subcontracting, I'm incredibly grateful for the depth of practical wisdom shared here. What really strikes me is how this thread perfectly illustrates why peer knowledge sharing is so valuable - we started with a specific question about Colorado sales tax and ended up with a comprehensive masterclass on subcontractor tax compliance that covers multiple states, documentation strategies, and systematic approaches that you simply can't find in official publications. The key insights I'm taking away: understanding the underlying "final consumer" philosophy behind sales tax (as Jamal explained), implementing comprehensive documentation systems (progress photos, communication logs, project tax profiles), maintaining clear separation between different types of work, and always getting official confirmation when in doubt. I'm particularly impressed by how everyone emphasized the importance of treating permanently installed items as real property improvements - this distinction seems crucial for proper tax treatment and is something I never would have understood without this discussion. The resource recommendations throughout this thread (state contractor guides, various compliance tools, and specific forms for written determinations) provide such concrete next steps. As someone who learns best from real-world examples, seeing how others have successfully navigated these complex situations gives me confidence to handle similar challenges. Thanks to everyone who contributed their expertise and experience - this discussion is going straight into my permanent reference library!

I'm still confused about one thing - if I can't create an online account because of the verification issues (I don't have a credit card or loan), is there any other way to get my transcripts quickly? Will calling the IRS help? And once I get the transcript, how do I know which codes to look for specifically for my amended return status?

If you can't create an online account due to verification issues, you have a few alternatives! You can request transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T (takes 5-10 business days), or call the automated transcript line at 1-800-908-9946. For phone requests, you'll need your SSN, date of birth, and filing status. For amended returns specifically, focus on these key codes on your Account Transcript: TC 971 (amended return received), TC 570 (account frozen for review - this is normal initially), TC 290/291 (adjustment made), and TC 846 (refund issued). The sequence typically goes 971 → 570 → 290 → 846. If you see 570 without movement for over 4-6 weeks, that might indicate additional review is needed. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool online can also give you basic status updates without needing full transcript access, though it's less detailed than the actual transcript codes.

As someone new to this community, I'm really grateful for all the detailed experiences shared here! I've been using a traditional bank for years and always wondered if these online banks actually deliver on their early deposit promises. The data from @Asher Levin is particularly eye-opening - 1.7 days early average for Go2Bank seems pretty consistent with what others are reporting. I'm planning to switch from my credit union (which sounds like it's right on target with that 0.3 days early average) to either Go2Bank or Current for next year's refund. This kind of real user feedback is so much more valuable than the marketing claims these banks make!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the quality of information being shared here! I've been doing research on different banks for my tax refund and this thread has been incredibly helpful. @Asher Levin your data tracking across multiple banks is exactly the kind of objective analysis I was looking for - much better than relying on marketing claims. I'm currently with a traditional bank that always deposits exactly on the IRS date, but seeing the consistent 1-2 day early pattern with Go2Bank from multiple users here is making me seriously consider switching. The fact that @Bruno Simmons, @Zane Gray, and @Haley Stokes all had similar positive experiences gives me confidence this isn't just luck. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences - this is so much more valuable than generic online reviews!