I'm probably too late to help the original poster, but for anyone else wondering: YES it's worth it! We missed out on over $800 in deductions using the free version when we had our first kid because it didn't properly account for some dependent care expenses. Learned our lesson and upgraded the next year. The $30 is nothing compared to the potential refund increase. Plus version also saves your returns longer which is helpful for new parents who might need tax records for childcare assistance programs, mortgage refinancing, etc.

Congrats on the new house and baby! Based on your situation, I'd definitely recommend upgrading to H&R Block Plus. With mortgage interest, property taxes, and a new dependent, you're looking at several deductions that the free version just doesn't handle well. The mortgage interest deduction alone could save you hundreds - especially in your first year of homeownership when most of your payments go toward interest. And with a baby, you'll want to make sure you're getting the full Child Tax Credit ($2,000) plus any childcare credits if applicable. I was in a similar boat two years ago and tried to stick with the free version to save money. Big mistake - I ended up having to amend my return when I realized I'd missed claiming several hundred in property tax deductions. The Plus version walks you through all the homeowner stuff step by step, which is super helpful when you're filing as a new homeowner for the first time. The $30 is honestly a small price to pay for the peace of mind that you're not leaving money on the table, especially with all the major life changes you've had this year!

For what it's worth, I always select "LLC" first, then include a note that says "LLC with S-Corporation tax election" whenever possible. Most forms aren't designed with the nuance of tax elections in mind. On government forms like census surveys or regulatory filings, there's usually an "other" option where you can write in "LLC taxed as S-Corporation" if it seems important for that particular form.

I run into this all the time with clients. The real issue is that forms are designed by people who don't understand the distinction between legal entity type and tax status. Here's what I tell my clients: - Secretary of State filings: Always "LLC" - IRS filings: "S-Corporation" (Form 1120-S) - Loan applications: "LLC" with note about S-Corp election - Insurance applications: "LLC" - Contracts: "LLC" with full legal name including "LLC" What matters is understanding what the form is asking for and why they need to know.

With your income at $580k, you're definitely going to be phased out of the Child Tax Credit completely. The phaseout for single filers starts at $200,000 and you'd lose the entire credit well before your income level. Your wife at $35k would get the full $2,000 credit, so she should absolutely be the one claiming your child. Also worth noting - if your wife qualifies for Head of Household status (which she might if she's paying more than half the household costs for her and the child), that filing status comes with better tax brackets and a higher standard deduction than single. This could save her even more money beyond just the Child Tax Credit. Don't forget about the Child and Dependent Care Credit for your daycare expenses too! Same logic applies - it's also income-limited, so having your wife claim those expenses will likely result in a bigger benefit than if you tried to claim them.

This is a really smart question to ask! Given your income levels, you're absolutely right that your wife should claim the child. With your $580k income, you're completely phased out of the Child Tax Credit (the phaseout starts at $200k for single filers), while your wife at $35k would get the full $2,000 credit. One additional consideration - since you mention you cover more household expenses, make sure you're both clear on who can legitimately claim Head of Household status. The person claiming the child as a dependent must also be paying more than half the costs of maintaining the home to qualify for HOH. If you're covering most expenses but your wife is claiming the child, she might not meet the HOH requirements and would need to file as single. You might want to consider documenting who pays for what household expenses, or potentially restructuring how you split costs if it makes sense tax-wise. Sometimes shifting some bill payments to the lower-income partner can help them qualify for HOH status, which provides better tax rates and a higher standard deduction on top of the Child Tax Credit savings. Also definitely look into the Child and Dependent Care Credit for your daycare costs - same income limitation logic applies there too!

FYI for anyone still dealing with this - I found out TurboTax is actually sending out multiple discount emails ranging from 15-25% off. I got a 20% one and my husband got a 25% for the exact same product! So if you're filing jointly, check both your emails to see who got the better discount. They're obviously just throwing different offers out there to see what sticks. Classic TurboTax game playing...

This is such a common issue every tax season! I had the same problem with my TurboTax discount email last month. What worked for me was clearing my browser cache and cookies, then trying the link again in an incognito/private browsing window. Sometimes their tracking cookies get messed up and prevent the discount from loading properly. Also, make sure you're not using any ad blockers or privacy extensions that might be interfering with the redirect. I had to temporarily disable uBlock Origin for the TurboTax site to get my discount to work. If none of that helps, definitely call their support line like Connor suggested - they seem to be aware this is a widespread issue and have been pretty good about manually applying the discounts when the links don't work.

Has anyone here dealt with inheriting an IRA? I just got one from my grandfather and I'm totally confused about the RMDs (required minimum distributions) and how they're taxed. Some people told me I have to empty it within 10 years now?

You're absolutely right to feel relieved! Just to reinforce what others have said - inheritance money is generally not taxable income to the beneficiary. The $35,000 you received was already subject to any applicable estate taxes at your grandmother's estate level (though most estates don't owe federal estate tax unless they're over $12+ million). Using the money to pay off debt and make home repairs was actually a smart financial move. Paying off high-interest debt like credit cards gives you a guaranteed "return" equal to whatever interest rate you were paying. And neither debt payments nor basic home repairs create any tax consequences for you. The only time you'd need to worry about taxes related to inheritance is if the inherited assets generate income after you receive them (like rental income from property, dividends from stocks, or interest from savings accounts). Since you used the cash right away, there's no ongoing tax implications. You don't need to amend your return, and the IRS won't come after you for properly handling an inheritance!