I'm going through this exact same situation! Sent my check on April 14th and it's been 13 days now with no clearing. This thread has been such a lifesaver - I was genuinely starting to panic that my payment got lost or that there was some issue with my account. It's really reassuring to see so many people experiencing these same processing delays this year. The shift from the usual 2-3 day clearing to these extended 2-3 week wait times is such a dramatic change from previous tax seasons. I had no idea the IRS was dealing with such widespread paper processing backlogs. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about setting up bank alerts instead of obsessively checking my account balance multiple times throughout the day. That should help reduce the stress of constantly wondering if something went wrong with my payment. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences here - it's incredibly comforting to know this is a widespread IRS processing issue affecting many taxpayers this season and not something specific to our individual payments. This experience has definitely convinced me to switch to electronic payments next year for the peace of mind that comes with instant confirmation!

I'm experiencing the exact same delays! Sent my check on April 20th and it's been 7 days now with no movement in my bank account. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I was starting to worry that my payment got lost in the mail or that I had made some error with the envelope. It's really helpful to see so many people sharing their timelines and confirming that these processing delays are widespread this year. The shift from the usual quick 2-3 day clearing to these extended 2-3 week wait times is definitely a change from previous tax seasons when checks would process almost immediately. I'm going to take everyone's advice about setting up bank alerts instead of obsessively checking my account balance throughout the day. That should help reduce the stress of constantly wondering if something went wrong. Thanks to everyone for documenting their experiences here - it's so comforting to know this is a widespread IRS processing issue affecting many taxpayers this season and not something specific to our individual payments. This experience is definitely making electronic payments look very appealing for next year to avoid this kind of anxiety!

Just to add another perspective - I've been dealing with similar confusion about deductions for years! What really helped me was setting up a simple system to track everything throughout the year instead of scrambling at tax time. I keep a basic spreadsheet with columns for date, amount, and type of expense (charitable donations, business meals if applicable, etc.). Even if I end up taking the standard deduction, at least I have the data to make an informed choice. One thing that surprised me was learning that volunteer mileage for charitable organizations IS deductible at 14 cents per mile if you itemize. So if you drive to volunteer at your local food bank or animal shelter, those miles count! It's not much per mile, but it can add up if you volunteer regularly. The key is just being organized about it - whether you use a spreadsheet, app, or even just a shoebox for receipts, having some system in place makes tax season so much less stressful.

This is such a helpful thread! I had the exact same misconception about restaurant tips being deductible. It's disappointing to learn they're not, but at least now I know the facts. One thing I'm curious about - several people mentioned using tax software that automatically calculates whether to itemize or take the standard deduction. For those who've used these tools, do they also help you track deductible expenses throughout the year, or do you still need to maintain your own records? I'm thinking about getting more organized with my financial tracking for next year, especially after reading about all the volunteer-related deductions I might have been missing out on. Any recommendations for apps or methods that make it easy to categorize expenses as you go rather than trying to sort everything out during tax season?

One more important consideration that hasn't been mentioned - make sure you and your brother-in-law are on the same page about tax elections before you finalize everything. When you convert to a partnership, you'll have options for how profits and losses are allocated that go beyond just your ownership percentages. For example, you might want to allocate more of the depreciation deductions to the partner in a higher tax bracket, or structure guaranteed payments for the managing partner. Also, consider whether you want to make a Section 754 election, which can be beneficial for basis adjustments when partners join or leave. It's easier to make this election early rather than trying to add it later. I'd strongly recommend having a tax professional review your partnership agreement before you sign it. The 60/40 split sounds straightforward, but there are a lot of nuances in partnership taxation that can bite you if not handled properly from the start.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm going through a similar conversion process right now and wanted to add a few things I've learned from my attorney and CPA that might help others: 1. **Timing matters for tax purposes** - If you're converting mid-year, you'll need to decide whether to make the partnership election effective from the beginning of the tax year or from the date the new member joins. This affects how you'll file your taxes for that year. 2. **Capital account tracking** - Make sure your operating agreement includes proper capital account provisions. The IRS requires partnerships to maintain capital accounts for each partner, and these need to follow specific rules to avoid complications. 3. **State franchise taxes** - Some states charge different franchise taxes for partnerships vs. single-member LLCs. In my state (Texas), multi-member LLCs are subject to franchise tax while single-member LLCs are not. 4. **Employment tax considerations** - If you were previously treating yourself as a sole proprietor for self-employment tax purposes, this changes significantly when you become a partnership. Partners generally aren't employees, so you'll still pay self-employment tax on your distributive share, but the mechanics are different. The conversion process has definitely been more complex than I initially thought, but having the right professional guidance has made it much smoother. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I was in almost the exact situation last year! We decided to get married in December and it saved us about $3,800 in taxes by filing jointly. The higher standard deduction and better tax brackets made a huge difference with one income. Plus with the house purchase, we were able to deduct mortgage interest which was another bonus. Just my real-world experience!

Brooklyn, based on your situation, getting married before the end of the year would almost certainly benefit you tax-wise! With your boyfriend earning $95k as the sole income and you staying home with 3 kids, you'd likely see significant savings by filing married jointly. Here's why: You'd get the higher married standard deduction ($27,700 vs $13,850 for single), better tax brackets that favor married couples with one income, and potentially maximize your child tax credits. The new home purchase adds another layer of potential benefits through mortgage interest deduction. The key thing everyone's mentioned is true - if you marry anytime in December, you're considered married for the entire 2024 tax year. So even a December 31st wedding counts! From what others have shared here, people in similar situations have saved $3,000-4,000 by making this switch. Since you mentioned waiting to hear back from a tax professional, you might want to try one of the tools others recommended to get a quick analysis of your specific numbers while you wait. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

As someone who works in tax compliance, I want to add a crucial point that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're going to claim massage therapy as a business expense, make sure you're consistent with how you treat ALL your health-related expenses. The IRS looks for patterns during audits. If you're deducting massages as business expenses but claiming other work-related health costs (like ergonomic equipment, supportive shoes, etc.) as medical expenses, it could raise red flags. Pick one classification strategy and stick with it across all similar expenses. Also, since you mentioned you're a hairdresser - if you rent a booth or chair rather than being a direct employee, you're likely self-employed and would have much better luck with the business expense route on Schedule C. Employee hairdressers have very limited options for unreimbursed employee expenses after the 2017 tax changes. Keep receipts, document the connection to your work, and consider having your chiropractor write a brief letter explaining how regular massage prevents work-related injuries in your specific profession. That documentation could be invaluable if you're ever questioned about these deductions.

I'm a massage therapist who works with a lot of professionals in physically demanding jobs like hairdressers, and I wanted to add some perspective from the provider side. When clients ask me about tax deductions, I always recommend they get documentation before we start regular sessions. I can write a detailed treatment plan that specifically addresses work-related muscular issues and prevention of repetitive stress injuries. This creates a paper trail from day one rather than trying to justify it retroactively. For hairdressers specifically, I document how the treatment addresses cervical strain from looking down at clients, shoulder impingement from extended arm positioning, and lower back tension from prolonged standing. The more specific the documentation connects to your actual job duties, the stronger your case becomes. One thing I've noticed - clients who treat these sessions as preventive maintenance rather than just relaxation tend to have better success with deductions. Keep a brief log after each session noting which work-related issues were addressed and how it helps you maintain your productivity. The IRS seems to respond better to "this prevents injury that would stop me from working" rather than "this makes me feel better.