A bit off-topic but if your mom is struggling financially after losing your dad, has she checked if she's eligible for survivor benefits from Social Security? My mom was in a similar situation and the extra monthly income made a huge difference. Might help reduce the amount you need to help with going forward.

Just wanted to add another perspective from someone who went through this exact situation. When my father-in-law passed, I helped my mother-in-law with her bills in a similar way. One thing that really helped was setting up a simple spreadsheet to track all payments I made on her behalf - date, amount, what bill it was for, etc. This documentation became invaluable when I had to file Form 709. The IRS wants clear records of all gifts over the annual limit, and having everything organized made the process much smoother. Also, if any of those credit card charges were for things like prescription medications, you might be able to pay the pharmacy directly going forward to take advantage of the medical payment exception others mentioned. The emotional side is tough too - it's hard to see a parent struggle financially, but you're doing the right thing helping her. Just make sure you're taking care of the tax side properly so there are no surprises down the road.

I just went through the ID.me verification process yesterday and wanted to add my voice to all the helpful experiences shared here! As someone who also dreads technical hurdles, I was really nervous about this whole thing. **What I had prepared:** - The IRS verification letter (absolutely essential - don't even think about starting without it!) - Current driver's license - My Social Security number written on a sticky note - iPhone with full battery - Set up at my desk near a large window for natural lighting **My actual experience:** The whole process took about 32 minutes, but I was being very deliberate and careful with each step. The automated system worked perfectly - no video chat required! The facial recognition worked on the first try, which was a pleasant surprise. **Key insights from my experience:** - The system actually gives you helpful error messages if something isn't working - You can pause and resume if needed (though I didn't need to) - They send email confirmations at key steps, which was really reassuring - The instructions are much clearer than I expected Giovanni, I totally get your concern about not wanting to get stuck halfway through! But honestly, after reading everyone's experiences here and going through it myself, I think you're going to find it much more straightforward than you're anticipating. The key is exactly what you're already doing - being prepared beforehand. One last tip: I actually bookmarked this thread on my phone before starting, just in case I needed to reference any of the advice during the process. Didn't end up needing it, but it gave me peace of mind! You've got this! 👍

Just completed my ID.me verification this morning and wanted to share my experience while it's still fresh! As someone who was also feeling anxious about the technical aspects, I really appreciated reading through everyone's detailed experiences here before diving in. **What I gathered beforehand:** - The IRS verification letter (kept it right beside my laptop the whole time) - Current driver's license - Social Security number written down clearly - My smartphone fully charged - Set up at my kitchen table with good morning light from the window **My actual experience:** The entire process took about 27 minutes from start to finish. The automated system handled everything smoothly - no video chat needed! I was pleasantly surprised by how intuitive the interface was. The facial recognition worked on the second attempt (first time I was too close to the camera). **What really helped me:** - Following the advice here about doing it during off-peak hours (started around 9:30 AM) - Having all documents within arm's reach before starting - Taking my time to read each instruction carefully - Not panicking when I had to retake the selfie Giovanni, your instinct to be thoroughly prepared is absolutely spot-on! After going through this myself, I can say the horror stories really are the exception. The system is actually quite user-friendly once you have everything ready. The peace of mind of finally having secure access to my IRS account was definitely worth the temporary stress. You've absolutely got this! 👍

Hey Jamal! I was in almost your exact situation two years ago - doing freelance marketing work, about $9,200 in income, no formal business setup, and completely overwhelmed by the tax filing process. I totally get that "am I even a real business?" feeling! Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: You ARE already a business in the IRS's eyes. The moment you started doing graphic design work for money, you became a sole proprietor. No registration needed, no fancy paperwork required. For TurboTax, here's exactly what worked for me: - Business name: Just use "Jamal Brown" or "Jamal Brown Graphics" - Business type: Sole Proprietorship - Tax ID: Your SSN (totally fine to use) - Business address: Your home address - Business code: Look for something like "Graphic Design Services" in their dropdown The biggest money-saver for me was tracking expenses I didn't even realize were deductible. Things like: - Adobe Creative Suite subscription - Portion of internet bill used for work (I estimated 30% since I work from home) - Computer equipment or upgrades - Phone bill (business portion) - Any courses/training related to graphic design - Home office space (if you have a dedicated workspace) Don't worry about the missing 1099s - you still need to report the income even without them. Just total up everything from PayPal, Venmo, and checks. The self-employment tax will be about 15.3% on your net profit (income minus expenses), plus regular income tax. But the deductions really help reduce that burden. You've got this! The first year is always the most confusing, but once you get through it, future years become much easier.

Hey Jamal! I'm a tax preparer and see this exact situation constantly - you're definitely not alone in feeling confused about this! The good news is you're already doing everything right by wanting to report the income. Here's the straightforward answer: you don't need ANY formal business registration to report self-employment income. The IRS automatically considers you a sole proprietor when you're working for yourself, even for side gigs. For TurboTax, when you get to the self-employment section: - Business name: "Jamal Brown" or "Jamal Brown Graphic Design" - Business type: Sole Proprietorship - EIN: Just use your SSN (no need to get an EIN) - Business address: Your home address is perfectly fine - Principal business code: Look for "541430 - Graphic Design Services" A few important things to remember: 1. You need to report ALL $8,400 even without 1099s - the IRS can cross-reference your bank deposits 2. Track every business expense you can (Adobe subscriptions, computer equipment, portion of internet/phone used for work, supplies, etc.) - these directly reduce your taxable income 3. You'll owe self-employment tax (15.3%) plus regular income tax on your net profit 4. Consider making quarterly estimated payments next year if you plan to continue freelancing The key mindset shift: stop thinking "I'm not a real business" - you absolutely are! You're providing professional services for payment. That's a business in the IRS's eyes, regardless of whether you have fancy paperwork. Don't let the terminology intimidate you. You've got this!

I went through the exact same thing with my consulting business! Filed Schedule C with zero income and about $8,000 in legitimate business expenses - office setup, professional development, networking events, etc. The loss offset my W-2 income and saved us about $2,400 in taxes. The key thing that helped me was keeping meticulous records showing business intent. I documented my business plan, saved emails with potential clients, kept meeting notes, and made sure my home office was used exclusively for business. When you have a clear paper trail showing you're running a legitimate business (not a hobby), the IRS loss rules work in your favor. One thing to watch out for - some expenses like business meals are only 50% deductible, and there are limits on certain deductions. But overall, yes, you absolutely can and should claim those expenses even with no revenue yet!

This is a really common situation with new businesses! You're absolutely right to claim those expenses even without revenue yet. I had a similar setup with my web design business - worked my day job while building the business on the side, had legitimate expenses but no income the first year. The key is that you're running a legitimate business with profit motive (which your wife clearly has with the contract in place). File Schedule C showing $0 income but listing all the legitimate business expenses. The resulting loss will reduce your overall tax liability on your joint return. Just make sure you can justify each expense as necessary for the business and keep detailed records. The home office deduction is great if that space is used exclusively for business. And don't worry about the timing of revenue vs expenses - that's totally normal for startups. The IRS understands businesses often lose money initially while investing in growth.

One thing to keep in mind is that the timing of your internship (April-June) actually works in your favor for estimated tax payments. Since your stipend will be earned in the second quarter of 2025, you'd only need to make estimated payments for Q2 (due June 15), Q3 (due September 15), and Q4 (due January 15, 2026) if you end up owing more than $1,000. You can calculate your quarterly payment by taking your expected total tax liability for the year and dividing it by the number of remaining quarters when you start receiving income. So if you determine you'll owe $1,200 in taxes on the $4,000 stipend, you'd pay $400 each quarter for the three remaining quarters. Also, since this is a relatively short-term situation, you might consider opening a separate savings account just for your tax money. As soon as you receive each stipend payment, immediately transfer your estimated tax portion (25-30%) into that account. This way you won't accidentally spend your tax money and you'll earn a little interest while waiting to make the payments.

I just went through this exact situation last year with my summer research internship! Here's what I learned that might help: First, definitely ask your internship coordinator about the tax forms they'll provide - this is crucial. My program sent a 1099-MISC with the stipend reported in Box 3 (Other Income), which meant I only had to pay regular income tax, not self-employment tax. For your $4,000 stipend, I'd recommend immediately setting aside 25-30% when you receive each payment. I made the mistake of spending mine first and then scrambling to find tax money later! One thing that really helped me was using IRS Form 1040-ES to calculate my estimated payments. Since you're starting in Q2, you'll only need to make 3 quarterly payments instead of 4, which actually makes it more manageable. The due dates would be June 15 (for Q2), September 15 (Q3), and January 15, 2026 (Q4). Also, since you have a part-time W-2 job, make sure to factor in any tax withholding from that when calculating your estimated payments. You might find that between your existing withholding and the relatively small stipend amount, you don't even hit the $1,000 threshold that requires estimated payments. The key is getting clarity on how your specific program classifies the stipend - that determines everything else!