Dealing with SBBT is like trying to open a jar with wet hands - unnecessarily difficult! I was so surprised by how complicated it got last year. I thought getting my refund would be straightforward, but it was like navigating a maze blindfolded. I finally reached them after multiple attempts and discovered my refund had been sitting in their system for days! They just hadn't updated their website. Definitely call them - their phone system is like having a fast pass at an amusement park compared to their website.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm that calling SBBT directly is definitely your best bet. The 1-800-901-6663 number that Muhammad provided is correct. A few additional tips from my experience: - Call between 8-9 AM ET for shortest wait times - Have your exact filing date and refund amount ready - Ask specifically about "processing status" not just "refund status" - they're different in their system - If they say it's "under review," ask for an estimated completion timeframe The website lag is real - mine showed "processing" for 6 days after my refund had already been approved and sent to my bank. The phone reps can see real-time status updates that don't appear on the web portal for days. Don't waste time refreshing that website every hour like I did! One thing to keep in mind: SBBT can only tell you about their part of the process. If there's an issue on the IRS side, you'll need to contact them separately.

Just went through this with my tax guy and apparently it's super common for Box 7 to be unchecked, especially with loans that have been sold between servicers. My tax preparer said as long as you know it's your primary residence, you just check that box on Schedule A when entering your mortgage interest deduction and keep moving. The only time to worry is if you're trying to deduct interest on a property that isn't your primary or secondary residence, or if you're deducting interest on more than two properties. Then you might run into limitations or need to provide additional documentation.

Most major tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct handle the Box 7 issue automatically when you input your mortgage interest information. You typically just enter the amount from Box 1 of your 1098, and the software assumes it's for a qualified residence unless you specify otherwise. If you're using TurboTax, it will ask you questions about the property (like "Is this your main home?") rather than specifically asking about Box 7. As long as you answer that it's your primary residence, the software will properly categorize the deduction regardless of what's checked on the form. The Box 7 checkbox is really more for the IRS's information processing than for your tax preparation. Your software cares about the actual facts of your situation, not what boxes the lender checked or didn't check on the form.

Quick question - I have a settlement coming up for a car accident. I'm getting about $31k for my injuries and the insurance is paying my lawyer directly (about $12k). My lawyer said I won't owe taxes, but the insurance company mentioned something about sending a 1099. Should I be worried?

Based on what you've described, you're in a good position tax-wise. Since your settlement is specifically for physical injuries and the attorney fees are being paid separately and directly to your lawyer (not through you), you likely won't owe taxes on either portion. The key factors working in your favor are: 1) Physical injury settlements are generally tax-free under IRC Section 104(a)(2), and 2) Attorney fees paid directly by the defendant to your attorney aren't considered income to you. However, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of everything - the settlement agreement showing the separate payment structure, any documentation showing the attorney fees went directly to your lawyer's firm, and confirmation that this was purely for physical injuries with no punitive damages or other taxable components. If you want absolute certainty, consider having a tax professional review your specific settlement documents before filing. Every case has unique details that could affect the tax treatment.

This is such great timing! I was just about to start working on my 2022 taxes and was dreading the cost of tax software. I have a pretty straightforward situation - just W-2 income and standard deduction - so Free Fillable Forms sounds perfect for me. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. The tips about saving frequently and double-checking all the numbers are exactly what I needed to know. And it's good to hear that it stays available through the deadline since I'm definitely more of a March filer than a February filer! One thing I'm curious about - for those who've used it multiple years, do you find it gets easier the second time around? I'm wondering if I'll remember the process better next year or if it's still going to feel like starting from scratch each time.

This is super helpful! I've been using TurboTax for years but my situation is pretty straightforward (W-2, some interest income, standard deduction) and I'm tired of paying $60+ every year for something I could probably do myself. The tip about making a list of needed forms from last year's return is brilliant - I never would have thought of that. And good to know about the math limitations, especially around the actual tax calculation. I'm comfortable with basic math so that shouldn't be a problem. Quick question for anyone who's made the switch from paid software - did you feel like you missed out on any deductions the first year you switched to Free Fillable Forms? That's my biggest worry about doing it myself.

Has anyone used TurboTax Business to file their single-member S corp return? Can it handle the K-1 generation properly? I'm trying to decide between doing it myself or paying my accountant $950 to file it all.

I went through this exact same situation when I formed my single-member S corp two years ago. Yes, you absolutely need to issue yourself a Schedule K-1 even though you're the only shareholder. The S corporation is a pass-through entity, so all income, deductions, and credits flow through to you as the owner via the K-1. Think of it this way: your W-2 shows the salary you earned as an employee of the corporation, while the K-1 shows your share of the business profits/losses as the owner. These are two different capacities - employee vs. shareholder - so you need both forms. The K-1 will report things like your share of ordinary business income, any rental income if you have it, business deductions that pass through to your personal return, and various credits. Make sure when you prepare the 1120-S that you're consistent between what's reported on the corporate return and what flows to your K-1. The IRS matches these up, so any discrepancies will trigger questions.