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Does anyone know how long the IRS takes to process a corrected 941-X? I filed one 8 weeks ago to fix an ERTC overreporting issue and haven't heard anything back. Getting nervous...
I submitted a corrected 941-X back in January and it took almost 16 weeks to get processed. The IRS is super backed up with these, especially anything ERTC-related. I'd suggest requesting an account transcript in about 4 more weeks if you don't hear anything - that should show if they've at least received and started processing it.
I was in almost the exact same situation with my landscaping business last year - overreported ERTC on my 941-X by about $8,000 and got the refund before I realized my mistake. The anxiety was killing me! Here's what I learned: file the corrective 941-X as soon as possible, but make sure you're 100% accurate this time. I actually hired a CPA who specializes in payroll taxes to help me with the correction because I was terrified of making another error. The key is being very clear in Part 4 about what the original error was and showing you're voluntarily correcting it. One thing that helped my peace of mind - I called the IRS Practitioner Priority Service line (my CPA made the call) and they confirmed that voluntary corrections like this are viewed much more favorably than if they catch the error during an audit. The fact that you're proactively fixing this shows good faith compliance. Also, prepare to wait. My corrected 941-X took almost 5 months to process, but it was eventually accepted without any penalties beyond interest. The waiting is the worst part, but you're doing the right thing by fixing it promptly.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through almost the exact same situation. The anxiety is definitely the worst part - I keep worrying that I'm going to get hit with massive penalties or that they'll think I was trying to be fraudulent when it was honestly just a calculation error on my part. Did your CPA mention anything specific about how to phrase the explanation in Part 4? I'm struggling with how detailed to be about the error without making it sound worse than it was. Also, when you say you prepared to wait 5 months, did you hear anything from the IRS during that time or was it just radio silence until they processed it? I'm definitely going to look into getting a CPA involved - this is way too stressful to handle alone and I don't want to make another mistake!
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Has anyone actually found a tax form where self-employed people can claim sick days? I have TurboTax and don't see anything like this mentioned.
The sick leave credit for self-employed people was claimed on Form 7202 for tax years 2020 and 2021. It doesn't exist for current tax years as the program has ended.
Just to add some clarity here - I went through this exact confusion last year when I started freelancing! The accountant was likely referring to the old FFCRA credits that ended, but there are still some things worth knowing as a self-employed person. While there's no federal "sick day" program currently, don't forget about these legitimate self-employment deductions that can help offset income loss when you're unable to work: - Health insurance premiums (huge deduction if you're not covered elsewhere) - HSA contributions if you have a qualifying high-deductible plan - Home office expenses (a portion of rent, utilities, etc.) - Professional development and training costs - Equipment and software purchases Also, some cities and counties have their own programs - worth checking your local government website. And definitely consider setting up a separate "sick fund" savings account where you put aside 5-10% of each payment for those inevitable down days. It's frustrating that we don't have the same safety net as W-2 employees, but building these habits early in your freelancing career will really pay off!
This is really helpful advice! I'm just starting out as a freelancer and had no idea about the HSA option. Quick question - do you know if there's a minimum income requirement to qualify for the health insurance premium deduction? I'm still building up my client base so my income is pretty variable right now.
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I just went through this EXACT situation last month and I was SO STRESSED waiting! 😫 My appointment was March 4th, transcript updated March 10th showing verification complete, and my refund hit my account March 18th. So exactly 2 weeks from appointment to money. The waiting was torture but the appointment itself was quick and easy. Just make sure you bring EVERYTHING they ask for - I saw someone get turned away because they didn't have their social security card. Good luck!!! 🍀
Hey Liam! I went through identity verification just two months ago and I totally understand the anxiety of waiting! 😅 My timeline was pretty typical - had my appointment on a Tuesday, transcript updated the following Monday showing verification complete, and got my direct deposit exactly 12 days later. One tip that really helped me stay sane during the wait: set up text alerts with your bank so you know the moment your refund hits. I was checking my account obsessively until I did that! Also, resist the urge to call the IRS during those first two weeks - they'll just tell you to wait since verification processing takes time. The appointment itself was super straightforward. They just verified my documents and that was it - took maybe 20 minutes total. You're so close to getting this resolved! 🎉
Thanks for sharing your experience, Sophia! That 12-day timeline gives me hope. I'm definitely going to set up those bank alerts - great tip! I've been checking my account way too often already and the refund isn't even processed yet 😂 It's reassuring to hear the appointment itself is quick. I've got all my documents ready to go, so hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from here!
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This has been such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! As someone who's been struggling with STR tax classification for my property in Arizona, I can't thank everyone enough for breaking down the complexity of active vs passive income determination. What really struck me is how many of us were fixated on that 750-hour rule without understanding the other material participation tests. @CosmicCowboy's list of the 7 tests was a revelation - I've been doing substantially all the work for my desert rental property (guest management, maintenance, pool/spa upkeep, landscaping in extreme heat, dealing with Arizona's unique STR licensing requirements) but never realized that could qualify me for active status regardless of total hours. The time-tracking insights from @Connor Gallagher and others have convinced me to start documenting everything immediately. Between monsoon season preparations, managing the property during Phoenix's brutal summers, and navigating the complex web of city/county STR regulations here, I'm probably putting in way more hours than I initially calculated. One thing that's particularly relevant for Arizona STR owners - we deal with a lot of HVAC maintenance and energy management issues due to extreme temperatures, plus pool/spa maintenance year-round. That specialized property management work definitely supports the "substantially all the work" classification. I'm planning to review my situation with my CPA using all 7 tests instead of just assuming I'm stuck with passive income classification. This thread has potentially saved me thousands in taxes - thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and cutting through the IRS complexity!
@Liam Mendez, your Arizona situation really highlights how location-specific challenges can significantly boost your material participation hours! Desert properties have such unique maintenance requirements that many STR owners in other climates never have to deal with. The monsoon season prep and recovery work alone is probably 20-30 hours annually, plus the constant HVAC monitoring and maintenance during those 115+ degree summers. And don't forget about tracking time spent on desert landscaping compliance - many Arizona municipalities have specific xeriscaping requirements and water usage regulations for STRs that require ongoing attention. Pool and spa maintenance in the Arizona heat is no joke either. Between chemical balancing, equipment servicing, and dealing with the rapid evaporation rates, that's easily another significant chunk of participation hours that clearly qualifies as specialized property management work. You're absolutely right that this supports the "substantially all the work" classification under test #2. The fact that you're personally managing these desert-specific challenges while also handling all the standard STR operations (guest communications, bookings, general maintenance) makes a very strong case for active income status. Arizona's STR licensing landscape is particularly complex too with different requirements in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and various counties. That compliance work definitely counts toward your participation hours. Good luck with your CPA review - sounds like you have multiple solid paths to active classification!
Reading through this entire discussion has been absolutely enlightening! I'm currently in the research phase of purchasing my first STR property and had no idea how critical the active vs passive income classification could be for tax purposes. What's particularly valuable is seeing how many different scenarios qualify for active income status beyond just the 750-hour rule. @CosmicCowboy's breakdown of the 7 material participation tests completely changed my understanding - I was under the impression that if you couldn't hit 750 hours, you were automatically stuck with passive classification. The emphasis on detailed time tracking from day one really resonates with me. It seems like many of you discovered you were putting in significantly more hours than initially realized once you started documenting everything properly. I'm definitely going to implement a tracking system before I even close on a property. One question for the group: For those who successfully transitioned from passive to active classification, did you need to amend previous years' tax returns, or does the reclassification only apply going forward? I'm trying to understand if there's potential to recover taxes from prior years if someone discovers they actually qualified for active status all along. Also, are there any red flags or common mistakes that might trigger an IRS audit when claiming active income status for STR properties? I want to make sure I'm setting myself up for success from the beginning rather than trying to fix classification issues later. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences - this thread should be required reading for anyone entering the STR space!
@Oscar Murphy, great questions! Regarding amending previous returns - yes, you can potentially amend up to 3 years back if you discover you actually qualified for active status. I amended my 2021 and 2022 returns after realizing I met the "substantially all the work" test, and it resulted in significant refunds. You'll need Form 1040X and solid documentation to support your material participation claims. As for audit red flags, the biggest mistake I see is claiming active status without proper documentation. The IRS will want to see detailed time logs, evidence of your direct involvement in operations, and proof that you weren't just a passive investor. Avoid round numbers (like claiming exactly 500 hours) and make sure your participation makes sense relative to your property's income and complexity. Other red flags include: claiming material participation while using full-service property management, inconsistent participation patterns across multiple properties, or participation hours that seem excessive relative to the property type/location. The key is having legitimate, well-documented involvement in day-to-day operations. One tip: keep contemporaneous records rather than trying to recreate time logs later. Phone records, emails with guests/vendors, maintenance receipts with dates, and photos with timestamps all help support your participation claims. The IRS is much more likely to accept documentation created in real-time rather than reconstructed records. Start that tracking system now - even your property search and due diligence time counts toward your first year's participation hours!
Freya Ross
As someone who's been lurking in this community for a while but never posted, this thread convinced me to finally join the discussion! I'm a mortgage loan officer and I see this confusion ALL the time - both from borrowers and their tax preparers. The grandfathering rules are actually pretty straightforward once you understand them, but the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created so much confusion that even seasoned CPAs sometimes get it wrong. I've started including a simple one-page explanation of the mortgage interest deduction rules with my refinance packages because of situations exactly like Sofia's. What really bothers me is when borrowers miss out on legitimate deductions because their tax preparer doesn't fully understand these rules. The difference between the $750K and $1M limit can be thousands of dollars in tax savings for people with larger mortgages. Sofia, definitely push back on your CPA with the specific Publication 936 references that Aaron mentioned. And for anyone else reading this - if you're refinancing a pre-2017 mortgage, make sure to discuss the grandfathering rules with your tax preparer BEFORE they file your return!
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Naila Gordon
•This is such valuable insight from someone in the mortgage industry! It's really reassuring to hear from a loan officer who sees this confusion firsthand. I'm curious - do you find that borrowers are generally unaware of these tax implications when they're considering a refinance, or do they usually ask about it upfront? As someone new to homeownership and tax planning, I'm realizing there are so many interconnections between mortgage decisions and tax consequences that aren't immediately obvious. Your idea of including that one-page explanation with refinance packages is brilliant - it could save people thousands in missed deductions or incorrect filings. Do you have any other common tax misconceptions related to mortgages that homeowners should be aware of? I feel like there's probably a whole list of things that people get wrong!
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StarSailor}
•Great question about borrower awareness! In my experience, about 80% of borrowers don't think about tax implications until after closing, which is unfortunate timing. The 20% who do ask upfront are usually either high-income earners with good CPAs or people who got burned by tax surprises in the past. Some other common misconceptions I see: 1) People think refinancing always resets their mortgage interest deduction to current rules (as we saw with Sofia's situation), 2) Many don't realize that home equity loans have different deductibility rules now - the money has to be used for home improvements, not just anything, 3) With cash-out refinances, people often don't understand that only the portion used for home improvements might be deductible as mortgage interest. I've also seen people accidentally lose deductions when they pay down principal aggressively and then later take out a HELOC, thinking it's the same as their original mortgage for tax purposes. The timing and purpose of different loan products really matters for tax treatment. @naila I'd definitely recommend discussing tax implications with both your loan officer and tax preparer before making any mortgage changes - not after!
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Freya Nielsen
As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm currently going through a refinance on my 2016 mortgage and my lender mentioned something about "grandfathering" but didn't really explain what it meant for taxes. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm definitely going to make sure my tax preparer understands these rules. It sounds like Sofia's situation could happen to anyone, and the difference in deductions could be significant for larger mortgages. One question for the group - should I be asking my mortgage lender for specific documentation about the grandfathering status when I close on my refinance? Or is it enough to just keep my original loan documents from 2016 along with the new refinance paperwork? Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and resources. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's so hard to find elsewhere!
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