OP, I strongly recommend registering as an LLC even though you can file Schedule C. The liability protection is worth it for woodworking where clients could potentially get injured from your work. I learned this lesson after a client tried to sue me when their kid got a splinter from a table I made!

Jessica, congrats on your growing woodworking business! Since you're making substantial income now, I'd also recommend looking into business insurance if you haven't already. General liability coverage is relatively inexpensive but crucial when you're doing installations in clients' homes - especially kitchen work where there's potential for property damage or injury. One more tax tip that helped me when I transitioned my side business: start putting aside 25-30% of each payment you receive into a separate savings account for taxes. Between federal income tax, state tax (if applicable), and that 15.3% self-employment tax Isaiah mentioned, it adds up quickly. I learned this the hard way my first year when I had to scramble to pay a big tax bill! Also keep detailed records of your business activities - not just receipts but also client contracts, project timelines, and communications. The IRS loves documentation that shows you're operating as a legitimate business rather than just a hobby that occasionally makes money.

This is why I always file a paper return. Call me old-fashioned, but at least I know it's been mailed out. 📨

I had this exact same issue two years ago! Turned out my tax prep software had a technical glitch during submission. What I learned is that you should always save/screenshot the confirmation page when you file electronically. Also, most tax prep companies have a "transmission status" page where you can check if your return actually made it to the IRS. I'd recommend logging back into whatever service you used and looking for that feature. If it shows "rejected" or "failed," you'll need to resubmit. The IRS typically updates their system within 24-48 hours of receiving a return, so if it's been longer than that and still shows nothing, something definitely went wrong with the initial submission.

Have you tried contacting your state's banking regulator or filing a CFPB complaint? I was stuck in a similar situation with my Roth IRA transfer and filed a complaint with the CFPB. Magically, my transfer was processed within a week after months of excuses. These banks hate regulatory attention and often have dedicated teams to address CFPB complaints quickly. Just be specific about the timeframes, communications, and excuses you've received. Include all the details about the three accounts and how they failed to disclose this information initially. The CFPB complaint process is easy and can be done online in about 15 minutes.

This is such a frustrating situation, but you have several good options to get unstuck! Based on what others have shared, I'd recommend trying the "direct rollover distribution" method that @Dmitry Popov mentioned. Having the check made out to "Decent Bank FBO Jamal Wilson, Roth IRA" is brilliant because it bypasses the rollover limitations while still letting you physically move the money. Since you now know you have three separate accounts, you could potentially do this for all three accounts simultaneously without violating any IRS rules, since they'd all be direct transfers rather than rollovers. Given how uncooperative your current bank has been (seriously, waiting 3 months to mention you have three accounts?!), I'd also strongly suggest filing that CFPB complaint as @Ava Garcia recommended. Banks typically have 15 days to respond to CFPB complaints, and it often gets you connected to someone who actually has the authority to resolve your issue. Document everything - dates, names, what each person told you, the runaround you've gotten. This kind of behavior from a financial institution handling retirement accounts is exactly what the CFPB exists to address. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops to move your own money between your own accounts!

You can absolutely use a different preparer. I recommend calling your original preparer and simply asking for a complete copy of your return if you don't already have it. Then take that to any preparer you choose. H&R Block charges around $125-150 for basic amendments, while independent CPAs might charge $200-300 depending on complexity. Some preparers even offer free amendments if they made the error.

Yes, you can absolutely use a different tax preparer for your amendment! There's no legal requirement to stick with your original preparer, and given that you already paid $600+ and they want to charge you more for the amendment, shopping around makes perfect sense. A few things to keep in mind: - Make sure you have a complete copy of your original return (all pages and schedules) - The new preparer will need to understand what was filed originally to prepare the 1040-X correctly - Get quotes from multiple preparers - amendment fees can vary significantly - Some preparers offer free amendments if they find additional errors that benefit you I'd recommend calling around to local CPAs or tax services to compare pricing. Many charge flat fees for amendments ($150-250 is typical) rather than hourly rates. Just make sure whoever you choose has experience with amended returns since the process is a bit different from original filings. Good luck getting this sorted out without paying your original preparer even more money!

Another option to consider - instead of remodeling your current kitchen, what about adding a separate small kitchenette in another part of your home specifically for the business? My sister did this in her basement for her cake business. The benefit is that you can deduct 100% of that kitchenette since it's exclusively for business, rather than trying to calculate percentages for a shared space. It might also be cheaper than a full kitchen remodel, depending on your situation. She was able to deduct the entire cost of the installation over time (had to depreciate it), plus all the appliances and equipment. Plus, she keeps her family kitchen separate from her business which makes health inspectors happy!

Great question about kitchen remodeling deductions! As someone who's helped many home-based food entrepreneurs navigate this, here are the key points to consider: **Yes, you can deduct portions of your kitchen remodel**, but documentation is crucial. Since you use the kitchen for both personal and business purposes, you'll need to establish a reasonable business-use percentage. I recommend keeping a detailed log for at least 3-4 months showing when the kitchen is used for catering prep versus family meals. **For appliances**: If an appliance is used more than 50% for business, you can deduct that percentage of the cost. A commercial-grade refrigerator used 80% for catering could have 80% of its cost deducted. **For structural improvements** (countertops, cabinets, flooring): These typically need to be depreciated over time rather than deducted immediately, but you still claim the business-use percentage of that annual depreciation. **Pro tip**: Consider whether any improvements are required by health department regulations for your catering permits. These can often be justified as 100% business expenses since they're legally required for your food service business. The fact that you're scaling up to serve 300+ people shows this is clearly a legitimate business operation, not a hobby. Just make sure you have all proper permits and keep meticulous records. A tax professional familiar with food service businesses would be worth the consultation fee to maximize your deductions while staying audit-safe.