Lots of comments about keeping good records, but nobody's mentioned WHAT records specifically. For my media business, I keep: 1) Project assignment document from client specifically requesting travel content 2) Dated production schedule showing filming times 3) Final deliverables with timestamps showing they were created during the trip 4) Receipts with business purpose noted 5) Photos of myself working at the location When in doubt, overcommunicate the business purpose in your records. Writing "dinner with client" on a receipt isn't enough. Write "Dinner with [client name] discussing upcoming content calendar for Q3" etc.

The fact that you have a legitimate contract with a travel company client and generate over $100K annually puts you in a much stronger position than most content creators dealing with this issue. The IRS generally looks at the primary purpose test - if the primary purpose of the trip was to create content for your paying client, then you have a solid case for deducting the full business portion of your expenses. For that $8,000 cruise, I'd recommend documenting exactly how much time was spent on business activities vs personal enjoyment. If you were filming content, managing social media posts, or working with your client for the majority of the trip, you could potentially deduct 100% of the core business expenses (your cabin, transportation to/from the cruise). However, any activities that were purely personal should be separated out. The key is having bulletproof documentation. Keep your client contract, content deliverables with timestamps, daily activity logs showing business vs personal time, and detailed receipts. Also consider getting a determination letter from the IRS if you're still unsure - it's better to get official guidance upfront than deal with questions during an audit later. One more thing - since you mentioned getting different opinions from accountants, make sure whoever you're working with has experience with content creator businesses. The rules can be quite different from traditional business travel.

Ugh I feel your pain! I had codes 424 and 810 on my transcript for like 3 months last year. The 424 means they're doing an examination (not necessarily a full audit, just reviewing something), 810 is the freeze, and 811 means they lifted part of the freeze or sent you correspondence. The waiting is the worst part honestly. Have you tried calling the practitioner priority line? Sometimes you can get through faster than the regular taxpayer line. Also keep checking your transcript weekly - mine updated randomly on a Wednesday and my refund hit 2 days later. Hang in there! 💪

Those codes can definitely be stressful to see! From what I understand, 424 means they're examining something on your return (could be income verification, credits claimed, etc.), 810 is the account freeze while they review, and 811 typically means they've either lifted the freeze or sent you a notice. The good news is that 811 often indicates movement in your case. I'd definitely keep checking your transcript weekly and watch your mail for any correspondence. In my experience, once you see that 811 code, things usually start moving within a few weeks. If you haven't gotten any letters yet, they might still be processing. The whole thing is frustrating but try to stay patient - most of these examinations do resolve in the taxpayer's favor eventually!

Question about the TFSA distribution - if I closed my account and transferred everything to a US account like OP did, do I need to report this on Form 3520 every year going forward, or just for the tax year when I made the transfer? I'm thinking about doing the same thing to simplify my tax situation.

I went through a very similar situation with my Canadian TFSA last year and can confirm what others have said about the extension. Form 4868 does automatically extend Form 3520 to October 15th - you don't need to file a separate extension form. For your specific TFSA situation, the IRS generally treats Canadian TFSAs as foreign trusts (unlike RRSPs which have treaty exceptions). Your $28,000 distribution in January 2024 would likely need to be reported on Form 3520 as a distribution from a foreign trust. The good news is that if you're filing under extension, you have until October 15th to get everything sorted out. One piece of advice - consider getting professional help with this if the amounts are significant. The Form 3520 penalties are severe (the greater of $10,000 or 35% of the trust distributions), so it's worth making sure you get it right. The complexity of foreign trust reporting combined with the harsh penalty structure makes this one area where professional guidance often pays for itself.

Watch out for scammers during this waiting period! I had someone call me claiming to be from the IRS saying they could "expedite" my paper check for a fee. Total scam! • Never pay anyone who claims they can speed up your refund • The IRS never calls about refunds without sending a letter first • Don't give personal info to anyone who calls claiming to be IRS • The only legitimate way to check status is through irs.gov/refunds My paper check took 23 days after bank rejection. No way to speed it up despite what scammers claimed.

I went through this exact situation in January! My bank rejected the direct deposit due to a closed account, and I was stressed about the timing too. Here's what actually happened: • Day 1: Bank rejection occurred (I found out through my bank app) • Day 3: Where's My Refund updated to show "refund sent to bank" changed to "processing" • Day 12: Status updated to "refund mailed" with a date • Day 16: Check arrived in my mailbox Total time was 16 days from rejection to receiving the physical check. The IRS customer service rep I eventually reached (after a 2-hour wait) told me 2-3 weeks is standard, but mine came on the earlier side. Pro tip: Keep checking Where's My Refund daily - it will update with the exact mailing date once your check is processed, which helps with planning. Also double-check that your current address matches exactly what's on file with the IRS! Hope this helps with your contractor expense planning - 16-23 days seems to be the realistic range based on recent experiences shared here.

Just wondering if your husband's return had anything unusual that required paper filing? I'm an independent contractor too and have always been able to e-file. Usually only certain tax situations require paper filing.

I'm so glad to see this thread worked out for you all! As someone who deals with tax issues professionally, I wanted to add a few more options for anyone else who might find themselves in this situation: 1. **IRS Form 4506-EZ** - This is specifically for verifying that a return was filed, and it's faster than the full transcript request. It usually takes 7-10 business days and costs $43, but it can show receipt even before full processing. 2. **Congressional inquiry** - If you're really desperate and facing significant financial hardship, contacting your congressman's office can sometimes expedite IRS responses. They have a direct line to IRS taxpayer advocate services. 3. **Tax preparer letter** - If a CPA or enrolled agent prepared the return, they can sometimes provide a professional letter stating when and how the return was submitted, which some lenders will accept as interim documentation. The key lesson here is definitely to always use certified mail or delivery confirmation when mailing tax returns. The $5-10 extra cost can save thousands in situations like this. Hope this helps someone else avoid the same stress!