Anyone have recommendations for legit tax software that has good fraud protection built in? I used to use an accountant but trying to save money this year. Worried about accidentally falling for one of these tax scams the IRS warns about.

Thanks for sharing this - I had no idea the IRS published an annual "Dirty Dozen" list! Just looked it up and wow, there are so many scams I wouldn't have thought to watch out for. The fake charity scams especially caught my attention since we're always getting donation requests. One thing that really stood out to me was the warning about preparers who won't provide you with a copy of your return or refuse to sign it. That seems like such an obvious red flag now but I probably wouldn't have thought twice about it before reading this thread. For anyone looking, the IRS website has a really helpful section called "How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer" that walks through all the credentials to look for. They recommend starting with the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers to find qualified professionals in your area. Definitely bookmarking that for next year!

Anyone know if you should be making quarterly estimated tax payments on donation income? I just started doing this and don't want to get hit with penalties.

Great question! Since you're getting a 1099, you're absolutely right that this is treated as self-employment income. Here's what you need to know: **Yes, you can deduct mileage!** Use the business mileage rate (65.5 cents/mile for 2025), not medical. With your 50 miles round trip twice weekly, that's about 5,200 miles annually - roughly $3,406 in deductions. **File on Schedule C** - Report your donor income and expenses here. You'll also need to pay self-employment tax (15.3%) on your net profit after deductions. **Keep detailed records** - Your mileage log with dates, odometer readings, and trip purposes is perfect. Also save receipts for any other business expenses. **Consider quarterly payments** - Since no taxes are withheld, you may need to make estimated quarterly payments to avoid penalties if you'll owe more than $1,000. The math works in your favor: $7,800 annual income minus $3,406 mileage deduction = $4,394 net income subject to self-employment tax. Much better than paying tax on the full amount! You're doing everything right by keeping good records. This is a legitimate business expense that many people in similar situations can take advantage of.

Ugh I feel your pain! Been waiting since March 2023 myself with similar codes. That 1099-G from Indiana is totally separate from your federal refund - it's just saying you got a state refund in 2024 for your 2023 taxes, which you might need to report as income on your 2024 federal return if you itemized deductions. It has nothing to do with your federal refund delay. The 571/290 codes are actually good signs though - means they released a hold and made an adjustment. You should hopefully see movement soon! 🤞

I totally feel your frustration! Been in a similar situation myself. Those codes 571 and 290 are actually good signs - the 571 means they released a previous hold on your account, and 290 indicates they made some kind of adjustment to your return. This usually means your refund is in the final stages of processing. Regarding the Indiana 1099-G, that's completely separate from your federal refund delay. Since you received a state refund in 2024 for your 2023 taxes, Indiana is required to send you this form. If you itemized deductions on your 2023 federal return and claimed state tax payments, you might need to report some of that $1106 refund as income on your 2024 federal return (the one you'll file this year). The federal delay with those codes typically resolves within 2-4 weeks, so hopefully you'll see that 846 refund code with a DDD soon! Keep checking your transcript rather than WMR - it's more accurate. Hang in there! 💪

Whatever u do DONT IGNORE IT! Thats the worst thing u can do frfr. Stay on top of it and youll be fine

Had a similar CP75 audit situation last year - they definitely won't take your wages right away. The IRS has to go through a whole process before garnishment. First they'll send more notices, then offer payment plans. If you do owe the $9,193, they'll likely offset your 2024 refund first before considering wage garnishment. The key is responding to the audit with all your documentation - school records for your kids, proof they lived with you, income verification, etc. Don't let the scary language freak you out too much, just gather your paperwork and respond within 30 days. You got this! 💪

I encountered this exact same situation! TurboTax is really buggy with amended returns. When I e-filed mine through TT, it also gave me a 1040-V even though I was due a refund of about $340. I ignored it completely and still got my refund (though it took almost 4 months to arrive).

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Filed my amended return last week and got that confusing 1040-V message even though I'm expecting a refund of around $450. It's so frustrating when the software gives you contradictory information. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - sounds like this is a common TurboTax glitch and I can safely ignore the payment voucher request since my 1040-X clearly shows a refund amount on line 20. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's encountered this confusing situation. Now I just need to be patient and wait for the processing... though hearing it can take 4+ months is pretty discouraging!