Actually that's interesting because my partner did have some credit card fraud last year. They had to deal with a bunch of identity theft issues. Do you think that could be causing my tax return to ask for an IP PIN even though we file separately? We've never filed jointly.

Even if you file separately, sometimes these systems can create connections between household members, especially if you've ever shared an address on tax returns. The IRS fraud detection systems are pretty sophisticated and look for patterns across related taxpayers. In your case, it's definitely possible that your partner's identity theft situation triggered additional security for anyone connected to them, including people at the same address. I'd recommend asking your partner if they received an IP PIN and checking with them about any communications they've had with the IRS about identity protection.

This is great advice but setting up an IRS account online is its own circle of hell. They've made the verification process so strict that many legitimate people can't get through it. They asked me for info from a mortgage I had 8 years ago!

Oh wow, I didn't even think about the self-employment tax! This is super helpful - I definitely would have made the same mistake. Do you know if FreeTaxUSA automatically calculates that when you enter 1099 income, or is it something I need to specifically look for?

Yes, FreeTaxUSA should automatically calculate and add the self-employment tax when you enter 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC income that's subject to SE tax. But it's always good to double-check that Schedule SE is included in your forms list before finalizing. The software should walk you through questions about your business expenses too, which can help reduce both your income tax and self-employment tax. Don't forget things like mileage, home office (if applicable), supplies, software subscriptions, etc. Even small deductions add up and can offset some of that SE tax hit.

Good point! FreeTaxUSA's free tier does include Schedule C for business income but might charge for state amendments. Their premium services are still wayyyyy cheaper than H&R Block though.

International Tax Review was incredibly helpful for me, especially their special reports on BEPS implementation and digital taxation. The case studies helped me connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Their transfer pricing analyses are particularly strong - look for their "Transfer Pricing Forum" section which has comparative country practices.

Thanks for the tip about the Transfer Pricing Forum section! I've been struggling with understanding how different countries approach the comparable uncontrolled price method differently, so that sounds perfect. I'll definitely focus on the BEPS implementation articles too - that's an area where our course materials seem a bit outdated compared to current practice.

Don't give up! I was in your position last year. Break it into manageable chunks and focus on mastering one concept before moving to the next. I created flashcards for key treaties and principles and reviewed them during my commute. Also, don't try to memorize everything - focus on understanding the principles and knowing where to look for specific rules.

Thank you! I had no idea about Schedule R - will definitely look into that. Do you know what the income limits are roughly? She's on Social Security plus a small pension. And good point about state tax breaks, I'll check our state tax department website.

For Schedule R, the income limits for 2024 filing (2025 tax season) are around $17,500 for single filers and $25,000 for joint returns in adjusted gross income. Social Security sometimes isn't fully counted in this calculation depending on her total income. Most states with income tax have some form of additional relief for seniors. Some even have specific deductions for medical expenses that don't make it past the federal 7.5% threshold. Your state's department of revenue website should have a section for senior tax benefits or you can call them directly.

I thought Medicare doesn't cover incontinence supplies? How did you get her Medicare Advantage plan to cover them?

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm going to ask her doctor for a Letter of Medical Necessity at her next appointment. And you make a good point about the standard deduction - I need to look at her overall tax situation to see if itemizing would even help. Really appreciate the advice.

Thank you for mentioning this! There are actually some outstanding invoices from his business that I'm still trying to collect. How exactly does the "income in respect of a decedent" work? Does it go on my return or do I need to file something separate?

The income in respect of a decedent will still go on your joint 2021 return if you're filing jointly as surviving spouse. For any payments received in 2022, that income would go on your 2022 return (which you'd file as single or qualifying widow(er) depending on your situation). You don't need to file anything separate, but it's good to keep detailed records of when these payments were received. If any large amounts come in after his date of death, you might benefit from consulting with a tax professional as there can be deductions available for any estate taxes paid on that income. This gets a bit complex, but the basic rule is that the income is taxable in the year received, regardless of when it was earned.

This is excellent advice. Also, for the SNAP question - in my experience helping clients, you should definitely file jointly for 2021 since it'll likely save you on taxes. For SNAP, bring your full tax return but also prepare a simple spreadsheet showing just your income sources separate from his. Most caseworkers will appreciate the clarity.