Do you have to file separate identity theft reports with both the IRS and your state's tax agency? Or does reporting to the IRS automatically notify the state?

You definitely need to file separate reports. The IRS doesn't automatically notify your state tax agency. Each state has their own process for handling tax identity theft, and you need to contact them directly. Most states have a form similar to the IRS Form 14039, but it'll be specific to your state. Check your state's department of revenue website for their identity theft reporting procedures. In my case, I had to submit additional documentation to my state that wasn't required for the federal process.

Can anyone get an IP PIN or do you have to be a victim of identity theft first? I've never had an issue but want to prevent one!

Anyone can get an IP PIN now! The IRS used to only offer them to identity theft victims, but they've expanded the program. You can sign up through the IRS website using their "Get an IP PIN" tool. You'll need to verify your identity through their secure access process. The PIN is a six-digit number that changes every year. The IRS sends you a new one each December/January for the upcoming tax season. It provides an extra layer of security because even if someone has your SSN, they still can't file electronically without that PIN. Definitely worth doing as a preventative measure!

But doesn't the business vs personal use percentage still apply even if you use standard mileage rate? Like if the car was 70% business and 30% personal, wouldn't that affect how the gain/loss is calculated when selling?

Yes, the business/personal percentage absolutely still applies. With standard mileage, you're only claiming deductions on the business portion anyway (your business miles). When you sell the car, you need to allocate any gain or loss based on that same business use percentage. So in your example with 70% business use, only 70% of any gain or loss would be business-related. But remember, the standard mileage deduction you've taken over time has already reduced your basis for the business portion of the car, which is why many people end up with a gain instead of a loss when they sell, even if they sell for less than they paid.

What form did you use to report this? Was it Schedule D or Form 4797? My accountant used Schedule D for my business vehicle sale which doesn't seem right.

This is super helpful, thank you! How detailed do the developer time logs need to be? We track time by project but not specifically by "R&D activity" - would that be a problem?

Developer time logs don't need to be broken down to specific "R&D activities" - project-level tracking is usually sufficient as long as you can demonstrate which projects involved qualifying R&D. The key is being able to show that the projects involved technical uncertainty, experimentation, etc. What really strengthens your case is having documentation that shows the process: initial technical requirements, documentation of challenges/uncertainties faced, testing procedures, and outcomes (whether successful or failed). Failed experiments actually strengthen R&D claims since they demonstrate the experimental nature of the work.

DON'T use TurboTax for R&D credits! We tried that last year and it missed so many qualifying expenses. The software is decent for basic returns but R&D credits are way too specialized, especially with the new capitalization rules. The software doesn't ask enough detailed questions to properly identify qualifying activities.

Do you know if there's any way to get actual human help from TPG if the status seems stuck? Their customer service number just gives me automated responses.

Unfortunately, getting through to an actual human at TPG is incredibly difficult. Their customer service is notoriously unhelpful, even when you do reach someone. In my experience, the best route is actually contacting your tax preparer (if you used one) as they sometimes have direct channels to TPG representatives. If you didn't use a preparer, try reaching out through their social media accounts. I've seen people get responses through Twitter faster than through official channels. As a last resort, if your refund status has been unchanged for more than 5 business days after showing an amount, the IRS might be able to provide more information since they can see if the money was actually sent to TPG.

Is there any way to find out WHY they adjusted it? Mine is showing $78 less than expected but doesn't say why.

I think you might be onto something about the worksheets. I went back through my TurboTax account and noticed that there's an "Explain This" button next to the final refund calculation that I hadn't clicked before. When I did, it showed some worksheet calculations for retirement savings contributions that might be affecting things. How do I know if these calculations are correct though?

The "Explain This" feature in TurboTax is definitely helpful for understanding the calculations. To verify if the retirement contribution calculations are correct, compare the numbers with your actual contribution statements from your retirement account provider. For retirement savings contributions specifically, check if TurboTax correctly applied the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit (Saver's Credit) if you're eligible. This credit can be up to $1,000 ($2,000 if married filing jointly) depending on your income level and contribution amount. Also verify that any deductible IRA contributions were properly accounted for on Schedule 1. Sometimes TurboTax might miscalculate if you have both traditional and Roth contributions.

Yes! This happened to me this year! TurboTax didn't automatically apply the full Child Tax Credit amount for my qualifying children because I had answered a question about custody arrangements incorrectly. Had to go back and fix it manually and my refund jumped by $1,400.