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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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Has anyone tried the IRS Direct File pilot program? I heard they're expanding it for 2025 and it's completely free with no income limits. Curious if it's user friendly or if it's basically just like using the forms directly.
I was in one of the test states last year. It's pretty basic but works fine for simple returns. The interface is clean but there's minimal guidance - it basically asks you questions and fills in the forms. No fancy explanations or hand-holding like commercial software. The big limitation is it doesn't support all tax situations yet. I couldn't use it because I had HSA contributions. But if you have W-2 income, some 1099 interest, and standard deduction, it works perfectly fine. And you can't beat the price!
One thing to consider - sometimes the paid versions DO get you more money back if your situation is complicated. I switched from TurboTax to H&R Block last year and got an extra $720 back because their question sequence helped me realize I qualified for the Lifetime Learning Credit that TurboTax somehow missed. So maybe try running your info through a couple different free options before filing?
I've had the opposite experience. I did a test last year and entered identical info in TurboTax, H&R Block and FreeTaxUSA. All three gave me exactly the same refund amount. The difference was TurboTax wanted $120, H&R Block wanted $75, and FreeTaxUSA only charged $15 for state filing (federal was free). Tax math is tax math - a deduction or credit works the same way regardless of which software you use.
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One thing to consider is that even if filing Form 706 doesn't result in tax due, it provides documentation that protects your family later. My aunt didn't file 706 when my uncle passed (thinking it unnecessary since his estate was under the exemption), but when she passed years later, there were complications with proving basis for inherited assets and questions about prior gifts. The 706, even when no tax is due, creates a clear record of asset values and transfers that can be crucial for future tax situations. It's a pain to complete, but worth it for the peace of mind and future protection.
How much did it cost to have an attorney prepare the 706? I've heard it can be several thousand dollars even for straightforward estates. Wondering if it's worth it when no tax will be owed.
We paid around $8,000 for the attorney to prepare the Form 706, which included a full inventory and appraisal of assets. This was for a moderately complex estate with some business interests and multiple properties. The cost can vary significantly based on the complexity of the estate and your location. While it seemed expensive at the time, especially since we knew no tax would be due after applying the DSUE, I now view it as insurance against future complications. The step-up in basis alone was worth documenting properly, as it saved significant capital gains taxes when certain assets were later sold. Some attorneys offer more competitive rates for "no-tax-due" 706 filings, so it's worth shopping around.
Remember that the filing deadline for Form 706 is 9 months after date of death, and you'll need a formal appraisal for any significant assets. Start early! We waited too long and had to file for an extension.
Can confirm this! We scrambled at the last minute and the rush appraisals cost us almost double. Also, make sure to elect portability of any unused exemption even if you don't think the surviving spouse will need it. Tax laws and situations change.
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Excel is fine but honestly Google Sheets might be better for your situation. I created a simple template where I: 1. Made a table with all my common stops and the mileage between each one 2. Created a daily log sheet where I just check boxes for which stops I visited 3. Set up formulas to calculate the total based on checked boxes 4. Added a monthly summary tab that pulls from the daily logs The advantage over Excel is you can access it from your phone when you're on the road, plus it automatically backs up. I've been using this system for 2 years for my pool service business and it's worked great for tax purposes.
Can you share a template of how you set yours up? I'm not great with formulas and would love to see an example.
I don't have a public template I can share, but I can explain the basic setup. First tab has a matrix of locations with miles between each. For example, if you go from Office to Client A to Client B, you'd have those distances mapped. Second tab has dates down the left column, then checkboxes for each stop. I use SUMIFS formulas to add up the mileage based on which boxes are checked. For example, if you check Office→Client A→Client B, it adds those specific segments. The monthly summary just uses SUMIF to pull all mileage from a given month into a neat report. The trickiest part is setting up the conditional logic to only count consecutive stops.
Just a heads up - I'm a delivery driver too and the IRS audited me last year specifically about my mileage deduction. They made me provide: - Daily mileage logs showing odometer readings - Service records showing odometer at maintenance visits - Receipts for gas that matched my driving patterns My Excel sheet wasn't detailed enough and I lost about 30% of my claimed deduction. Whatever system you use, make sure you're recording: - Starting and ending odometer EVERY DAY - Specific business purpose for each stop - Total business vs personal miles
That sounds terrifying! Did you have to pay penalties too or just the additional tax?
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My accountant told me that for small businesses, the IRS is more concerned with you eventually filing the forms rather than hitting the exact deadline. I was late filing 5 1099s last year (by about 3 months) and included a letter explaining that I was a new business owner unfamiliar with the requirements. Never heard anything from the IRS about it, no penalties. Just make sure you're accurate with the information when you do file. According to my accountant, the IRS is mainly looking for intentional avoidance, not honest mistakes by small business owners.
Does your explanation letter need to follow any specific format? I'm worried about writing something that makes things worse instead of better.
The letter doesn't need to follow any specific legal format, but it should be professional and concise. Mine simply stated: "This is my first year filing 1099s as a business owner. I was unaware of the January 31 deadline. Upon discovering my error, I immediately collected the necessary information and am filing these forms as soon as possible. I've implemented a tax deadline calendar to ensure timely filing in the future." Keep it simple, honest, and focus on the steps you've taken to correct the issue and prevent it from happening again. Don't make excuses or include unnecessary details.
Don't stress too much. I've been a small business owner for 6 years and messed up 1099s twice. Once I completely missed filing for a contractor (didn't realize the amount exceeded $600) and another time I filed 4 months late. In both cases, I filed as soon as I realized my mistake, included a simple explanation letter, and never received any penalties. The IRS has bigger fish to fry than small business owners making occasional honest mistakes. They're looking for patterns of non-compliance, not one-time errors. Just don't ignore it - that's the worst thing you can do. File those forms ASAP and you'll likely be fine.
What software do you recommend for filing late 1099s? Can regular tax software handle it or do you need something special?
Any tax software that handles 1099s can work for late filing. I use QuickBooks for my business and it lets me generate 1099s anytime, even well past the deadline. The forms look exactly the same, they're just submitted late. If you don't have accounting software, you can use something like Tax1099.com or even IRS free fillable forms. Just make sure to include the transmittal Form 1096 with your paper submission, as that's required when submitting 1099s by mail. And remember to check the box on Form 1096 indicating these are late-filed returns.
Cassandra Moon
In my experience as someone who's been through several audits, just pay it and move on. If the mistake was genuinely a typo, then amending would show the same result anyway. The $200 interest is pretty standard - remember that money has time value, and you essentially had an interest-free loan from the government for 5 years. One thing to consider: check if your state tax was also affected by this typo. Often errors on federal returns impact state returns too, and you might have a state tax notice coming as well.
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Zane Hernandez
•Good point about the state tax! I didn't even think of that. How long would the state typically take to catch up after an IRS audit?
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Cassandra Moon
•States usually find out within a year after the IRS audit is completed. The IRS and state tax authorities share information, though the timing varies by state. Some states automatically adjust your state tax when they receive info about federal changes, while others require you to file an amended state return within a specific timeframe (usually 30-90 days) after your federal adjustment. If I were you, I'd be proactive and check with your state tax department now. It's always better to address it early rather than let additional interest accumulate if you do owe more.
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Genevieve Cavalier
I had almost the exact same situation! Freaked out when I got the audit letter but it was just a stupid typo on my W-2 transcription. I was wondering about amending vs just paying too.
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Ethan Scott
•I'd just pay it. In my experience, amending old returns is a headache and often triggers more scrutiny. Plus you'd still owe the interest regardless.
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