That's actually a really smart idea I hadn't considered. If I added my personal vehicle to the fleet part-time, would I need to list it on all my rental sites/apps? And is there a minimum amount of time it needs to be available for rent to qualify?

You would need to make it legitimately available for rent, which typically means listing it on whatever platforms you use for your other rentals. There's no specific minimum time requirement in the tax code, but you need to be able to demonstrate genuine business intent and availability. What I do is block out certain days/times when I need the vehicle personally, but leave it available for rental during other periods. Then I keep detailed records showing when it was in service for the business versus personal use. This creates a clear paper trail showing business intent. Just make sure your business insurance covers this arrangement - that's often the biggest hurdle.

My CPA tried to use Section 179 for my business vehicle last year (a high-end SUV) and we got flagged for audit. Make sure the vehicle qualifies - has to be over 6000 lbs GVWR for the higher limits and you need to use it >50% for business which you have to be able to prove.

Thanks for suggesting this! Do they handle more complex situations like investment income or HSA contributions? I've got both this year and keep running into "upgrade required" walls with the free options I've tried.

They handled my HSA contributions with no problem on the free version. For investments, they cover basic investment income reporting (interest, dividends, capital gains) without upgrading. The only time you might hit a paywall is if you have rental property income or very complex investment situations. Their interface isn't as slick as TurboTax but it's straightforward enough. Just make sure you access it through the IRS Free File portal to guarantee you get the fully free version with state included.

This!!! The tax prep companies are so sneaky. There's actually two completely different "free" versions of most tax software - the truly free ones through the IRS Free File program and the "free" ones advertised on their websites that almost always end up charging you for something.

Thanks! I hadn't even thought about deducting expenses. I definitely buy my own cleaning supplies and drive about 15 miles round trip to her house each time. How do I calculate the phone deduction though? I do text with her about scheduling.

For mileage, keep a log of each trip with the date and miles driven. The deduction for 2023 was 65.5 cents per mile, which adds up quickly. So your 15-mile round trip would be worth about $9.83 in deductions each time. For the phone, you need to figure out what percentage you use it for business. If about 20% of your phone use is for coordinating cleaning jobs, you can deduct 20% of your phone bill. Just be reasonable with the estimate and keep your bills as documentation.

This is exactly what I was thinking! The aunt is definitely trying to write off personal home cleaning as a business expense. I had a client try to do this with me for babysitting her kids at her home office.

This is super helpful! I didn't even think about contacting my employer directly. Would a PDF copy be considered an official document for tax filing purposes? I always assumed the IRS needed the original paper copy with all those special markings.

A PDF copy from your employer is absolutely valid for tax filing purposes! The IRS accepts electronic copies of W-2s, and you don't need to submit the actual physical form unless specifically requested (which is rare). Most people file electronically now anyway, so you'd just enter the information from your W-2 into whatever tax software you're using. The physical form with special markings is mostly a security feature to prevent forgery, but when you're getting it directly from your employer electronically, that's not a concern for the IRS.

I use Earth Class Mail for this exact purpose! They give you a mailing address, collect your mail, scan the outside of each envelope, and then you decide whether they should open and scan the contents, forward the mail, or shred it. Super useful for traveling. The only downside is cost - it's like $20-30/month depending on the plan. But for a 4-month trip during tax season when you need important documents, it could be worth it.

I tried to set up an online account but it required some credit card info that I don't have because I only use a debit card. Is there another way to access this info?

You can request your tax transcripts by mail using Form 4506-T if you can't create an online account. Another option is to visit a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person - just call 844-545-5640 to schedule an appointment. They can print your transcripts right there. You can also call the IRS transcript request line at 800-908-9946 to have transcripts mailed to your address on record. Just be sure your current address is updated with the IRS first.

What's the difference between an account transcript and return transcript? I always thought they were the same thing.