Thank you for bringing this up. I'm worried about rocking the boat too much since I need this job right now. Is there a way to file these forms without my employer knowing it was me specifically? Or would they immediately know who reported them?

Unfortunately, the SS-8 process isn't anonymous. When you file Form SS-8, the IRS will contact your employer for their side of the story, so they'll know you initiated the process. Some people wait until they've found a new job before filing. If you're concerned about immediate retaliation but still want to address the issue, you could try having an honest conversation with your employer first. Sometimes misclassification happens due to ignorance rather than malice. You could share information about proper classification guidelines and express your concerns about the self-employment tax burden. Document this conversation in case you need it later as evidence of when you raised the issue.

I've been using H&R Block for years and they have something similar. The questions are pretty straightforward and it becomes really obvious when someone should be an employee vs contractor. With fixed hours, company equipment, and direct supervision, it's clear-cut employee territory.

Can I really qualify for EITC in years when I can't claim my daughter as a dependent? I thought those were directly connected. My income is around $52,000 if that matters.

With an income of $52,000, you wouldn't qualify for EITC without a qualifying child. For 2025, the income limit for EITC without children is much lower (around $17,000 for single filers). Contributing to retirement accounts is still your best bet. If you can max out a traditional 401k ($23,000 in 2025) or contribute to a traditional IRA ($7,000 in 2025), those contributions directly reduce your taxable income. Even putting in a few thousand dollars would substantially decrease your tax bill. Also, if your employer offers any pre-tax benefits like health insurance, FSA, or HSA contributions, those can further reduce your taxable income.

This is actually really smart advice. I do the same thing - have a different W-4 for years when I claim my kid vs when I don't. Saves me from owing a big amount in my "off" years.

What about if you have limited space? I'm in a small apartment and can't really have "separate" areas - I'll be using the same corner for filming AND my personal workouts. Does that make the deduction impossible?

Having limited space doesn't make deductions impossible, but you'll need to be more careful with documentation. Track usage hours meticulously - note when you're using equipment for business (creating content, client demos) versus personal use. Take photos of your "business setup" with lighting, camera position, etc., then photos of normal personal use. You'll likely need to calculate a percentage based on hours of business use vs. total use. For example, if you use the equipment 10 hours weekly with 7 hours for business purposes, you could reasonably claim 70% business use. Just be honest and have documentation to back up whatever percentage you claim.

This is terrible advice. "Let your tax person figure it out" only works if you've properly documented everything throughout the year. No tax preparer can magically make deductions legitimate if you haven't kept proper records.

Thanks for the suggestion! I hadn't thought about local incentives. Did you find these through a specific website or resource? I'm wondering if there's a centralized place to check for TN-specific programs rather than calling around.

I found most of the local programs through my state's housing finance agency website. For Tennessee, try checking the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) website - they typically list all state and local homebuyer assistance programs. The other resource that was super helpful was actually my county's property tax assessor's office. I just called and asked if there were any programs for new homeowners, and they emailed me a list of everything available. Local credit unions sometimes have good information about these programs too, even if you didn't finance through them.

Do you include regular home maintenance in that spreadsheet? I've heard conflicting things about whether things like a new water heater or roof repairs have any tax implications.

Doesn't the IRS consider this tax evasion? I heard they've been auditing cannabis companies and looking specifically for these kinds of arrangements.

It's not tax evasion if structured properly with legitimate business purposes for each entity, appropriate transfer pricing, and proper documentation. The key is that each business must be a genuine operation with real commercial purpose beyond just tax savings. What the IRS looks for is sham arrangements where the separation is only on paper. You need separate books, bank accounts, operations, employees, etc. It's complex and definitely requires specialized cannabis tax and legal advisors to set up correctly. There have indeed been audits targeting improper versions of this strategy.

It's not just rumors at this point - the DEA formally proposed rescheduling to Schedule III in May. That's significant progress. But you're right to be cautious about timeline expectations. The regulatory process isn't quick. Smart to focus on what you can control with COGS optimization in the meantime.