Is the Earned Income Tax Credit only for people with kids? I'm single with no dependents but I've heard mixed things about whether I'd qualify.

You can definitely qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit without children, but the income limits are lower and the credit amount is smaller. For 2023, a single filer with no kids could qualify with income below about $17,640, with a maximum credit around $600. The income limit increases significantly if you have qualifying children. With the income amounts you mentioned ($32,000 + $18,500), you'd likely be over the limit for the childless EITC, but it's always worth checking your specific situation when you file.

They're definitely hit or miss. The problem is that most free calculators don't account for all the self-employment deductions properly. I've had better luck with the one on TaxAct's website - seems to handle the SE tax calculations better than most.

19 This is really good advice! I work in a college financial aid office, and we do sometimes accept last paystubs as temporary documentation especially in cases like this. We'd still need the official documents eventually, but it can buy you some time with deadlines.

11 Thanks for the additional info! I didn't even think about the paystub option. You're right that the year-to-date information would essentially show the same income information that would be on the W-2. I should have also mentioned that the employer is required by law to provide a replacement W-2, so being persistent with them is important. If they refuse, you can actually report them to the IRS using Form 4852 (substitute for W-2), which also puts some pressure on them to comply.

16 Try the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service instead at 877-777-4778. They specifically help with issues like this, especially when you have a hardship situation like a financial aid deadline. They're usually much easier to reach than the main IRS line.

Thank you so much for this! Quick question - for the mileage deduction, can I estimate based on delivery distances, or do I need exact records? I didn't keep a detailed log but I know approximately how many deliveries I made and the average distance.

For mileage, the IRS technically requires a contemporaneous log (meaning recorded at the time of the driving). But realistically, if you can create a reasonable reconstruction based on delivery records, app history, or even average distances with documentation of how many deliveries you made, that should be acceptable. For future reference, I recommend using a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Stride that automatically logs your trips. For this year, create your best estimation based on whatever records you have - delivery totals, areas you typically delivered to, etc. Just be prepared to explain your methodology if ever questioned.

Yes! The IRS offers payment plans. If you owe less than $50,000, you can easily set up an online payment agreement at irs.gov. For amounts under $10,000, approval is usually automatic if you can pay within 3 years and have filed all required returns. There's a small setup fee (around $31 if you do it online with direct debit), and you'll still accrue some interest and penalties, but they're much lower than not paying at all. Just make sure you file your return on time even if you can't pay the full amount - the penalty for not filing is much worse than the penalty for not paying.

That's really helpful advice - thank you! What kind of documentation would you recommend I keep? Right now I'm just planning to save the wire transfer receipts, but should I be doing something more formal like writing up agreements with my grandfather?

Definitely save all wire transfer receipts, but that's just the beginning. You should create a simple investment agreement document (doesn't need to be fancy) that clearly states your initial investment amount and the terms for repayment. For each payment received, have your grandfather specify in writing (even just an email) what the payment represents - whether it's returning your initial capital, profit distribution, or a personal gift. Keep a running spreadsheet tracking the remaining balance of your initial investment so you can clearly show when you've been fully paid back and subsequent payments are profits.

I have to respectfully disagree with this approach. While filing the FBAR is absolutely necessary if you meet the $10,000 threshold, it only reports the existence of foreign accounts - it doesn't address your tax obligations on the income. The IRS treats different types of foreign income very differently. Investment returns, business profits, and gifts all have distinct reporting requirements and tax treatments. Taking a simplified approach could lead to significant underreporting penalties if audited.

Did you need to include any special notes or memo with your payment? I've heard conflicting info about whether that's necessary.

I did include a note in the memo field saying "Schedule 3 Line 12e Deferred Payment" just to be extra careful, but my accountant said it wasn't strictly necessary as long as I selected the correct tax year (2020). The most important thing is selecting the right tax year since that's how the IRS computer systems match the payment to your account. The memo is more of a backup in case there's any confusion later and you need to prove your intent.

EFTPS has always been one day delayed for me too. Is there any tax software that lets you pay deferred taxes more easily? Trying to avoid using EFTPS altogether if possible.