I upgraded to FreeTaxUSA Pro this year and have mixed feelings about the value. The CPA access was helpful when I had questions about deducting my home internet bill for work-from-home expenses - they gave me clear guidance on what percentage I could deduct and how to document it properly. However, I found their responses were pretty conservative and didn't offer much beyond what I could find in IRS publications. For straightforward questions, the basic version plus some research might be sufficient. The audit support is nice peace of mind, but honestly most people never get audited anyway. If you're on the fence and your situation isn't too complex, I'd suggest starting with the free version and only upgrading if you run into specific questions you can't answer yourself. You can always upgrade mid-filing if needed, which is what I ended up doing.

I upgraded to FreeTaxUSA Pro last year and found it worthwhile for my specific situation. I had questions about reporting RSUs from my tech job and some freelance income alongside my regular W-2. The tax professional I spoke with was knowledgeable and helped me understand the quarterly payment requirements for my side income that I had been missing. What really sold me on the value was when they caught an error in how I was calculating my estimated tax payments. Their advice saved me from potential penalties, which more than paid for the upgrade cost. The response time was solid - usually got back to me within 12-24 hours. That said, for your situation (W-2, investments, mortgage interest), you might be fine with the basic version unless you have specific questions about things like wash sale rules on your investments or complex itemization scenarios. The basic FreeTaxUSA software handles standard situations really well on its own.

I've been through this exact scenario! My Bank of America account closed unexpectedly right after I filed, and I was absolutely panicking about my refund. Here's what actually happened: BoA rejected the deposit within 24 hours (they're super efficient with government deposits to closed accounts), and then exactly 21 days later I found a paper check from the U.S. Treasury in my mailbox. The IRS customer service rep I eventually got through to explained that once your bank rejects the deposit, their system automatically triggers a paper check to be mailed to your address on file - no action needed from you. The frustrating part is that the "Where's My Refund" tool never updated to show the status change, so I had no idea when to expect it. My advice: verify your mailing address is correct on your return, then just wait it out. Your substantial refund is safe - it's just taking the paper route instead of electronic! The investment plans can wait a few more weeks. 💰

I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation and reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful! My Bank of America account got closed unexpectedly last week, just days after I filed my return expecting direct deposit. Based on all the shared timelines here, it sounds like I can expect BoA to reject the deposit within 1-2 business days, then wait about 2-3 weeks for the IRS to mail a paper check. The consistent experiences across different banks really shows this is a well-established process. I'm definitely going to stop obsessing over the Where's My Refund tool since everyone mentions it's unreliable for these situations. It's such a relief to know this is so common and that my refund isn't just lost in the void somewhere! Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences and timelines - this community support is exactly what I needed during this stressful situation. Now I just need to practice patience and keep a close eye on my mailbox! 📬

I'm dealing with the exact same situation right now. When I entered both 1099-Rs in FreeTaxUSA, it seemed to handle them correctly. The one with code H didn't add anything to my taxable income, but it still showed up in the tax forms. Has anyone used H&R Block software for this situation? Wondering if different tax programs handle these Roth distribution codes differently.

I went through something very similar last year and can confirm what others have said - you absolutely need to report both 1099-Rs even though one might be completely non-taxable. The code H form for your $12,000 transfer is straightforward - that's a direct rollover between Roth IRAs which isn't taxable but must still be reported. The form without a distribution code for your $8,500 home purchase withdrawal is also likely non-taxable since first-time home buyer distributions from Roth IRAs are penalty-free (though there are some nuances about contributions vs. earnings). One thing to double-check: make sure the amounts on your 1099-Rs match what you actually received. I had an issue where my old broker issued a 1099-R for the gross amount transferred, but my new broker also issued one, creating a discrepancy I had to sort out. Most tax software will handle these correctly if you enter them exactly as shown on the forms, including all the codes. The key is being accurate with the distribution codes in Box 7 - that's what tells the IRS (and your tax software) how to treat each distribution.

Just to add another perspective here - I ran into this exact same issue with my SMLLC last year and ended up getting audited partly because I was inconsistent with how I handled the 1099s. The IRS examiner made it very clear that for 1099-NEC forms, you should use your LLC name and EIN as the payer, even though it's a disregarded entity. She explained that the "disregarded" status only applies to income tax reporting (where your LLC income flows through to your personal return), but NOT to information returns like 1099s. Think of it this way: your contractors worked for "Your LLC Name" not for you personally. That's the business entity they invoiced and that's what should appear on their 1099s. Using your personal name and SSN can create matching problems in the IRS system and potentially trigger notices for both you and your contractors. One tip: make sure your business bank account is also under the LLC name with the EIN. This creates a clean paper trail that matches your 1099 filings.

This is exactly the kind of confusion that trips up so many SMLLC owners! I went through this same dilemma last year and after extensive research and consultation, I can confirm that you should definitely use Option 1 - your LLC name and EIN as the payer on 1099-NEC forms. The key insight is that while your SMLLC is "disregarded" for income tax purposes (meaning the profits flow through to your personal tax return), it's NOT disregarded for information reporting purposes. The IRS treats your LLC as the actual business entity that made the payments to contractors, so that's what needs to appear on the 1099s. This also makes practical sense - your contractors likely have contracts with "My Cornerstone LLC" not with Jane Smith personally. They invoice your business name, you pay from business accounts, so the 1099 should reflect that business relationship. One more tip: make sure you're consistent across all your business filings. Use the LLC name and EIN for all 1099s, and keep your business banking and record-keeping aligned with this approach. It creates a clean paper trail that the IRS can easily follow.

Sean, I completely understand your confusion - this exact situation trips up a lot of people! The short answer is yes, you absolutely need to report that $650 even without receiving a 1099. The IRS considers all income taxable regardless of whether you get the paperwork. Since your neighbor had you fill out a W9 and paid you over $600, they were actually required to send you (and the IRS) a 1099-NEC by January 31st. You should definitely reach out to them about this - they might have just forgotten or sent it to the wrong address. Here's what you need to do: Report the income on Schedule C (it's simpler than it sounds), and yes, you'll need to pay self-employment tax on it (about 15.3%, so roughly $100). I know that seems like a lot for a weekend job, but it's the law. One silver lining - you can deduct any legitimate business expenses like tools you bought, mileage driving to the job, or even a portion of your phone bill if you used it for work coordination. These deductions can help offset some of that self-employment tax. Don't stress too much about the complexity - most tax software will walk you through the Schedule C process step by step. Better to report it correctly now than deal with IRS letters later!

I went through something very similar last year with some handyman work I did for a few different people. Made about $900 total across several small jobs, and only got one 1099 even though three different people had me fill out W9s. Here's what I learned: You definitely need to report all of it, even the income without a 1099. I used Schedule C like others mentioned, and while the self-employment tax does hurt (ended up owing about $135), I was able to deduct quite a bit - gas for driving between job sites, some tools I had to buy, even part of my cell phone bill since I used it to coordinate with clients. The key thing is keeping good records. I wish I had tracked my expenses better from the start. For your situation, think about any supplies you bought, mileage to/from the neighbor's house, wear and tear on your equipment, etc. Even small deductions add up. One tip: if you do this kind of work again in the future, consider setting aside about 25-30% of what you earn for taxes. That way you're not surprised come tax time. And definitely follow up with your neighbor about that missing 1099 - they could face penalties from the IRS for not filing it properly.