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Had the same exact problem yesterday! What finally worked for me was disabling all browser extensions (especially ad blockers) and trying in incognito/private mode. Also try switching your internet connection if possible - sometimes it's a network routing issue to their servers. Good luck!
I had this exact same issue last week! What worked for me was logging out completely, clearing all TurboTax cookies (not just cache), and then logging back in. Also try using a different device if you have one available - sometimes it's device-specific. The blank screen usually happens when there's a session timeout or cookie conflict. Hope this helps!
One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're going to claim therapy expenses as medical deductions, make sure your therapist is properly licensed. The IRS requires that mental health services be provided by a licensed professional for them to qualify as deductible medical expenses. Also, keep in mind that if your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that covers some therapy sessions, you should subtract any benefits you received from your total out-of-pocket costs when calculating your deduction. Only the amount you actually paid out of pocket can be deducted. Given that you spent $19K, it's definitely worth exploring all these options! That's a substantial amount that could potentially provide significant tax relief if you can meet the AGI threshold for itemizing.
Great point about the licensing requirement! I didn't realize that was a factor. Quick question - how do I verify that my therapist is properly licensed? Should I ask them directly or is there a database I can check? I want to make sure I'm covered before I claim these expenses. Also, regarding EAP benefits - what if my employer offers EAP but I chose not to use it because I preferred to stay with my current therapist? Would that affect my ability to deduct the full amount I paid out of pocket?
You can usually verify your therapist's license by checking your state's licensing board website - most states have online databases where you can search by name or license number. You can also ask your therapist directly for their license number and credential type (like LCSW, LMFT, etc.). Regarding EAP benefits - if you chose not to use your employer's EAP and paid out of pocket instead, you can still deduct the full amount you actually paid. The IRS doesn't penalize you for not using available benefits - they only reduce your deduction by benefits you actually received. So if you paid $19K out of pocket and didn't use any EAP sessions, you can claim the full $19K (subject to the 7.5% AGI threshold, of course).
This is such helpful information! As someone who also spent a significant amount on therapy last year (around $12K), I really appreciate seeing all the different perspectives and resources shared here. One additional consideration I'd mention is timing - if you're planning to claim therapy expenses for this tax year, it might be worth front-loading some of your 2025 therapy payments into late 2024 if that helps you cross the 7.5% AGI threshold for medical deductions. You can prepay for sessions or pay outstanding balances before December 31st and still claim them for the current tax year. Also, don't forget that travel expenses to and from therapy appointments can also count as deductible medical expenses! If you're driving a significant distance to see your therapist, you can deduct either the actual costs (gas, parking) or use the standard medical mileage rate, which is 22 cents per mile for 2024. Every bit helps when you're trying to reach that threshold. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with the various tax services and tools - definitely going to look into some of these options myself!
This is exactly the kind of comprehensive advice I was hoping to find! The timing tip about front-loading payments is brilliant - I hadn't thought about strategically timing my therapy payments to maximize the deduction potential. The mileage deduction is also a great point. My therapist is about 25 miles away, so that's 50 miles round trip per session. At 22 cents per mile and weekly sessions, that adds up to over $570 for the year just in travel costs! Combined with the $19K in session fees, every little bit definitely helps reach that 7.5% AGI threshold. I'm curious though - for the prepayment strategy, do I need any special documentation from my therapist? Like if I pay for January 2025 sessions in December 2024, do I just need a receipt showing the December payment date, or does the therapist need to specify what sessions the payment covers? Thanks for sharing your experience and adding these practical tips!
Missed tax filings happen! I screwed this up when starting my S Corp too. Be sure to file that zero return ASAP. Quick tip - get a tax calendar app or set quarterly reminders so this doesn't happen again. The IRS has very specific due dates for S Corps that are easy to miss.
Don't panic - this is actually a pretty common mistake for new S Corp owners! Here's what you need to do: 1. **File the missing Q1 Form 941 immediately** - Yes, you needed to file even with zero wages. File it as a "zero return" showing no wages, no taxes withheld, etc. There may be a small penalty, but it's usually minimal for first-time filers. 2. **For your current quarter** - Since you haven't paid yourself yet, you technically don't have payroll to report. But here's the important part: as an S Corp owner providing services, you need to start taking a reasonable salary soon. The IRS doesn't like when S Corp owners avoid payroll taxes by only taking distributions. 3. **Going forward** - Set up quarterly reminders for Form 941 filings (due dates are April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31). Even if you have zero payroll activity, you still need to file. The good news is that since this is your first offense and the amounts are relatively small, penalties should be manageable. Focus on getting compliant now rather than worrying about what's already happened. You've got this!
This is really helpful advice! I'm in a similar situation with my new LLC that elected S Corp status. Quick question - when you say "reasonable salary," is there a rule of thumb for how much that should be? I've been taking small distributions but no salary yet, and I'm worried about getting flagged by the IRS. Should I be looking at industry standards or is there a percentage of profits that's considered safe?
I've been dealing with similar raw land investment tax questions and wanted to share what I learned from my CPA who specializes in real estate investments. The improvements you mentioned (gate, road grading, electrical) are definitely capital improvements that get added to your cost basis rather than deducted currently. This is actually beneficial long-term because they'll reduce your capital gains when you sell. One thing I don't see mentioned yet - make sure you're tracking which improvements are considered "land improvements" versus potential "building improvements" for future depreciation purposes. When you eventually develop the property, some of these costs (like the electrical infrastructure) might qualify for faster depreciation schedules than others. Also, double-check that you're not missing any deductible expenses you ARE entitled to now: property taxes, loan interest if you financed any of this work, professional fees for surveys or legal work, and any legitimate ongoing maintenance costs. These add up and can provide some current tax relief while you wait to benefit from the capitalized improvements. Keep every receipt and document the business purpose of each expense. The IRS is pretty strict about raw land deductions, so good documentation is your best protection.
This is excellent advice about distinguishing between land improvements and building improvements for future depreciation! I hadn't thought about that angle. For someone new to raw land investing like myself, could you elaborate on which types of improvements typically fall into each category? For example, would the electrical installation the OP mentioned be considered a land improvement or something that could eventually be depreciated as building infrastructure? And does the classification affect how you document these expenses now? I'm trying to set up my record-keeping correctly from the start since I'm planning similar improvements to my property.
Great question about categorizing improvements for future depreciation! Generally, improvements that benefit the land itself (like roads, grading, fencing, basic utility connections to the property line) are considered land improvements and typically can't be depreciated since land doesn't depreciate. However, infrastructure that directly serves future buildings can often be categorized differently. For example, electrical lines running to specific building sites, septic systems, or utility connections beyond the main service might qualify for depreciation once buildings are constructed and the property is placed in service. The key is documenting the specific purpose and location of each improvement now. For the electrical work the OP mentioned, if it's just getting power to the property boundary, that's likely a land improvement. But if it includes underground conduit and electrical panels positioned for future buildings, those components might qualify for depreciation later. I'd recommend creating a detailed spreadsheet tracking each expense with descriptions, locations, and photos. When you eventually develop the property, this documentation will help your tax professional properly allocate costs between non-depreciable land improvements and depreciable building infrastructure. The distinction can save significant tax dollars over time!
I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my raw land investment, and after going through this whole process last tax season, I wanted to share what I learned that might help you avoid some mistakes I made. First, you're absolutely right to be thinking about this now - documentation is everything with raw land improvements. The IRS is particularly strict about these deductions because so many people try to inappropriately deduct capital improvements as current expenses. Your gate, road work, and electrical installation are definitely capital improvements that must be added to your cost basis. However, don't overlook the expenses you CAN deduct currently: property taxes you've paid, interest on any loans used for the purchase or improvements, and professional fees (surveys, legal, etc.). One thing I wish I'd known earlier - start tracking whether your improvements are "land improvements" versus potential "depreciable assets" for when you eventually develop. Your underground electrical work, depending on how it's installed, might have components that qualify for depreciation once you build and place rental property in service. Also consider whether you want to explore any income-generating activities on the property (like the hunting leases someone mentioned) that could change your tax treatment. Even small amounts of income can sometimes shift how the IRS views your property from pure investment to income-producing. Keep every receipt, take photos, and document the business purpose of each expense. When you eventually sell or develop, this preparation will save you thousands in taxes and potential audit headaches.
This is such helpful practical advice! I'm curious about the income-generating activities you mentioned - how much income would typically be needed to shift the IRS's view from "pure investment" to "income-producing"? I have a similar raw land situation and was thinking about maybe allowing some camping or ATV use for a small fee, but wasn't sure if occasional small amounts of income would actually help with the tax situation or just complicate things. Did you end up pursuing any income activities on your property, and if so, what was your experience with how it affected your tax treatment?
Aisha Hussain
I had the exact same thing happen to me with H&R Block about 2 years ago! The anxiety was killing me for days. Here's what I learned - their consumer app/website and their professional software are completely separate systems, and the app is notoriously unreliable. What likely happened is the IRS initially accepted your return, then did a second-level validation check that temporarily flagged something minor (could be as simple as a formatting issue or timing mismatch). The professional system your preparer uses gets real-time updates from the actual IRS processing system, while their consumer app seems to lag behind or sometimes shows outdated status information. In my case, it took about 4 days for the app to finally show "accepted" to match what the preparer was seeing. My refund came through exactly on schedule as if nothing had happened. I'd give it until early next week, then check the official IRS "Where's My Refund" tool. If that shows accepted, you're golden regardless of what the H&R Block app says. The IRS website is the ultimate source of truth for your return status.
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Mei Liu
ā¢This is really reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing! The part about the second-level validation check makes so much sense - that would explain why I got the initial acceptance and then the rejection showed up later. I've been checking the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool obsessively but nothing shows up yet, which I guess is normal since it's only been about 48 hours. I'll definitely wait until early next week before panicking again. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Gabriel Freeman
This is such a frustrating situation, but you're definitely not alone! I work as a tax professional and see this H&R Block system disconnect issue multiple times every tax season. What's happening is that H&R Block uses different systems for their consumer-facing app/website versus their professional tax software. The professional system (what your preparer is seeing) connects directly to the IRS e-file system and shows real-time status updates. Their consumer app, unfortunately, sometimes pulls from a different database that doesn't sync properly. The "rejected" status you're seeing is likely a temporary glitch or could be showing an old status from before a successful resubmission. Since your preparer can see "accepted" in their professional system, that's almost certainly the accurate status. Here's what I'd recommend: Wait until Monday or Tuesday, then check the official IRS "Where's My Refund" tool. That's the definitive source - if it shows your return was accepted and is being processed, you can completely ignore what the H&R Block app says. The IRS tool typically updates 24-72 hours after acceptance. If you're still seeing conflicting information after a few more days, ask your H&R Block preparer to print you a copy of the acceptance acknowledgment from their system. That document would be your proof that the return was successfully filed if any issues come up later. Try not to stress too much - this is almost certainly just a technical glitch!
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Oliver Fischer
ā¢Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! It's really helpful to hear from an actual tax professional who sees this issue regularly. I feel much better knowing that the professional system is more reliable than their consumer app. I'll definitely wait until Monday/Tuesday to check the IRS tool again and ask for that printed acknowledgment if things are still confusing. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain what's actually happening behind the scenes!
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