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@liz50 wrote: I keep all my receipts for literally everything - groceries, tools, rent, clothes, all things. This is kind of a two part question because I also want to know, as a nutrition coach who posts content almost daily of what she is eating as part of her marketing plan - is it okay to write off groceries as "marketing supplies?" Or would that fall into another category all together for self employed? For example, if I’m intentionally featuring meals the way a culver menu prices showcases specific items, does that change how those food purchases are treated for tax purposes? Then, follow up to that - do I need to keep receipts for everything I buy for multiple years or just until my tax return is accepted? If I do keep receipts - do I only need to keep them for business expenses? TIA for whoever tackles this! I’m actually in the same boat and have been wondering about this too. I also keep receipts for pretty much everything and get confused about what truly counts as a business expense. The grocery question is especially tricky when food is part of your content and marketing. I’m not sure if it’s considered marketing, meals, or something else entirely. I’ve also heard mixed advice about how long receipts should be kept after filing taxes. Hopefully someone with accounting or tax experience can clarify what’s safest to do. This would really help a lot of self-employed folks like us.

There are over a dozen kinds of 1099's.    Please explain exactly what kind of 1099 you are trying to enter so we can help you navigate correctly in the software.   1099NEC?    1099R?     1099B?    1099E?    SSA1099?   1099INT?    1099DIV?    etc etc etc

@hwiese56    NY?   or a different state?   IF NY:    Check the pictures provided by NY to ensure you are using the right number.   (It's not the DMV-ID number)   Sample Photo Documents | NY DMV ________________________________ Still a no-go?  Customer Support: How do I contact TurboTax?

 @xxxscoobydo2    Check the pictures provided by NY to ensure you are using the right number.   (It's not the DMV-ID number)   Sample Photo Documents | NY DMV ________________________________ Still a no-go?  Customer Support: How do I contact TurboTax?

As MinhT1 said, in your case disregard the instruction about not entering amounts due by April 1.  With regard to amounts due by April 1, omit from the required amount only the amount not taken by December 31 of the RMD year.

Q. Do I have to claim Chapter 35 benefits with my 1098-T? A. No. Chapter 35, Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA) is a stipend-based program only. Therefore, no tuition and fees are covered.   Q.  Do you still have to enter the amount you received or simply $0 since it is a tax-free benefit? A. Answer No, when asked if you received VA educational benefits. 

How to start a new joint return   You will not be able to merge two previous TT account to start your new joint return.  You can transfer ONE of your 2024 returns into a new return, so choose the most complicated one.  The other spouse’s information needs to be entered manually.  The first name you enter will be the “primary” taxpayer——and in subsequent years you need to keep the names in that order—do not try to change the order of the names.     When you enter the primary spouse’s information in My Info, you have to answer the question "Were you married?"  If you click the button for Married, then a drop down will appear that asks, "Do you want to file this return together with your spouse?"  Then you choose YES to file a joint return.  You enter your spouse's information into My Info.  Whenever you are entering income information there should then be a spot for you and for your spouse's income information.  WATCH for the names as you enter income on the screens.  Or when you click to add income it will prompt you to choose which spouse had the income.   When you prepare a joint return you include all the information for both spouses on the SAME tax return.  Include all of your personal information, all of your income from every source, all dependents (if any), all credits and deductions for both of you.  You get ONE refund with both names on it.   And…keep a record of how to access the “old” account for your spouse in case a need comes up to print it or find information from it.  TT will save it online for seven years,  

Here are some things to try.   If using a VPN, try without it.    Or if you can use a wired connection instead of wireless. Do you have any unusual type of router?  Maybe rebooting the router and modem would help

If your return has been transmitted and rejected by the IRS, you can correct your tax return and re-transmit.   If your return has been transmitted and accepted by the IRS, you will have to amend your Federal 1040 tax return.  However, before amending your tax return, do not enter the return and do not make any changes.   If your return has been transmitted and accepted by the IRS, you will not be able to electronically file a second tax return with another service.    Amended tax returns will not be available before the middle of February.  See forms availability here.   If you used TurboTax Online, log in to your account and select Amend a return that was filed and accepted.   If you used the CD/download product, sign back into your return and select Amend a filed return.   See also this TurboTax Help.  

If you already e-filed, you cannot amend this time.     Now you have to wait until the IRS either rejects or accepts your return.  If your return is rejected, you will be able to go into your account and make the necessary changes to your tax return and re-submit your return.     If the IRS accepts your return, however, then you have to wait longer until it has been fully processed and you have received your refund.  THEN you can prepare an amended tax return and e-file or mail  it in. You have to be able to work from that return exactly the way it was when it was e-filed originally.  You will need to use a form called a 1040X.   Meanwhile, DO NOT go in and start changing anything on your return in the system, or you will make a mess for yourself.  Sit tight and wait until you see what the IRS does with the return you just e-filed   The Form 1040X you need becomes available in late February,  But wait until your return has been processed.           As for filing as Head of Household.....if you entered your grandchildren as qualified dependents the software should have offed you HOH as a filing status.   If it did not offer you HOH, then you may have answered some questions about them incorrectly in MY INFO----so when you make changes or amend pay attention to these things:   Make sure you have entered your child as a dependent in My Info, and that you have entered the child's Social Security number.    Careful— do not say that your child’s SSN is not valid for employment.  If your child was born in 2025 make sure you said he lived with you the whole year.  There is an oddly worded question that asks if the child paid over half their own support.  Say NO to that question.   If your dependent was a full-time college student, make sure you were careful on the MY INFO screen for “Uncommon situations” and that you indicated there that they were a student.  

@ml47    That happened for me when I entered some items...then deleted a different charity I didn't use this year.   That's a bug that's been reproted and is being worked on. _______________________ ...what might work,  and sees to work, if you don't want to wait for the software update: 1) open the charities section 2) First, delete any charity you didn't make any donations to during 2025. 3) Exit the charity area 4 )Reenter the charity area, and make a couple "item" donations. 5)  Exit the charity area and come back in again to make sure the "items" stay in there 6)  If #5 is OK, continue to edit in the rest of your item donations. _______________________________ If you made any stock donations...the form 8283 is required in your tax return, and that won't be ready in the software until...eehhh...they say the 28th of January...but might get delayed another full week to ~ 6 Feb.

it won't be taxed differently?    Different states compute non-resident income differently.     You are a resident of Texas.  What is the non-resident state and what is the nature of the hobby income assigned to that state?  Please clarify.

If you receive VA healthcare benefits as a veteran, then you do not have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), and you should answer NO to this question and you cannot contribute to a HSA.   If you have contributed to a HSA, then all your contributions are excess contributions and you have to withdraw them, together with any earnings thereon before April 15, 2026 (or October 15, 2026 if you file an extension) to avoid the excise tax of 6%. Earnings, if any, are taxable as Other income in the year of the withdrawal.

This is not live chat.  We cannot see your screen or your tax return.   In order to get help from the user forum you have to post very specific complete and clear questions and wait for replies.   If you are so confused you need a higher level of help, then you should consider using one of the online "Live" services to get one on one help from an expert.     LIVE ASSISTED https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/live/how-it-works.htm     FULL SERVICE https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/live/full-service/