Navigating Taxes with TurboTax Expert Lisa Greene-Lewis

In this episode of Money Girl, host Laura Adams interviews TurboTax expert and CPA Lisa Greene-Lewis about navigating the 2025-2026 tax season with a focus on maximizing deductions and simplifying the filing process for self-employed individuals and small business owners. Greene-Lewis highlights new tax benefits that could increase refunds by up to $1,000, including expanded deductions for qualified tips and overtime, a higher child tax credit of $2,200 per dependent, and permanent deductions like the qualified business income deduction and Section 179 for immediate expense write-offs. She emphasizes the importance of tracking income and expenses, especially for side hustles, and discusses when and why solopreneurs should consider incorporating—particularly for liability protection and potential self-employment tax savings through S-corp election. The conversation also covers the value of year-round support from TurboTax business experts, the integration of TurboTax with QuickBooks for seamless record-keeping, and dispels myths about audit risks, especially around home office deductions. Greene-Lewis stresses the importance of keeping tax records for seven years and encourages listeners to start organizing their finances now to ease next year’s tax season. Key takeaways include: (1) Act now to claim new tax benefits that can boost refunds; (2) Track income and expenses from day one—even for side gigs—to maximize deductions and avoid underpayment penalties; (3) Consider incorporating only when your business is profitable and has liability exposure; (4) Use TurboTax’s industry-specific experts for personalized guidance throughout the year; (5) Digitize and organize records to reduce clutter and ensure compliance; (6) Don’t fear home office deductions if you have a dedicated space—just document it properly. The episode ends with a strong encouragement to file early and use available tools to reduce stress and increase accuracy.