Has anyone here actually maxed out both the employee AND employer portions of their solo 401k? I'm trying to figure out if I can really contribute up to $66,000 for 2025 (I'm under 50) between both parts. My CPA says my employer contribution is limited by my net business profit and I'm trying to calculate exactly how much income I need to earn to max out the entire thing.

Great thread! I want to add one important detail that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're using payroll software to process your solo 401k employee contributions (which some people do to maintain proper documentation), make sure your payroll is processed and the contribution is actually deducted from your pay by December 31st, not just scheduled. I learned this the hard way last year when I scheduled my December payroll to run on January 2nd thinking it would still count for the prior tax year. The IRS considers the contribution made when it's actually deducted from compensation, not when you schedule it or when the funds hit the 401k account. Also, for anyone using a solo 401k loan feature - loan repayments don't count toward your annual contribution limits, but they do need to be made on schedule to avoid being treated as taxable distributions. The loan repayment schedule isn't affected by the December 31st deadline since it's not a new contribution.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Started having problems Friday night and still can't get through as of this morning. Really frustrating since I also had my weekend blocked off specifically for tax filing. What's been helpful from reading through everyone's experiences is that this seems to be a widespread system issue rather than something on our individual ends. I've tried all the standard troubleshooting steps too - different browsers, clearing cache, different devices - with no luck. Based on the pattern people are describing, it sounds like the system might be working intermittently or only during very low-traffic periods. I'm going to try the early morning approach (maybe 5-6 AM) when fewer people are likely to be online competing for system resources. If that doesn't work by early this week, I think I'll have to seriously consider switching to one of the paid alternatives for this year, even though I've been happily using FFFF for the past several years. It's really disappointing that what should be a reliable government service has these capacity issues every single filing season. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and workarounds - it's reassuring to know this isn't just affecting a few of us!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Been locked out of FFFF since Friday afternoon and it's completely ruined my tax filing plans. I had everything organized and was ready to submit, but keep getting those same error messages and loading screen freezes. What's really frustrating is that I've been using Free File Fillable Forms successfully for the past 4 years without any major issues. This year seems particularly bad with the outages. I've tried every troubleshooting step imaginable - different browsers, clearing cache and cookies, different devices, even tried using my mobile hotspot thinking it might be an ISP issue. Nothing works. Reading through everyone's experiences here, it's clear this is a widespread system problem on the IRS end. The fact that it's affecting so many people who had specifically planned their weekends around filing really highlights how unreliable this service has become during peak season. I'm going to try the early morning approach tomorrow (planning to set an alarm for 5 AM) when server traffic should be at its lowest. If that doesn't work by Monday, I think I'll have to reluctantly switch to a paid service this year, even though it defeats the whole purpose of using the free government option. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - at least we know we're not alone in this annual FFFF nightmare!

As someone who recently went through a similar inherited IRA situation, I can't stress enough how important it is to get this fixed immediately. Your advisor made a fundamental error that could have serious tax consequences. When my grandmother passed and left me her IRA, I initially worked with an advisor who almost made the same mistake. Fortunately, I caught it before the transfer was completed after doing my own research. Non-spouse beneficiaries simply cannot roll inherited IRAs into their own accounts - this is IRA inheritance 101. The fact that your account is now labeled as a "traditional IRA" instead of "inherited IRA" is a major red flag. This incorrect rollover could be treated by the IRS as a taxable distribution of the entire inherited amount, potentially creating a massive tax bill for you this year. Here's what worked for me when I had to correct a smaller error with my inherited account: - Contact both institutions immediately and use the phrase "administrative rollover error" - Reference Revenue Procedure 2016-47 which allows self-certification for rollover corrections - Get everything in writing, especially acknowledgment that this was advisor/institutional error - Request expedited processing since this affects your current tax year Don't let your advisor minimize this or claim it's "not a big deal." This is exactly the kind of mistake that can cost people tens of thousands in unexpected taxes. The good news is that it's fixable if you act quickly and persistently. Good luck - you've got this!

This is exactly the kind of situation that makes my blood boil - advisors who don't know basic inherited IRA rules but act like experts! Your advisor made a fundamental error that could cost you thousands in taxes. The silver lining is that this mistake is fixable, but you need to move fast. I went through something similar when my uncle's advisor tried to roll his inherited 401k into a regular IRA. Here's what saved me: First, call both financial institutions TODAY and specifically ask for their "retirement account corrections department" or "IRA specialist." Don't waste time with general customer service. Tell them you need to process a "Revenue Procedure 2016-47 correction for an administrative rollover error." Second, document everything. Get your advisor's mistake acknowledged in writing. If they try to downplay it or blame you, that's a huge red flag about their competence. Third, the correct account title should read something like "Andrew Pinnock as Beneficiary of [Father's Name] IRA" - make sure they get this exactly right when they fix it. You mentioned you were fine following the 10-year rule, which tells me you understand inherited IRA basics better than your advisor apparently does. Trust your instincts here and don't let them convince you this "isn't a big deal." Most institutions will cooperate once they realize the liability exposure from giving incorrect advice. If yours doesn't, escalate to their compliance department immediately.

This situation is unfortunately more common than it should be. As someone who's dealt with similar billing surprises, I'd recommend documenting everything - the timestamps, your previous email exchanges that weren't billed, and any informal agreements you had. The key issue here isn't whether CPAs deserve compensation (they absolutely do), but the lack of transparency. Professional service providers should establish billing expectations upfront, especially when changing their practices. The fact that similar consultations were previously free creates a reasonable expectation that this would be too. I'd suggest having a calm conversation with your CPA about establishing clear billing guidelines going forward. Something like: "I respect your expertise and am willing to pay for consultations, but I need to know rates and billing policies in advance so I can make informed decisions about how to seek advice." If they're unwilling to be transparent about future billing or adjust this surprise charge, it might be time to find an accountant who communicates their fee structure clearly from the start.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now with my tax preparer, so this thread has been incredibly helpful. What really stands out to me is how many people have mentioned the importance of getting billing agreements in writing going forward. One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully negotiated down surprise bills, did you find that your accountants were generally receptive to the conversation? I'm nervous about approaching mine because I don't want them to think I don't value their work, but a $675 surprise bill for what was described as a quick email response does seem excessive. I think the key takeaway here is that while professional expertise absolutely deserves compensation, the billing process needs to be transparent from the start. It sounds like most reputable firms either include basic consultations in their annual fee or clearly communicate when additional charges will apply before providing the service.

This is exactly the kind of situation where getting professional guidance really pays off. I faced a similar challenge when transitioning between employers and found that the IRS rules around FSA/HSA overlap are more nuanced than most online resources explain. One thing I learned the hard way is that even if your FSA balance is zero, you may still be considered "covered" by the FSA during any grace period or run-out period specified in your plan documents. This coverage period can extend 2.5 months beyond your employment end date in some cases. The good news is that once your FSA coverage completely ends, you can start HSA contributions immediately (assuming you're enrolled in an HSA-eligible HDHP). You don't have to wait until the next calendar year. And if you become HSA-eligible by December 1st, you might be able to use the last-month rule to contribute the full annual amount, though that comes with the requirement to remain HSA-eligible for the entire following year. I'd strongly recommend reviewing your severance package and benefits documents carefully to identify the exact FSA coverage end date, including any grace periods. Many people overlook this detail and inadvertently make ineligible HSA contributions.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in benefits administration - this FSA/HSA overlap issue catches SO many people during job transitions. The confusion is totally understandable because the rules aren't intuitive. One thing I always tell people: contact your previous employer's HR or benefits team directly to get the exact FSA coverage end date in writing. Don't rely on assumptions or trying to interpret plan documents yourself. They should be able to give you a clear date when your FSA coverage (including any grace period) completely terminates. Also, keep detailed records of when you stop FSA coverage and when you start HSA contributions. If the IRS ever questions the timing, you'll want documentation showing you followed the rules correctly. I've seen people get into trouble years later during audits because they couldn't prove they had the proper gap between accounts. The silver lining is that HSAs are incredibly valuable accounts once you can start contributing - especially if your new employer offers a match. Just make sure you get the timing right to avoid any tax complications down the road.