Anyone else notice TurboTax keeps pushing their "live expert" add-on now? I tried it last year and it was... meh. The "expert" seemed to just be reading from the same help screens I could access myself.

I made the jump from TurboTax to a CPA when my income hit around $160k, and honestly wish I'd done it sooner. The biggest eye-opener wasn't just finding more deductions, but learning about tax strategies I never even knew existed. My CPA showed me how to optimize my 401k contributions, set up a backdoor Roth IRA (which TurboTax never suggested), and restructure some investments to be more tax-efficient. The first year alone, these strategies saved me more than double what I paid in CPA fees. At your income level, you're probably hitting some phase-out thresholds for certain deductions and credits that TurboTax might not explain clearly. A good tax pro can walk you through these and help you plan ahead for next year too. Even if you decide to go back to software later, having a professional review your situation once during this big income change could be really valuable.

I completely understand your anxiety about this - the "jeopardy" language is definitely designed to get your attention! Here's what I'd recommend based on your situation: **Don't wait** - even though you're only waiting for one W2, that lien/levy notice means the IRS is ready to take action. A few key points: 1. **Call the IRS immediately** at the number on your notice. Explain you're waiting for a missing W2 and plan to file soon. They can often put a temporary hold (60-90 days) on collection actions. 2. **Request your wage transcript** from IRS.gov while you wait - this shows all reported W2 info and might have enough detail to file without the physical W2. 3. **Set up a minimal payment plan** if you can't reach them by phone. Even $25/month stops collection and shows good faith. Online setup is only $31 vs $107 by phone. The key thing is **communication** - the IRS doesn't know you plan to pay with your refund. From their perspective, you're just ignoring a debt. Once you make contact and explain your situation, they're usually reasonable about working with you. Don't risk a lien on your credit report over $650 - it's not worth the long-term damage for a relatively small amount. Take action today!

I had almost this exact same situation last year - owed about $700 and got that scary "jeopardy" notice while waiting for a delayed 1099 from a freelance gig. The language in those notices is definitely designed to get you moving fast! Here's what worked for me: I called the IRS number on the notice (took about 2 hours on hold, but I got through). The agent was actually really understanding when I explained I was just waiting for tax documents. She put a 90-day collection hold on my account, which gave me plenty of time to get everything sorted out. The key thing they told me is that once you receive that "lien/levy warning," you're basically at the final stage before they take action. They don't know you're planning to use your refund to pay it off - from their system, it just looks like you're ignoring the debt. Don't stress too much about the $650 amount, but definitely don't ignore the timeline. Even setting up a $25/month payment plan online would stop the collection process immediately if you can't get through by phone. You can always pay it off in full once you file and get your refund. The worst thing you can do is nothing - I've seen people end up with liens over tiny amounts just because they thought it wasn't worth dealing with. Take care of it this week!

I went through this exact situation when I married my husband who had tax debt from 2019-2020. The key thing to understand is that you won't become personally liable for her pre-marriage debt, but the IRS absolutely can and will take your joint refund to pay it off. Here's what I learned: First, definitely file Form 8379 with your joint return if you're expecting a refund. This protects your portion based on your income, withholding, and credits. Second, consider doing a "tax projection" calculation - sometimes the tax savings from filing jointly are so significant that even losing part of your refund to her debt, you still come out ahead compared to filing separately. One thing that caught me off guard was that the IRS applied our entire refund to my husband's debt initially, even though I had filed Form 8379. It took about 4 months to get my portion back. So if you need that money quickly, plan accordingly. Also, make sure your wife is current on any payment plans for her debt - if she's in default, it can complicate things further. The innocent spouse provisions protect you from liability, but they don't protect your refund from offset. Those are two different things that people often confuse. Good luck!

This is such a common worry for newlyweds! I went through the same anxiety when my spouse disclosed their tax debt after we got engaged. The short answer is no - you won't become liable for tax debt that existed before your marriage. However, the IRS can still grab your joint refund to pay toward that debt. Here's my advice based on what worked for us: Calculate whether filing jointly still saves you money even after losing part of your refund. In many cases, the tax savings from joint filing exceed what you'd lose to the debt offset. Also, start planning now - if you know you'll lose part of your refund, consider adjusting your withholdings so you're not giving the IRS an interest-free loan all year. One more tip: Get copies of all the notices your wife received about her tax debt. Understanding exactly how much she owes and whether she's on a payment plan can help you make better decisions about filing status and refund expectations. The IRS is actually pretty reasonable to work with once you understand the rules - it's the uncertainty that's stressful!

Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience with the SEE exam preparation! As someone who's just starting to research the EA path, your honest breakdown is incredibly valuable and definitely saved me from making some expensive mistakes. Your story about spending 90+ hours on practice materials that didn't match the actual exam is both eye-opening and frustrating. It really highlights how misleading some study programs can be with their marketing claims. The fact that you had literally memorized 250+ practice questions and still felt completely unprepared for the real exam shows just how important it is to choose materials that actually reflect what's tested. I'm definitely going to start with Passkey Books based on your recommendation and all the positive feedback in this thread. It sounds like the key difference is focusing on understanding tax concepts rather than just drilling random practice questions. One question about your experience - when you felt lost during Part 2 but still managed to pass using "test-taking instincts," were there any specific strategies that helped you work through questions when the content didn't match what you'd studied? I'm trying to prepare for the possibility that I might encounter unfamiliar material despite using better study resources. Also, I noticed you mentioned doing research after your Part 2 experience and finding recommendations for Passkey. Are there any other resources or communities you'd recommend for EA candidates to connect with others going through the same process? Thanks again for taking the time to share such a comprehensive account of your journey. This kind of real-world insight is exactly what newcomers like me need to hear!

Thank you so much for sharing this incredibly detailed and honest account of your SEE exam experience! As someone who's just beginning to research the EA certification path, your post is exactly the kind of real-world insight I needed to read. Your experience with spending 90+ hours on study materials that didn't align with the actual exam content is both eye-opening and concerning. It really drives home the importance of choosing quality preparation materials over those that simply promise thousands of practice questions. The fact that you had practically memorized all the practice content but still felt lost during the actual exam clearly demonstrates that understanding underlying tax concepts is far more valuable than rote memorization. I'm definitely taking your recommendation about Passkey Books seriously, especially given the positive reinforcement from other community members in this thread. It sounds like the key differentiator is materials that teach tax principles and application rather than just drilling disconnected practice scenarios. Your timeline is quite ambitious - taking all three parts within such a short window. Given your experience with how different the actual exams can be from study materials, are you considering adjusting your approach for Part 3? It seems like giving yourself adequate time to truly master the Passkey methodology might be more beneficial than rushing through. Thanks again for sharing such a comprehensive breakdown of both your challenges and successes. Posts like this make the EA community invaluable for newcomers trying to navigate this process effectively!

Late to the party but wanted to add something important: If you already have business assets in your sole proprietorship (equipment, vehicles, etc.), make sure you properly document transferring these to the new LLC/S-corp. This is called a Section 351 transfer, and if done correctly, it's tax-free. Keep good records of the fair market value of everything you transfer! The IRS loves to audit new S-corps that don't handle this part correctly.

This is exactly the kind of detailed planning I wish I had done! Your timeline approach is really smart - creating that clean break between tax years will definitely make your bookkeeping much simpler. One additional tip from my own transition: Start keeping separate books for the LLC immediately once you form it, even though you'll still be filing Schedule C for 2024. This means opening a dedicated business checking account under the LLC's EIN and routing all business income/expenses through it. When January 1, 2025 rolls around and your S-corp election kicks in, you'll already have clean, separate financial records to work with. Also consider setting aside some cash now for the additional costs that come with S-corp status - you'll need payroll processing, potentially quarterly tax filings, and maybe a more robust accounting system. But the tax savings usually more than make up for these added expenses once your profits hit the right threshold. Good luck with the transition - sounds like you've got a solid plan!