Has anyone tried ExpensePath for accountable plans? My clients struggle with all the documentation requirements, and I heard this platform specifically addresses accountable plan compliance.

I've been managing accountable plans for s-corps for about 5 years now and totally understand the compliance headaches. One thing that's helped me tremendously is creating a simple one-page checklist that I give to all my s-corp clients explaining exactly what makes an expense reimbursable under their accountable plan. The checklist covers the three key requirements: business connection, adequate substantiation within 60 days, and return of excess advances. I also include common examples of what qualifies vs. what doesn't (like the meals 50% limitation, entertainment exclusions, etc.). For the actual tracking, I've found that keeping it within their existing accounting software works best for adoption. Whether it's QBO or Xero, I set up dedicated expense accounts specifically for accountable plan reimbursements and train clients on proper coding. The key is making the monthly reporting as automated as possible - I create custom reports they can just run and email to me. The biggest game-changer has been requiring photo uploads of receipts directly in their accounting software rather than separate systems. Clients are much more likely to snap a photo when they're already entering the expense than to deal with external platforms or forms.

19 From my experience as a full-time Uber/Lyft driver, the key thing the IRS is looking for is consistency in your record-keeping method. If you create a system and stick with it all year, you're much less likely to be questioned. What I do: I take a photo of my odometer at the start of each shift and another at the end (with timestamps). I keep a super simple spreadsheet with date, starting miles, ending miles, which app I was driving for, and total business miles. That's it. Been doing this for 4 years, never had a problem with the IRS. The people saying you need origin/destination for every trip are probably mixing up the requirements for reimbursement from an employer (which is more detailed) versus self-employed mileage deduction (which is more reasonable).

As a tax professional who works with a lot of gig drivers, I can confirm that your daily starting/ending odometer readings are actually a solid foundation for mileage deduction! The IRS doesn't require trip-by-trip logging for delivery drivers like some people think. Here's what you should definitely keep: 1) Date of work, 2) Starting odometer reading, 3) Ending odometer reading, 4) Total business miles, and 5) Brief description like "Pizza Hut delivery shift." The key is being consistent with whatever method you choose. One thing I'd add to your current system: keep track of your total annual mileage (both business and personal) so you can show the percentage of business use. Also, if you use your car for both jobs on the same day, try to separate those entries if possible - it makes things cleaner if you ever get audited. You're not doing anything wrong! Your method is actually pretty good compared to some drivers I've worked with who have no records at all.

I'm really sorry this happened to you - mortgage servicer negligence with escrow accounts is unfortunately more common than it should be, but that doesn't make it any less infuriating when you're the victim. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given: make sure your attorney considers the **contractual breach** angle in addition to the RESPA violations. Your mortgage agreement almost certainly contains specific language requiring them to pay property taxes from your escrow account in a timely manner. Their failure to do this isn't just a regulatory violation - it's a fundamental breach of your contract that directly caused you financial harm. Also, when calculating damages, don't forget about **opportunity costs**. The money you had to scramble to pay for redemption fees, attorney costs, and penalties - that money likely came from savings, retirement accounts, or required you to take on debt. Calculate what that money would have earned if it had remained invested, or what interest you're now paying because you had to use credit to cover their mistake. Your situation is exactly why escrow accounts exist in the first place - to protect homeowners from exactly this scenario. The fact that their system failed so catastrophically (to the point where your home was actually sold at auction!) suggests this wasn't just a simple oversight but potentially systemic negligence in how they manage escrow accounts. Stay strong, and don't let them minimize the severity of what happened here.

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it sounds absolutely devastating to almost lose your home because of your mortgage company's negligence. One thing that might help strengthen your case is getting a professional analysis of your mortgage and escrow account history. I've heard good things about services like https://taxr.ai that can analyze all your mortgage documents and create detailed reports showing exactly where and when errors occurred. Having that kind of documentation could be invaluable for your attorney to demonstrate the pattern of mismanagement. Also, definitely file a complaint with the CFPB as others have mentioned. Mortgage servicers often take these complaints more seriously than direct customer complaints, and it creates an official record of their failure. For settlement amounts, given the severity of what happened (your home was literally sold at auction!), I wouldn't lowball yourself. Consider not just the immediate costs you paid, but the ongoing financial impact of that $750 monthly increase. That's $9,000 per year in additional costs caused entirely by their mistake. Over time, that adds up to significant damages. Document everything - every fee, every sleepless night, any medical costs from stress, time off work to deal with this mess. Their negligence put your most important asset at risk, and that deserves meaningful compensation, not just covering your out-of-pocket costs.

I'm a volunteer board treasurer, and we specifically set up our reimbursement process to avoid this exact problem. Make sure you're using an expense reimbursement form that clearly documents these are HOA expenses, not payments for services. For next year, I'd suggest working with your board to implement a better system. Our association has a credit card that board members can use for purchases, which eliminates the need for reimbursements entirely. Alternatively, some property management companies can make purchases directly if given enough notice.

I went through this exact situation last year with my condo board reimbursements. What worked for me was creating a detailed spreadsheet that matched each expense category to the corresponding receipts, then reporting it on Schedule C with the 1099-NEC amount as income and the exact same amount as expenses. The key is being very specific in your expense descriptions - instead of just "HOA expenses," break it down like "Landscaping supplies - HOA maintenance," "Pool chemicals - HOA facility maintenance," etc. This creates a clear paper trail showing these were legitimate association expenses, not personal income. I also wrote a brief explanation letter that I attached to my return explaining the situation - that I'm an unpaid volunteer board member who was incorrectly issued a 1099-NEC for expense reimbursements. While not required, it helps clarify things if there are ever any questions. The good news is that since your income and expenses will be equal, you'll have zero net profit and zero self-employment tax. Just make sure to keep detailed records of everything in case of future questions.

Based on what I've seen in this thread, it sounds like you have several good options to explore for maximizing your vehicle deduction. One thing to keep in mind is timing - if you can purchase before December 31st, 2024, you'd get the 80% bonus depreciation rate instead of the 60% rate for 2025. That could mean an extra $2,600 in first-year deductions on a $13k vehicle with 80% business use. Also consider the vehicle weight factor that Ethan brought up. If you can find a used SUV or truck over 6,000 lbs GVWR in your price range, you might qualify for full Section 179 expensing instead of bonus depreciation, which could be even better than the bonus depreciation route. For documentation, definitely start that mileage log from day one - apps like MileIQ make it pretty painless. The IRS really scrutinizes vehicle deductions, so having solid records is crucial. Have you considered whether you'd actually drive enough business miles to make the standard mileage rate (67 cents/mile for 2024) more beneficial than the actual expense method? At 80% business use, you'd need to drive about 15,500 business miles annually for standard mileage to beat the depreciation approach on a $13k vehicle.

For checking GVWR specs before shopping, I'd recommend using the manufacturer's official spec sheets or the NHTSA vehicle database at nhtsa.gov/vehicle-identification-number. You can also check Edmunds.com or KBB.com which usually list GVWR in their detailed specs section. Some popular used vehicles that typically exceed 6,000 lbs GVWR in your price range include: - Chevy Tahoe/Suburban (like Ethan mentioned) - Ford Expedition - GMC Yukon - Nissan Armada - Most full-size pickup trucks (F-150, Silverado, Ram 1500) Just double-check the specific year and trim level, as base models sometimes fall just under 6,000 lbs while higher trims exceed it. One more timing consideration - if you do find a qualifying vehicle and purchase before year-end, make sure to actually place it in service for business use before December 31st to claim the deduction. Simply buying it isn't enough; you need to start using it for business purposes. Given your high business mileage (18k-20k annually), you're definitely on the right track with actual expenses + depreciation. That's going to save you thousands compared to standard mileage rate.