Just want to add a quick point - make sure you file your state tax return too if you worked in a state that collects income tax! People often forget this part. The camp was probably in a specific state that might have its own filing requirements separate from the federal return.

I work for a tax resolution firm and deal with these situations regularly. The good news is that your case is very straightforward and won't impact your ability to travel on ESTA. For a $160 tax liability from 2018, you're looking at roughly $300-400 total after penalties and interest - still very manageable. The key is getting this resolved proactively rather than waiting for the IRS to come after you (which honestly might never happen for such a small amount). Here's what I'd recommend: File Form 1040NR for 2018 as soon as possible. You'll need your W-2 from the camp, so definitely contact them or CCUSA first. If you can't get it, request Form 4506-T from the IRS to get a wage transcript. Most importantly - small tax debts like this are NOT immigration issues. The State Department and IRS are completely separate systems. I've never seen anyone denied entry over a resolved tax matter of this size. Just make sure you have documentation showing you've addressed it when you travel. The depression and financial hardship you mentioned might even qualify you for some penalty relief if you can document those circumstances. The IRS has "reasonable cause" provisions that can reduce penalties in situations like yours.

As a newcomer to tax preparation, I've been following this discussion closely and it's been incredibly enlightening! I just received my PTIN last month and had similar assumptions about it being a "universal license" for tax prep work. What's really eye-opening is how the compliance landscape varies so dramatically between states. The Texas restrictions on using "accountant" terminology, California's CTEC requirements, and the various state registration programs - none of this was covered in my PTIN application process or the basic tax prep courses I took. I'm particularly concerned about the remote preparation aspect since I was planning to help some college friends who now live in different states. Based on this discussion, it sounds like I need to research the regulations for each state where my potential clients reside, not just where I'm located. That's a much bigger undertaking than I anticipated. The resource recommendations have been invaluable - from the NASBA website to state CPA society guidance documents to the spreadsheet tracking approach. I'm definitely going to start with my home state this season and use the time to properly research expansion opportunities for next year. One question for the group: For those who've expanded to multiple states, how do you handle the ongoing compliance monitoring? With rule changes happening throughout the year, it seems like staying current across multiple jurisdictions could become a full-time job in itself. Do you rely on professional associations, legal services, or just manually check each state's updates?

As someone brand new to tax preparation who just got my PTIN this month, this entire discussion has been a real wake-up call! I had no idea that the state-by-state regulations were this complex when I started this journey. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I was dangerously close to making some serious compliance mistakes. I was already drafting marketing materials that used terms like "accounting services" and "full-service accountant" - thank goodness I found this thread before launching anything! The advice about starting with your home state first really resonates with me. I was initially excited about the possibility of helping clients nationwide, but now I understand that would be setting myself up for failure. Better to build solid expertise and systems locally before expanding. I'm particularly grateful for the practical resources mentioned here - the NASBA website, state CPA society guidance documents, and especially the spreadsheet tracking approach. These seem like exactly the tools I need to navigate this properly. One thing I'm curious about: for those of you who've been through multiple tax seasons across different states, are there any common compliance mistakes you see new preparers making repeatedly? I want to make sure I'm not just avoiding the obvious pitfalls but also the subtle ones that might not be as apparent to someone just starting out. Thank you all for sharing your hard-earned knowledge - it's exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes all the difference for newcomers like me!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! My employer switched from QuickBooks to ADP halfway through last year and I got two W-2s that were nearly identical except for some withholding amounts. The key thing that helped me was realizing this isn't actually that uncommon - payroll companies often generate separate W-2s for different periods when there's a mid-year system change. However, you're absolutely right to be concerned about the different EINs and the Statutory Employee classification change. Here's what I'd recommend based on my experience: 1. **Call the employer ASAP** - Ask to speak directly with whoever manages payroll or the person who handled the system transition. Don't settle for "both are correct" - ask them to explain WHY both are needed. 2. **Focus on the EIN difference** - This is the biggest red flag. Same company should generally have the same EIN unless there was a legitimate corporate restructure. 3. **Question the Statutory Employee change** - This classification affects your tax liability significantly, so if it wasn't intentional, you need a corrected form. 4. **Don't file yet** - I made the mistake of filing with confusing W-2s once and had to amend later. It was a nightmare that delayed my refund by months. The good news is most employers want to fix these issues once they understand the problem. Document everything when you call and don't be afraid to escalate if the first person you talk to can't give you clear answers. You're being smart by catching this before filing!

This is a really common issue when employers switch payroll systems mid-year, so don't stress too much! The key red flag here is definitely the different EINs - that's not normal for the same employer and could cause problems with the IRS if not resolved. Before calling the employer, I'd suggest gathering all the documentation first: both W-2s, your boyfriend's final paystub from December (if he has it), and maybe even his last paystub from before the payroll system switch. This will help you verify if there's any double-counting of income. When you do call, ask specifically for the payroll manager or whoever handled the system transition. The questions others have suggested are spot-on: why are the EINs different, is the Statutory Employee classification intentional, and can they confirm the total wages are accurate for the full year. One thing I'd add - if they can't give you satisfactory answers or seem to be guessing, ask for the contact information of their payroll processing company (like ADP, Paychex, etc.). Sometimes the third-party processor can explain what happened better than the employer's internal staff. Don't file until this is resolved. I know it's frustrating to delay, but dealing with IRS notices or having to amend later is way more complicated than taking a few extra days to get correct documentation upfront. You're being smart by catching this early!

Great thread! I'm actually going through the EFIN application process right now for my own side practice. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you understand the bonding requirements for your personal EFIN. The IRS requires a surety bond (usually $5,000 minimum) which can add to your startup costs. Also, if you're planning to offer direct deposit or refund transfer services to clients through your personal EFIN, there are additional requirements and fees with the bank partners. For software recommendations, I've been looking at TaxSlayer Pro - they have a pay-per-return option that might work better than the flat annual fee if you're uncertain about volume in your first year. Has anyone tried their platform for smaller practices?

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been operating with dual EFINs for over 5 years. Everything mentioned here is spot-on, but I'd emphasize one additional point that saved me a lot of headaches: set up completely separate QuickBooks accounts (or whatever accounting software you use) for tracking the income and expenses from each EFIN. This becomes crucial during tax season when you're preparing your own Schedule C - having clean separation makes it much easier to pull reports and ensures you don't accidentally mix business expenses. I learned this the hard way my first year when I tried to track everything in one system with different classes/categories. Also, don't forget about quarterly estimated taxes on your Schedule C income! The self-employment tax can catch you off guard if you're not setting aside money throughout the year. I typically set aside about 30% of my side practice income to cover both income tax and SE tax. One last tip: consider getting a separate business phone line or Google Voice number for your personal EFIN clients. Helps maintain that professional separation and makes it easier to track business vs personal calls for expense purposes.

One thing no one's mentioned yet is that you should file Form 4868 ASAP to request an automatic extension if you haven't filed yet. This won't get you out of paying what you owe, but it will reduce some of the failure-to-file penalties.

I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been fully addressed - you absolutely should file your taxes even though you've missed the deadline. The IRS has consistently maintained that tax compliance and immigration enforcement are separate functions, and they actively encourage everyone to file regardless of status. Since you have a legitimate SSN from your legal entry, you're in a better position than many. You'll file using the same forms as any other taxpayer. For your Zelle income, treat it as self-employment income on Schedule C, and don't forget you'll need to file Schedule SE for self-employment tax. The failure-to-file penalty is much steeper than failure-to-pay, so getting your return filed should be your immediate priority. If you owe taxes and can't pay the full amount, the IRS offers payment plans that can make it manageable. The key is getting compliant - it shows good faith and stops the clock on the harsher penalties. Consider using the Free File options on IRS.gov if your income qualifies, or look into VITA sites as mentioned earlier. Both are confidential and focused solely on tax compliance.