
IRS
CommunityGovernment Services


Ask the community...
I'm in a huge mess right now and really need some advice. So back in December, I took out one of those Christmas loans from Jackson Hewitt. Everything was fine until tax season rolled around. I decided to file my taxes with a different company this year because Jackson Hewitt has been acting kinda sketchy lately, and I really wanted to get a refund advance from this other place. Well, turns out I got denied for the refund advance at the new place! They told me Jackson Hewitt already has an application in their system for me because of that Christmas loan I got. Now I'm totally confused about what to do next. Should I just go back to Jackson Hewitt to get the advance even though I already filed with someone else? I still have my W-2 forms - can I just file again with Jackson Hewitt and pretend I never went to the other place? I'm worried about filing twice but I really need that advance money soon. Any suggestions would be really appreciated because I'm stressing out big time right now!
So I switched jobs last year and decided to roll over my old 401k to my new employer's plan. Just got my tax documents and I'm a bit confused. I received two separate 1099-R forms in the mail - one for the pre-tax portion and another for my Roth contributions. Everything looks fine on the pre-tax form, but I noticed something weird on the Roth rollover 1099-R. The distribution code box has a code that I don't understand, and I'm wondering if this is going to mess up my taxes? I'm not super familiar with all these retirement account rules and definitely don't want to trigger any accidental taxes or penalties. The amounts aren't huge (about $18,500 in the pre-tax and around $7,200 in the Roth), but I want to make sure I'm reporting everything correctly when I file my 2024 taxes. Has anyone dealt with this before? Any advice on how to read these distribution codes and what they actually mean for my tax situation?
Curious - did u receive any tax forms from the new 401k provider showing the incoming rollover? When I did mine, I got 1099-Rs from my old plans but nothing from the new one that received the $$.
I went through this exact same situation last year and was totally confused by the distribution codes too! What really helped me was understanding that the code on the 1099-R doesn't always perfectly match what actually happened - it's just the plan administrator's best guess at categorizing the transaction. For your Roth rollover, even if you see code J (early distribution, no known exception), it doesn't mean you'll owe penalties if you did a proper direct rollover. The key is how you report it on your tax return. When you file, you'll need to indicate that this was rolled over to another qualified plan, which will make it non-taxable regardless of the distribution code. I'd recommend keeping all your rollover documentation (confirmation letters from both plans, transfer forms, etc.) just in case. The IRS cares more about the actual substance of the transaction than the specific code your old plan used. As long as you can show it was a legitimate rollover, you should be fine!
Hey everyone, I'm prepping for my 2025 tax return and I'm totally confused about my LLC's tax classification. I started my small web design business last year and filed all the paperwork to form an LLC, but now I have no idea where to find what tax classification I chose (or if I even picked one?). Is this something that would be on my formation documents? Or do I need to contact the IRS directly? I remember filling out a bunch of forms but can't remember if I selected to be taxed as a sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation. Not even sure where to look to figure this out. Any help would be really appreciated!
Does anyone know if TurboTax Business can handle LLC returns regardless of the classification? My LLC is set up as an S-Corp and I'm trying to decide if I need to hire an accountant or can DIY.
I used TurboTax Business last year for my S-Corp and it worked fine, but honestly it was pretty complicated. If your situation is simple it might be OK, but if you have multiple income streams, employees, or significant deductions, you might want a professional. The S-Corp payroll requirements alone can be tricky.
@Layla Mendes - I went through this exact same confusion when I first started my LLC! Here's what I learned: if you only have one member (just yourself), your LLC automatically defaults to "disregarded entity" status, which means you file taxes as a sole proprietor using Schedule C on your personal return. You don't need to file a separate business return. The easiest way to confirm is to look for any Form 8832 or Form 2553 in your records - these would show if you made a special election. If you can't find either of these forms, you're almost certainly under the default classification. Since you mentioned this is for a web design business you started last year, you'll likely be filing Schedule C with your 2025 personal tax return. Just make sure to track all your business expenses throughout the year - things like software subscriptions, equipment, home office expenses, etc. can really add up to significant deductions! If you want to double-check, the IRS business line at 800-829-4933 can tell you what's on file, though be prepared for potentially long wait times.
Great questions @Zoey Bianchi! For a single-member LLC, you technically don't need an EIN if you're just filing as a disregarded entity and have no employees - you can use your SSN on Schedule C. However, I'd still recommend getting an EIN because it helps separate your business and personal finances, and you'll need one if you ever want to open a business bank account or if you decide to change your tax classification later. As for staying disregarded entity vs S-Corp election - it really depends on your income level. The S-Corp election mainly saves on self-employment taxes, but only makes sense if you're making enough profit to justify the extra complexity and costs (payroll setup, reasonable salary requirements, additional tax filings). Most tax pros say it's not worth it unless you're making at least $40-60k in profit annually. For a new web design business, staying with the default classification is probably simpler to start with - you can always elect S-Corp status later if your income grows.
Great questions! For a single-member LLC, you actually have the option to use either your SSN or get an EIN - both work for tax purposes. However, I'd strongly recommend getting an EIN anyway because it helps separate your business and personal finances, which is important for maintaining your LLC's liability protection. Plus, you'll need an EIN if you ever want to open a business bank account, hire employees, or change your tax election later. Regarding staying with disregarded entity vs. S-Corp election - for most small web design businesses starting out, the default classification is actually better. With disregarded entity status, you just file Schedule C and pay self-employment tax on your profit. It's simple and straightforward. S-Corp election only makes sense when you're making significant profit (generally $60K+ annually) because you have to pay yourself a "reasonable salary" with payroll taxes, file quarterly payroll returns, and file a separate business tax return (Form 1120-S). The savings on self-employment tax have to outweigh all that extra complexity and cost. For most new businesses, it's not worth it initially.
Hey tax folks, I joined Surgent about 8 weeks ago thinking I'd get some comprehensive textbooks along with the practice tests, but it looks like it's mostly just practice questions that explain why you got something wrong. I'm struggling to find any solid textbooks that actually help me understand the IRS tax codes and practices for the EA exam. Is this how everyone studies for the Enrolled Agent exam? Just doing practice tests until you magically get all the answers right? Or are there actual textbooks out there that teach you the material properly? I've been searching for what feels like forever and can't seem to get a straight answer anywhere. Would really appreciate any recommendations or guidance on good learning resources to properly prepare for the EA exam. I want to actually understand the tax code, not just memorize answers.
Has anyone used the Wiseguide EA Review course? My coworker recommended it but I haven't seen many reviews online.
I've been through the EA exam journey myself and completely understand your frustration with Surgent! You're absolutely right that just doing practice questions without understanding the underlying concepts is like trying to build a house without a foundation. Here's what worked for me: **For comprehensive textbooks:** - **Gleim EA Review** - Expensive but worth it. Their books actually teach you the material before testing you on it - **Passkey EA Review** - Great explanations with lots of practical examples - **Tax Materials Inc. (TMI)** - Their textbooks are solid and often used by tax professionals **For foundational understanding:** - Start with the free IRS publications others mentioned (Pub 17, Circular 230, etc.) - The IRS website has a "Tax Professionals" section with educational materials - Consider getting a basic tax preparation textbook (like Pratt & Kulsrud) to understand core concepts first **Study approach that worked for me:** 1. Read the textbook chapter 2. Review the corresponding IRS publication sections 3. Then do practice questions to test understanding 4. Go back to the textbook for anything you got wrong Don't give up! The EA exam is challenging but definitely passable with the right materials. You want to understand the tax code, not just memorize answers - that's exactly the right mindset for becoming a good EA.
So I just got my 1099-R form in the mail for a withdrawal I made from my retirement account in 2024. I'm trying to file through TurboTax and something weird happened - it's telling me I don't need to include this withdrawal on my taxes this year because it was before some cutoff date, and that I should file it next year instead?? I requested the withdrawal on August 15, 2024, and while I can't remember the exact date it was approved and hit my account, it was definitely sometime in August/September 2024. The form is clearly marked for tax year 2024. I'm really confused now. Should I be filing this 1099-R with my current tax return or am I supposed to wait until next year like TurboTax is suggesting? Has anyone else run into this issue? The withdrawal was around $8,500 if that matters.
I think there's some confusion here. The tax year on your 1099-R (which should be in Box 6) determines when you file it. So if it says 2024, you'll include it when filing your 2024 taxes (which you do in early 2025). Really has nothing to do with when you requested the withdrawal - it's when the distribution actually happened.
But what if the distribution happened in December 2024 but you don't get the 1099-R until February 2025? Wouldn't that mess up your filing for 2024 if you've already submitted before getting the form?
That's a great question! If a distribution happens in December 2024, but you don't receive the 1099-R until February 2025, you still need to report it on your 2024 tax return. If you've already filed your 2024 return before receiving this form, you would need to file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to include the information from the late-arriving 1099-R. That's why many financial advisors recommend waiting until at least mid-February to file if you know you had distributions, to make sure you've received all your tax documents.
The most important thing is the year listed on the 1099-R form itself. If your form says 2024 in Box 6, then it's for the 2024 tax year, which you'll file in 2025. TurboTax is probably just asking about your 2023 taxes (which you file now in 2024).
What tax software do you recommend for handling retirement distributions? I've got a mix of regular withdrawals and rollovers this year and I'm worried about messing it up.
For retirement distributions, I've had good luck with both TurboTax and FreeTaxUSA. TurboTax does a decent job walking you through the different distribution codes on your 1099-R, especially if you have rollovers (codes G and H). FreeTaxUSA is cheaper but still handles the complexity pretty well. The key thing is to make sure whatever software you use asks you about the distribution code in Box 7 of your 1099-R - that's what determines if it's taxable income, a rollover, or has special treatment. Both of those programs will prompt you for that info and calculate any early withdrawal penalties if applicable.
Kayla Morgan
One thing to consider is timing. If you already filed with the other company, when did you do it? If it was very recent (like within the last 24-48 hours), the return might not have been accepted by the IRS yet, especially if you filed during the busy first weeks of tax season. You could contact the company you filed with and ask if the return has been submitted and accepted yet. If it hasn't been fully processed, you might be able to cancel it and go with Jackson Hewitt instead.
0 coins
James Maki
This is good advice! I work at a tax office (not Jackson Hewitt) and we can definitely cancel a return before it's been submitted to the IRS. Even if it's been transmitted but not yet accepted, we can usually send a cancellation. The customer just needs to call quickly!
0 coins
Anastasia Sokolov
I'd strongly recommend getting clarity on your loan agreement with Jackson Hewitt before making any decisions. Like others have mentioned, those Christmas loan agreements often include specific requirements about where you file your taxes. Here's what I'd do in your situation: 1. Call Jackson Hewitt immediately and request a copy of your loan agreement. Don't mention filing elsewhere yet - just say you need to review the terms. 2. Contact the company you filed with and ask if your return has been submitted to the IRS yet. If not, you might have options. 3. Whatever you do, DO NOT file twice. This will create major headaches with the IRS and could delay your refund for months. The refund advance denial is likely because Jackson Hewitt placed a "debt indicator" on your SSN when you took the Christmas loan. This is standard practice to protect their loan investment. If you're really strapped for cash, remember that your regular refund will still come through - it just won't be as fast as an advance. The IRS is processing returns pretty quickly this year, so you might only be waiting an extra 1-2 weeks compared to getting an advance. Don't panic - this situation is fixable, but you need to handle it carefully to avoid bigger problems.
0 coins