This is incredibly thorough and helpful! As someone completely new to understanding transcript codes, this thread has been like discovering a secret decoder ring for the IRS system. I'm currently in the 570/971 situation with matching dates from April 1st, so based on your pattern analysis, I'm hoping to see movement around April 8th. What really strikes me is how this community has figured out patterns that the IRS doesn't clearly explain anywhere on their official website. The cycle code information has been a revelation too - mine ends in 04, so I'll check on Wednesdays instead of driving myself crazy with daily refreshes. I'm curious about one thing: for those who have been through this process multiple times, do you find that understanding these patterns makes tax season significantly less stressful? Right now every day feels uncertain, but I imagine once you know what to expect, the waiting becomes much more manageable. Thank you for sharing such detailed observations. This is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that helps newcomers like me navigate what otherwise feels like a completely opaque system. Bookmarking this thread for future reference!

This thread has been incredibly educational for someone new to transcript analysis! I'm currently experiencing the 570/971 codes with matching dates from April 2nd, so following your pattern, I should hopefully see an 846 code around April 9th. What really impresses me is how this community has developed such reliable knowledge through collective experience. The official IRS resources are so vague compared to the detailed patterns documented here. I just figured out my cycle code ends in 06 - does anyone know what day of the week that corresponds to? I want to make sure I'm checking on the right day instead of wasting time with daily refreshes. One thing I've noticed from reading through everyone's experiences is how the anxiety decreases dramatically once you understand there's actually a system behind these codes. Before finding this thread, those numbers on my transcript felt completely random and scary. Now I have realistic expectations and a timeline to follow. Thank you @Grace Durand for documenting these observations so thoroughly, and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. This community knowledge is absolutely invaluable for navigating tax season stress!

Has anyone used TurboTax or H&R Block for 1040NR? I tried using TurboTax but it kept asking me for Schedule OI info even though I'm not claiming treaty benefits. Is that normal?

I went through this exact same confusion last year! After doing a lot of research and speaking with a tax professional, here's what I learned: Schedule OI is technically required for ALL 1040NR filers, regardless of whether you're claiming treaty benefits or not. The confusion comes from the fact that many people think it's only needed for treaty claims, but if you read the actual instructions carefully, it asks for basic information like your visa type, country of residence, and days in the US - which applies to everyone filing 1040NR. That said, I've seen people successfully file without it when not claiming treaties, but why risk it? It's pretty straightforward to fill out Parts I and II with your basic info. Better to be complete and avoid any potential follow-up questions from the IRS. Good luck with your filing!

This is such a relief to read! I've been stressing about this exact same thing with my single-member LLC. I started paying from my business account but then second-guessed myself and switched to transferring to personal first. Sounds like I was overthinking it completely. The key takeaway I'm getting is that consistency matters more than which specific account you use. I think I'll go back to paying directly from the business account since it's simpler and keeps everything in one place for my records. Just need to make sure I'm categorizing the payments correctly as distributions rather than expenses. Thanks everyone for the detailed explanations - this community is so helpful for navigating these confusing tax situations!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my single-member LLC and was completely confused about the tax payment process. Reading everyone's experiences has really clarified things for me. What I'm taking away is that the IRS doesn't distinguish between business and personal accounts for single-member LLCs since they're pass-through entities. The most important thing seems to be proper categorization in your bookkeeping - treating tax payments as owner distributions rather than business expenses to avoid artificially reducing your profit. I think I'll follow the approach several people mentioned of paying directly from my business account for simplicity, but making sure to categorize everything correctly. The separate tax savings account idea also sounds brilliant - I'm definitely going to set that up to automate the process and avoid the quarterly scramble to figure out if I have enough set aside. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions!

Has anyone considered just ignoring the expense imbalance entirely? If you're truly 50/50 partners, then why not just have EVERYTHING be a partnership expense regardless of who incurs it? Seems like you're overthinking this.

One approach that worked well for my restaurant partnership might be relevant here. We had a similar imbalance where my partner handled all the vendor relationships (lots of travel and entertainment) while I managed operations locally. We structured it as a combination of guaranteed payments for the predictable higher expenses (like estimated annual travel costs) and an accountable plan for the variable ones. This gave us tax certainty while maintaining fairness. The key was quantifying the expected expense differential upfront. We estimated my partner would incur about $15K more in business expenses annually, so we set up a $15K guaranteed payment to them at the beginning of each year. Then both partners submit actual expenses for reimbursement through the accountable plan. This way, the partnership gets all the deductions, expenses are properly documented, and there's no surprise imbalance at year-end. Your CPA can help you estimate the differential and structure the guaranteed payment amount.

Thank you all for such detailed and honest insights! As someone who's been stuck in retail management for way too long, reading about everyone's experiences has been both enlightening and encouraging. The seasonal aspect really appeals to me - I'm so tired of the constant year-round grind with no real break. Having those intense tax season months balanced by more flexibility in the summer sounds like exactly what I need for better work-life balance. I'm definitely going to look into the VITA program that @CyberNinja mentioned - what a smart way to get real experience without financial pressure! And the point about retail management skills transferring over gives me confidence that this transition might be more natural than I initially thought. One follow-up question for anyone who's willing to share: For those of you who made similar career transitions, what was the biggest surprise (positive or negative) about becoming a tax preparer that you didn't expect going in? I want to make sure I'm going into this with realistic expectations. Also planning to start networking and getting my PTIN while I research EA certification requirements. This thread has given me a clear roadmap for moving forward. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences!

As someone who's been working as a tax preparer for about 7 years now, I wanted to add a few thoughts that might help with your decision. One thing I don't see mentioned much is the learning curve around different client types. You'll encounter everything from straightforward W-2 employees to gig workers with multiple 1099s, small business owners, retirees with complex investment portfolios, and people going through major life changes like divorce or job loss. Each category requires different expertise and approaches. The relationship-building aspect has been huge for my practice. Unlike retail where interactions are often transactional, tax clients tend to come back year after year. I have clients I've worked with for over 5 years now, and I genuinely look forward to our annual check-ins. You become part of their financial journey, helping them through buying homes, starting businesses, having kids - it's surprisingly personal and rewarding. One practical tip: consider getting comfortable with basic bookkeeping if you want to work with small businesses. Many of my business clients need year-round support with QuickBooks cleanup or quarterly filings, which creates steady income outside tax season. It's also made me a better tax preparer because I understand the underlying business operations behind the numbers. The technology side keeps evolving too. Cloud-based software, electronic signatures, secure client portals - the industry has modernized significantly, which makes serving clients more efficiently than ever. Just be prepared to adapt as new tools emerge. Your retail management background will definitely serve you well here. The organizational skills, deadline management, and ability to explain complex topics in simple terms are exactly what this job requires. Good luck with whatever you decide!