H&R block charged me $450 last year for basically typing numbers from my forms into their computer. This year I did it myself with TurboTax and paid $120. Self employed too with some investment stuff. The software asks the same questions the human did tbh.

Wow, $675 is absolutely outrageous for a straightforward self-employment return! I had a similar experience with H&R Block a few years ago - they quoted me $550 for what was essentially just a Schedule C and basic forms. I ended up walking away and never went back. The reality is that most self-employed people with simple situations can easily handle their own taxes with good software. The "complexity" they charge you for is really just filling out Schedule C, which asks pretty straightforward questions about your income and business expenses. Unless you have multiple businesses, complex depreciation schedules, or unusual deductions, you're paying hundreds of dollars for data entry. I've been doing my own self-employment taxes for the past 3 years using various software options and have saved thousands compared to what these chain preparers were charging. The software walks you through everything step-by-step and often catches deductions that the rushed preparers at these big chains miss anyway.

Has anyone used TurboTax for claiming a parent? I tried last year and it kept asking me really confusing questions about my mom's income that I wasn't sure how to answer.

I went through this exact situation with my elderly father last year and can confirm what others have said about the qualifying relative rules. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records throughout the year of ALL expenses. I created a simple spreadsheet with categories: housing (rent/mortgage portion for his room, utilities), food (groceries and dining out), medical (co-pays, medications, doctor visits), transportation, clothing, and personal care items. At year-end, I compared what I spent versus what he spent from his Social Security. One tip - don't forget to include the fair market value of housing. If your mom lived independently, she'd pay rent somewhere. That "rent" you're providing counts as support even if your actual housing costs are lower. I used local rental prices for a similar room/apartment to calculate this. Also keep copies of her SSA-1099 and any other income documents. Social Security is usually not taxable income unless she has other significant income sources, so you'll likely meet the income test easily. The documentation will be important if the IRS ever questions your dependent claim.

You can absolutely use a different preparer. I recommend calling your original preparer and simply asking for a complete copy of your return if you don't already have it. Then take that to any preparer you choose. H&R Block charges around $125-150 for basic amendments, while independent CPAs might charge $200-300 depending on complexity. Some preparers even offer free amendments if they made the error.

Yes, you can absolutely use a different tax preparer for your amendment! There's no legal requirement to stick with your original preparer, and given that you already paid $600+ and they want to charge you more for the amendment, shopping around makes perfect sense. A few things to keep in mind: - Make sure you have a complete copy of your original return (all pages and schedules) - The new preparer will need to understand what was filed originally to prepare the 1040-X correctly - Get quotes from multiple preparers - amendment fees can vary significantly - Some preparers offer free amendments if they find additional errors that benefit you I'd recommend calling around to local CPAs or tax services to compare pricing. Many charge flat fees for amendments ($150-250 is typical) rather than hourly rates. Just make sure whoever you choose has experience with amended returns since the process is a bit different from original filings. Good luck getting this sorted out without paying your original preparer even more money!

One thing to watch for on your 1099-B is Box 1g "Adjustments". This is where wash sales and other adjustments appear. If you see numbers here, make sure you understand why - especially if there are large amounts. I got audited two years ago because I didn't properly account for wash sale adjustments. The IRS computers automatically flag returns where the numbers from your 1099-B don't match what you report, even if the difference is just in how you calculated the adjustments.

As a tax professional, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered yet: First, regarding wash sales - the disallowed loss doesn't disappear forever. It gets added to the cost basis of your replacement shares, so you'll eventually get that deduction when you sell those shares (assuming no further wash sales). Second, pay close attention to Form 1099-B Box 2 (whether proceeds are from collectibles). If you traded any precious metals ETFs, certain coins, or art-related investments, these may be taxed as collectibles at a higher rate (28% max) rather than normal capital gains rates. Third, if you have any foreign stock transactions, there may be additional reporting requirements on Form 8938 or FBAR depending on the amounts involved. Finally, keep detailed records beyond just the 1099-B. Save your trade confirmations, corporate action notices (stock splits, spinoffs, etc.), and any correspondence with your broker about cost basis corrections. The IRS can audit up to 3 years after filing (or 6 years for substantial understatements), and having complete documentation will save you significant headaches if questions arise. The tools mentioned here like taxr.ai can be helpful for complex situations, but make sure you understand the underlying tax principles so you can spot any errors in automated calculations.

Another option to consider - instead of remodeling your current kitchen, what about adding a separate small kitchenette in another part of your home specifically for the business? My sister did this in her basement for her cake business. The benefit is that you can deduct 100% of that kitchenette since it's exclusively for business, rather than trying to calculate percentages for a shared space. It might also be cheaper than a full kitchen remodel, depending on your situation. She was able to deduct the entire cost of the installation over time (had to depreciate it), plus all the appliances and equipment. Plus, she keeps her family kitchen separate from her business which makes health inspectors happy!

Great question about kitchen remodeling deductions! As someone who's helped many home-based food entrepreneurs navigate this, here are the key points to consider: **Yes, you can deduct portions of your kitchen remodel**, but documentation is crucial. Since you use the kitchen for both personal and business purposes, you'll need to establish a reasonable business-use percentage. I recommend keeping a detailed log for at least 3-4 months showing when the kitchen is used for catering prep versus family meals. **For appliances**: If an appliance is used more than 50% for business, you can deduct that percentage of the cost. A commercial-grade refrigerator used 80% for catering could have 80% of its cost deducted. **For structural improvements** (countertops, cabinets, flooring): These typically need to be depreciated over time rather than deducted immediately, but you still claim the business-use percentage of that annual depreciation. **Pro tip**: Consider whether any improvements are required by health department regulations for your catering permits. These can often be justified as 100% business expenses since they're legally required for your food service business. The fact that you're scaling up to serve 300+ people shows this is clearly a legitimate business operation, not a hobby. Just make sure you have all proper permits and keep meticulous records. A tax professional familiar with food service businesses would be worth the consultation fee to maximize your deductions while staying audit-safe.