Has anyone had any issues submitting Sequoia CPE credits to NASBA's tracking system? My firm requires us to use the CPE tracker service but I've heard some of the budget providers don't integrate well.

I've been using Sequoia CPE for about 18 months now and overall it's been a solid choice for the price point. The $100 annual fee really is legitimate - no hidden costs or surprise charges. One thing I'd add to the discussion is that while some courses might have minor outdated references (as Connor mentioned), they're pretty responsive to user feedback about content issues. I reported a few outdated tax code references last year and they updated those sections within about 6 weeks. The course variety is actually quite good - they have specialized tracks for different practice areas like tax, audit, and advisory services. The ethics courses are particularly well-structured and meet all the requirements I've encountered across different state boards. My only real complaint is the mobile experience isn't great if you're trying to do courses on a tablet or phone, but for desktop use it's perfectly functional. For anyone on the fence, I'd say it's worth trying for a year - worst case you're only out $100 and you'll know if it works for your learning style and requirements.

One thing nobody mentioned is that you should consider setting up an LLC for your DoorDash work! It provides liability protection if anything happens while you're delivering. My cousin got sued when he accidentally damaged something during a delivery.

Great question! I went through this exact situation when I started doing gig work alongside my regular job. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: The biggest thing to understand is that you're essentially running a small business now, even if it's just part-time DoorDash. This means you'll need to think like a business owner about taxes and record-keeping. First, open a separate checking account just for your DoorDash earnings and expenses. This makes tracking so much easier come tax time. I learned this the hard way after trying to sort through months of mixed transactions in my personal account. Second, set aside 25-30% of every DoorDash payment immediately for taxes. I know it seems like a lot, but between federal income tax, state tax (if applicable), and the 15.3% self-employment tax, it adds up quickly. Having that money already set aside prevents the shock of owing thousands at tax time. For the quarterly payments - if your W-2 job already withholds enough to cover 90% of your total tax liability (including the DoorDash income), you might not need to make quarterly payments. But it's usually safer to make them anyway to avoid any surprises. One last tip: track your "active delivery time" vs total time. You can only deduct mileage for when you're actually on a delivery or driving to pick up an order, not when you're just sitting in a parking lot waiting for orders to come in. Good luck rebuilding your finances! The extra income from DoorDash can really help, just stay on top of the tax side from day one.

Just wanted to add that if you still don't receive your W-2 by February 15th, you should definitely call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040. Have the following info ready: - Your name, address, phone number, and SSN - Your employer's name, address, phone number - Dates of employment - An estimate of your wages and tax withheld (from your last pay stub) They'll send a notice to your employer, and they'll also give you a Form 4852 (substitute W-2) to file with your return if needed.

They legally have to mail your W-2 if you're not still employed there. Not only that, but they have to have them postmarked by January 31st or they face penalties. If your employer is refusing, they're breaking the law.

Has anyone ever had a payment plan completely disappear? Like, you set it up through TurboTax but the IRS has no record of it? I'm worried this might happen to me too.

I went through this exact same panic last year! The key thing to remember is that TurboTax is just the messenger - once they submit your payment plan request to the IRS, it's completely out of their system. That's why you can't see it in your TurboTax account anymore. Here's what helped me feel better about the situation: I called the IRS automated phone line (1-800-829-1040) and used their automated system to check my account balance. Even before my payment plan showed up online, the automated system mentioned that I had "payment arrangements" on my account. It didn't give details, but at least confirmed something was there. Also, if you got a confirmation screen in TurboTax when you set it up, that's your proof that you submitted the request before the deadline. The IRS can't penalize you for late payment plan setup if you have that confirmation, even if there are processing delays on their end. Don't stress too much - in my experience, these TurboTax payment plans almost always go through correctly, it just takes a few weeks to show up properly in the IRS system!

2 One thing nobody's mentioned yet - did you replace the flooring with the EXACT same type of material? If you upgraded from, say, vinyl to hardwood, that's definitely a capital improvement. But if you replaced damaged vinyl with the same quality vinyl, there might be an argument for it being a repair under certain circumstances.

Based on what you've described, your floor replacement would definitely be categorized as a capital improvement rather than a repair for tax purposes. Since you replaced the "entire bottom floors" due to deterioration, this falls under the IRS definition of a "restoration" - bringing a property component back to its ordinarily efficient operating condition after it had deteriorated to a state of disrepair. For your tax forms, I'd recommend describing it as "Floor replacement - capital improvement due to deterioration" rather than "patching of flooring." This clearly indicates the scope and nature of the work to the IRS. You'll need to depreciate this $3,200+ expense over 27.5 years using the MACRS system for residential rental property. The fact that you used similar quality materials doesn't change the classification - it's the replacement of an entire building component that makes it a capital improvement. Your accountant should be familiar with Treasury Regulation §1.263(a)-3, which covers exactly these types of situations. If they're still uncertain, you might want to consider getting a second opinion from a CPA who specializes in rental property taxation.