Bruh michigan needs to get it together fr fr. Every year its sum new bs 🤮

Having the same issue here! Was expecting my Michigan refund on Friday but nothing showed up. Called twice and got the runaround both times. At least now I know it's not just me - thanks for posting this. Hopefully they get their act together soon because I really needed that money this week 😤

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a violation of trust when a professional you rely on isn't honest with you. Based on everything you've described, I agree with the other commenters that your accountant appears to be lying. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: you should document everything immediately while it's still fresh. Write down all the dates your accountant told you things were filed, save every email and text message, and keep copies of any documents he provided (even the suspicious ones). This documentation will be crucial if you decide to pursue malpractice claims or file complaints with regulatory bodies. Also, since you mentioned this is affecting both federal and state taxes, make sure you're addressing both separately. State tax authorities often have their own penalty abatement programs, and the process might be different from the federal IRS abatement. The $13,000 in penalties is substantial enough that you might want to consult with a tax attorney who specializes in penalty abatement cases. Many offer free consultations and can quickly assess whether you have grounds for both penalty relief and potential recovery from your accountant's errors or omissions insurance. Don't let this drag on any longer - every day those collection notices get more serious, and your options may become more limited.

This situation is unfortunately more common than you'd think, and I'm sorry you're dealing with such a stressful mess. Based on your description, your accountant's story has way too many holes to be credible. Here's what you should do immediately: 1. **Get your IRS transcripts** - As others mentioned, request your account transcripts online or by phone. These will show definitively whether any extension or abatement request was filed. Look for transaction codes 460 (extension) and 971 (abatement request received). 2. **Stop all communication with your current accountant** until you verify what actually happened. Don't let him know you're investigating - just tell him you need time to review everything. 3. **File your own abatement request NOW** using Form 843. Even though time has passed, you can request First Time Penalty Abatement if you have a clean compliance history for the three years prior to this penalty. In your explanation, be clear that you relied on professional advice and believed the proper filings had been made. 4. **Consider reasonable cause abatement** - The IRS recognizes "reliance on erroneous advice from a tax professional" as reasonable cause for penalty relief, but you'll need to show you provided all necessary information to your accountant and had reason to believe they were competent. The fact that both federal and state authorities have no record of the filings your accountant claims to have made is a huge red flag. One system missing records? Possible. Both systems missing the same records? Extremely unlikely. Document everything and consider consulting with a tax attorney who can help you navigate both the penalty abatement process and potential recovery from your accountant's professional liability insurance.

Logan, this is such a common experience that there should honestly be a class on this in high school! Your situation is totally normal - going from $3,000 gross to around $2,000 take-home is pretty standard for your income level. One thing that might help is to think of your gross salary as what your employer pays for you, not what you actually get to keep. Between federal taxes, state taxes (if applicable), Social Security, Medicare, and any benefits you signed up for, that $1,000 difference isn't unusual at all. My advice: 1. Get a copy of your paystub and review every single line item 2. Figure out which deductions are mandatory vs optional 3. Consider using a paycheck calculator online to verify your numbers are correct 4. If you're over-withholding on taxes, you can adjust your W-4 to get more per paycheck (but be careful not to underwithhold) The silver lining? If you're getting a big tax refund each year, that means you're essentially giving the government an interest-free loan. Better to keep that money in your pocket throughout the year and invest it or pay down debt. Once you understand your paystub, you'll feel way more in control of your money!

Welcome to the working world, Logan! That paycheck shock is like a rite of passage - we've all been there. Your math is actually spot on for what to expect at $36k/year. Here's a reality check that helped me: your employer isn't just paying you $36,000. They're also paying the employer portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes (another 7.65%), plus unemployment insurance, workers compensation, and potentially matching your 401k contributions. So you're actually more expensive to employ than your base salary. The silver lining? Once you understand your paystub, you can optimize it. I discovered I was paying for benefits I didn't need and was over-withholding on federal taxes. After adjusting my W-4 and dropping some optional coverage, I got an extra $200/month without changing my gross pay. Pro tip: take a photo of your paystub and post it here (blur out personal info obviously) - this community is great at helping people decode all those mysterious deduction codes. Most people find at least one thing they can adjust to get more take-home pay. You've got this! The first few months of budgeting on your actual take-home pay are tough, but once you adjust your expectations and optimize your deductions, it gets much more manageable.

This is such a frustrating situation, and you're absolutely right to be concerned about double taxation! I went through something similar when I started working remotely for a company based in a different state. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure you keep detailed records of when you started working remotely and any communications with your employer about your work location. Some local tax offices will want proof of when the remote work arrangement began to determine how much of the year you're entitled to a refund for. Also, Pennsylvania has some quirks with local taxes that you should be aware of. Many PA municipalities contract with third-party collectors (like Berkheimer or Jordan Tax Service) rather than handling taxes directly. You might need to file your refund claim with the collector, not the city itself. Check your paystub to see who's actually collecting the tax - it should be listed there. The good news is that PA generally has clear guidance on telecommuting tax situations since it's so common there. Your employer should definitely be able to update your withholding location once you provide them with the proper documentation. Don't let them tell you it's "too complicated" - they deal with remote workers all the time now!

I had a very similar situation when I went fully remote during the pandemic! Your frustration is completely understandable - it's maddening to see local taxes being taken for a city you've never even set foot in. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline document showing exactly when I started working remotely and any communications about it with my employer. This became crucial when filing for my refund because the local tax office needed to know the exact period I was entitled to claim back. Also, don't be surprised if your employer's initial response is that they "can't change it mid-year." That's often just their first reaction because it requires paperwork. Be persistent and cite your state's remote work tax guidelines. Most states have published clear guidance on this since 2020. The key is getting both issues fixed: stopping the incorrect withholding going forward AND getting refunded for what's already been taken. The refund part can take several months, so definitely start that process as soon as possible even while you're working on getting the withholding corrected. Keep all your documentation organized - you'll need it for both your employer and the tax offices. Good luck!

One thing I'd add is to consider opening a separate bank account just for your skin trading business. It makes tracking so much easier when tax time comes around, and it helps establish that this is a legitimate business activity rather than just a hobby. You can deposit your trading profits there and pay for new inventory purchases from that same account. Also, since you're dealing with digital assets that can be volatile in value, consider taking screenshots or saving records of market prices when you make transactions. This can help justify your purchase and sale prices if the IRS ever questions your reported profits. Steam's market history is helpful but having your own backup documentation never hurts. The business bank account will also make it crystal clear how much you're actually withdrawing for personal use versus reinvesting, which will help with your bookkeeping and Schedule C reporting.

Great advice already in this thread! One additional thing to consider is quarterly estimated tax payments. Since you're essentially running a small business, you might need to make estimated payments throughout the year rather than waiting until tax time. The general rule is if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes when you file, you should be making quarterly payments to avoid penalties. Given that you mentioned reinvesting most profits to grow the operation, it's easy to forget that you still owe taxes on those profits even if the cash isn't sitting in your personal account. I'd recommend setting aside about 25-30% of your net profits for taxes (income tax + self-employment tax) and making those quarterly payments if your annual profit looks like it'll be substantial. The due dates are usually mid-January, mid-April, mid-June, and mid-September for the following year's taxes. Also, since you're dealing with Steam's mandatory 7-day hold period, make sure you're tracking when each transaction actually completes for tax purposes - it's the sale date that matters for when you recognize the income, not when you first list the item.