Have you considered using tax software instead? I have a small business (LLC) and two rental properties, and I use TurboTax Business. It costs me under $200 all in. Since you're already a CPA with Big4 experience, you probably have enough knowledge to handle it yourself and save thousands.

As someone who's been through similar fee discussions with my CPA, I'd suggest requesting a detailed engagement letter for next year that breaks down exactly what services are included in each fee component. The $1,500 "accounting work" charge is definitely worth questioning given your background and record-keeping quality. When I pushed back on similar charges, my CPA admitted they had automatically included certain review procedures that weren't necessary for my well-maintained books. For comparison, I have a professional services S-corp and two rental properties in a major metropolitan area, and I pay $1,200 for the business return and $2,200 for personal. The key difference might be that I established clear boundaries upfront about what accounting work I handle versus what they do. Consider asking them to walk through their specific value-add beyond basic compliance. Sometimes CPAs get into a routine of charging standard fees without considering the client's sophistication level. Given your Big4 background, you might be paying for services you don't actually need.

My brother didn't file for 3 years cuz he was "sure he didn't owe" and the IRS eventually caught up with him. They reconstructed what his income should have been based on third-party reporting and sent him a bill with penalties that was wayyyyyy more than if he'd just filed normally. Plus they almost went after him for tax evasion which is no joke. Just file your taxes people!!!

Just to add to what everyone else has said - even if you're 100% certain you don't owe taxes, there are actually several good reasons to file anyway: 1. **You might be leaving money on the table** - Like others mentioned, you could qualify for refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or American Opportunity Tax Credit that actually give you money even if you didn't pay any taxes. 2. **Proof of income** - Having a filed tax return makes it way easier to apply for loans, apartments, financial aid, etc. Landlords and lenders often want to see your tax returns as proof of income. 3. **Social Security credits** - If you earned income but don't file, you might not get proper credit toward your Social Security benefits later in life. 4. **Peace of mind** - Filing eliminates any worry about whether the IRS will come knocking later. It's one less thing to stress about. The whole process is honestly not as bad as people make it out to be, especially if your situation is simple. And if you're owed a refund, you're basically giving the government a free loan by not filing. Why let them keep your money?

I was in the exact same situation last year! As an independent contractor doing gig work, I spent way too much time worrying about Line 20 when it turned out I didn't need it at all. Here's what I learned: since you're doing Uber and delivery work as an independent contractor, pretty much all your work-related expenses (car expenses, phone, delivery equipment, etc.) go on Schedule C, not anywhere on Schedule 1. Your W-2 income just goes directly on your main 1040 form. Line 20 of Schedule 1 is really just for weird, uncommon situations that don't have their own specific lines - things like jury duty pay you had to give back to your employer, certain performing artist expenses, or repayment of unemployment benefits. For regular folks like us doing gig work, it's almost always going to be blank. Don't overthink it! If you don't have one of those unusual situations (and most people don't), just leave Line 20 empty and focus on getting your Schedule C filled out correctly. That's where your real deductions are going to be anyway, and they're actually more valuable there since they reduce your business income before it gets taxed. The tax forms seem super complicated at first, but once you realize that most lines don't apply to your specific situation, it gets much easier. You've got this!

I completely understand your confusion! Line 20 of Schedule 1 is definitely one of those areas that trips people up when they're doing their own taxes for the first time. Since you're an Uber driver and delivery person with a W-2 job, here's the good news: you'll probably leave Line 20 blank. Your gig work expenses (car costs, phone bills, delivery bags, etc.) all belong on Schedule C as business deductions, which is actually better for you since they reduce your business income directly. Line 20 is really a catch-all for unusual situations like: - Jury duty pay you had to return to your employer - Certain performing artist expenses - Repayment of previously reported income - Some very specific professional expenses for certain occupations For most independent contractors like yourself, these situations don't apply. Your Schedule C will handle all your business-related deductions, and your W-2 income goes directly on Form 1040. Don't stress about trying to find something to put on Line 20 - if you don't have one of those rare situations, it should be $0 or blank. Focus your energy on making sure your Schedule C is accurate, as that's where your real tax savings will come from. The IRS designed the forms so that common situations like yours have clear places for everything!

Has anyone tried Lacerte for trust returns? My accountant uses it for our more complicated partnership returns, and I was thinking about getting it for the trust returns I prepare personally.

I've been using UltraTax CS for my family trust returns for the past 3 years and it's been solid. It's definitely more expensive than consumer software (around $500-600 annually), but the reliability has been worth it after dealing with similar issues you described with H&R Block. What I really appreciate is how it handles the flow-through calculations from the 1041 to the K-1s automatically, and it has excellent error checking that catches common trust return mistakes before you file. The interface takes some getting used to if you're coming from consumer software, but their support team actually knows trust taxation rules, which has been helpful when I've had questions about distribution deduction calculations. One thing to note - they require you to maintain the subscription annually even if you only file during tax season, so factor that into your cost comparison. But given your bad experience with H&R Block's reliability issues, it might be worth the peace of mind to use something designed for professional preparers.

As a newcomer to this community, I find this discussion incredibly valuable! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my physical therapy practice where we offer regenerative treatments to several professional and semi-professional athletes. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of establishing a clear treatment protocol that distinguishes between medical necessity and performance enhancement. The IRS tends to scrutinize expenses that could be viewed as elective or cosmetic, so having documentation that shows the regenerative therapy was medically necessary to address a specific injury (rather than just general performance optimization) is crucial. Also, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of any alternative treatments that were considered and why they were rejected in favor of the regenerative approach. If surgery would have meant 6-8 months of lost income versus 2-3 months with stem cell therapy, that economic justification strengthens the business expense argument significantly. Has anyone encountered situations where the IRS challenged these deductions specifically on the grounds that the treatment was "experimental" or not FDA-approved? I'm curious how that factor might impact the business expense classification.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly insightful! I'm a tax preparer who recently started working with more clients in the sports and entertainment industry, and this thread has been like a masterclass in handling these specialized deductions. One question I haven't seen addressed yet: how do you handle situations where the athlete has both team insurance and personal insurance, but neither covers the regenerative treatment? I'm wondering if there's any additional documentation value in showing that multiple insurance sources reviewed and denied coverage, which could strengthen the argument that the athlete had to seek alternative treatment options for legitimate business reasons. Also, for those who have successfully claimed these deductions, do you recommend keeping any specific documentation about the facility or provider who performed the treatment? I'm thinking things like their credentials, whether they specialize in sports medicine, or if they have other professional athletes as patients. It seems like establishing the provider's legitimacy in treating performance-related injuries could be another piece of supporting evidence. The economic impact analysis mentioned by @Giovanni Gallo really resonates with me - I'm definitely going to start incorporating that approach for my athlete clients. Thank you all for sharing your expertise!