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Nia Davis
Does anyone know if taking a lower salary and higher distributions from my S corp is still a valid tax strategy? I've heard mixed things about the IRS cracking down on this.
Nia Davis
ā¢Thanks, that's helpful. I've been taking about 30% as salary so maybe I should increase that a bit. I just hate paying all those extra payroll taxes! Do you do anything special to document why your salary is reasonable? Like keep data on industry standards or anything?
Ravi Sharma
ā¢Yes, I keep documentation to support my salary level. I have a file with salary surveys from PayScale and Glassdoor for similar roles in my industry and geographic area. I also document the hours I work and the specific services I provide personally versus what the business provides through employees or contractors. My CPA recommended keeping records showing that my salary is comparable to what I'd pay an unrelated person to do the same work. The IRS looks at factors like your qualifications, time devoted to the business, duties performed, and what similar businesses pay for comparable services. The key is being able to show you put some thought into it rather than just picking an arbitrary low number to minimize payroll taxes.
This is such a great thread - I'm learning so much! I'm in a similar situation as the original poster. Just became an S corp shareholder this year and my accountant basically just handed me a K-1 without much explanation. One thing I'm still confused about: if I have multiple years of accumulated earnings that I haven't taken as distributions, does that affect my basis calculations? Like, if my S corp has been profitable for 3 years but I've only taken minimal distributions, am I building up this "bank" of tax-free distribution potential? Also, does anyone know if there are limits on how long you can wait to take distributions? I'm trying to time them for tax planning purposes but don't want to run into any IRS issues.
Yes, you're exactly right about building up that "bank" of tax-free distribution potential! Each year your S corp is profitable, your basis increases by your share of the income (which you pay tax on), and it only decreases when you actually take distributions or the company has losses. So if you've had 3 years of profits but minimal distributions, you should have a substantial basis built up that would allow for tax-free distributions in future years. This is actually a common tax planning strategy - pay the income tax each year but delay taking distributions until you need the cash or want to smooth out your income across tax years. There's no IRS time limit on when you have to take distributions from an S corp. Unlike some retirement accounts, there are no required minimum distributions. You can leave the money in the business indefinitely as long as you keep paying tax on your share of the annual profits. Just make sure you're tracking your basis correctly each year - the accumulated earnings and profits approach only works if you maintain accurate basis records to prove the distributions are truly tax-free when you eventually take them.
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Ella Lewis
Is no one else bothered by the fact that TT basically gives itself an interest-free loan from your refund and then charges YOU for the privilege?? The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get. They're literally using our money to float their business for a few weeks and then charging us for it.
Actually this is how most of these tax prep companies operate. H&R Block does the same thing with their "Refund Anticipation" products. I used to work at a tax place (not TT) and we were trained to push these products hard because they're basically pure profit. Most people don't realize they're paying extra just to get money that's already theirs.
Nolan Carter
This is exactly why I switched to doing my own taxes using the IRS Free File Fillable Forms. Yes, it takes a bit more work to understand the forms, but at least I know exactly where every dollar is going and I'm not getting hit with surprise fees. The whole SBTPG situation is a perfect example of how these tax prep companies make their money - not just from the software fees, but from all these ancillary services that most people don't even realize they're signing up for. When you're going through the filing process, they make it seem like paying with your refund is just a convenient option, but they don't clearly explain that convenience costs you an extra $40. For anyone who wants to avoid this next year, either pay the software fee upfront or look into the actual IRS Free File options that others have mentioned. Don't let these companies profit off your own money!
This is really helpful advice! I'm definitely considering making the switch for next year. How difficult is it to transition from using something like TurboTax to the Free File Fillable Forms? I've been using tax software for years and I'm worried I might miss something important or make a mistake that could get me in trouble with the IRS. Also, do the fillable forms handle things like itemized deductions and business expenses if you're self-employed, or is it really just for basic returns?
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I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed my 1040X in February and just got an 846 code last week. I was so confused about why they wouldn't do direct deposit when I specifically entered my bank info during e-filing. Reading through all these responses has been such a relief - I had no idea that paper checks for amended returns was just standard IRS policy. Their website really doesn't make this clear at all. I've been stressing about it for weeks thinking something went wrong with my filing. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool has been completely useless for me too - just shows "processing" with no timeline or details. It's frustrating how unhelpful their online tools are for 1040X tracking. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here. I'm definitely going to call to verify they have my current address since I moved about a year ago. Better to be proactive than deal with a lost check situation!
Ella Russell
ā¢I'm so glad this thread helped you too! It's really unfortunate how the IRS doesn't clearly communicate this policy anywhere obvious. I went through the same stress and confusion when I was expecting direct deposit but kept hearing about a paper check. Definitely call to verify your address - especially since you moved a year ago, there's a good chance they still have your old address on file. When I called, the representative was able to read me exactly what address they had, and it turned out they were still using an address from 2 years ago! I had to file Form 8822 to update it before they could send my check to the right place. One tip: when you call the 800-829-1040 number, have your Social Security number and the exact refund amount ready. It'll help them locate your account faster. Also, try calling early in the morning (around 7-8 AM) - the wait times are usually shorter then. Hope your check arrives soon once you get the address situation sorted out!
StarSeeker
I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Filed my 1040X back in February and just saw the 846 code appear on my transcript this week. I was completely baffled about why I wasn't getting direct deposit when I carefully entered all my banking information during e-filing. This thread has been incredibly enlightening - I had absolutely no idea that the IRS has a blanket policy of issuing paper checks for ALL amended return refunds. It's honestly pretty ridiculous that this isn't clearly stated anywhere on their website. I've been second-guessing myself for weeks thinking I must have made some kind of error. The "Where's My Amended Return" tool has been completely worthless for me too - just keeps showing "processing" with zero useful details or timeline. Really frustrating when you're trying to plan your finances around an expected refund. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow to verify they have my current address. I moved about 10 months ago and even though I have mail forwarding set up, I want to make absolutely sure the check doesn't get sent to my old place. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know this is standard procedure and not some kind of problem with my return!
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One thing nobody's mentioned - you should check if you qualify as "Head of Household" instead of married filing separately. If you: 1) Were separated from your spouse for last 6 months of 2024 2) Paid more than half the cost of keeping up your home 3) Had a "qualifying person" (like your kids) living with you for more than half the year 4) Will file a separate return from your spouse Then HOH status gives you a bigger standard deduction ($20,800 vs $13,850) and better tax rates than married filing separately. Since your kids lived with you 7 months, they could qualify you for this better filing status!
Natalie Wang
ā¢This is incorrect. You cannot file as Head of Household if you're still legally married on December 31st unless you meet very specific requirements for being "considered unmarried" by the IRS. Just being separated isn't enough - you need a separate maintenance decree or similar legal document.
@Chloe Green - I went through a very similar situation during my divorce. Here are the key points that helped me navigate this: **Filing Status**: Since you were still legally married on December 31, 2024, you must choose between "married filing jointly" or "married filing separately." You cannot file as single or head of household without a legal separation decree. **Dependents**: The IRS uses the "residency test" - whoever the children lived with for more than half the year (more than 183 days) generally gets to claim them. Since your kids lived with you for 7 months before moving to their dad's, you likely have the stronger claim. However, make sure there's no existing court order from your first marriage that gives their biological father the right to claim them. **Joint vs. Separate**: Run the numbers both ways! Joint filing usually saves money due to better tax brackets and higher standard deduction, but if you're concerned about your husband's tax compliance or want to limit your liability, separate filing might be worth the extra tax cost for peace of mind. **Documentation**: Keep detailed records of where the kids lived each night in 2024, plus receipts for their support (housing, food, clothes, medical, etc.). If their father tries to claim them too, you'll need this documentation. Consider consulting a tax professional for your specific situation - the potential savings from getting this right could be substantial with two dependents involved.
This is really helpful, thank you! I'm definitely leaning toward getting professional help since there's so much at stake. One quick question - when you say "run the numbers both ways," is there a simple way to estimate the difference between joint and separate filing? I don't want to pay a tax pro just to find out joint filing saves us $200, but if it's thousands of dollars difference, that changes things. Also, should I be worried that claiming the kids might trigger some kind of audit or dispute with their biological father?
Marcus Marsh
I took a different approach that might be worth considering - I use UltraTax CS which is definitely more expensive than Drake or ATX, but I was able to get started with their "pay-per-return" model which let me grow gradually without a huge upfront cost. Now that I'm bigger I switched to the unlimited package. The software is top notch and feels much more polished than some of the budget options.
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Giovanni Ricci
Great question! I went through this exact transition about 4 years ago. Started with TaxSlayer Pro when I was around your client count and it served me well for the first couple seasons. The pricing was really reasonable and the client portal worked fine for basic document collection. However, as I grew past 75 clients, I ended up switching to Drake because the workflow features are much better for higher volume. The batch processing and bulk e-filing capabilities became essential when I hit busy season with 100+ returns. One thing I'd suggest is don't just look at the software cost - factor in your time savings too. Even if something costs a few hundred more per year, if it saves you 2-3 hours per week during tax season, that pays for itself quickly when you're charging $200+ per return. Also, whatever you choose, make sure it has good technical support during filing season. Nothing worse than being stuck with a software issue when you have 20 returns due the next day!
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Brianna Schmidt
ā¢This is really helpful perspective! I'm curious about the transition from TaxSlayer Pro to Drake - was it difficult to migrate client data between the systems? That's one thing holding me back from committing to any one platform since I'm worried about getting locked in if I need to switch later as I grow.
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