I actually went through H&R Block's training program last year and can give you some firsthand insight! Their digital training approach was really comprehensive - it included interactive modules, practice returns with feedback, and simulated client scenarios. What I loved most was that by the time I finished training, I was already comfortable with the actual software I'd be using with real clients. The training took about 3 weeks of evening classes (2-3 hours each session), which was perfect for balancing with my day job. They also provided ongoing support throughout tax season - weekly team meetings where we could discuss challenging returns and get guidance from more experienced preparers. One thing that really stood out was their quality review process. Every return gets checked by a supervisor before filing, which gave me confidence as a new preparer and helped me learn from any mistakes. They also have a really good error tracking system that helps you identify patterns in your work and improve over time. The work environment was professional but supportive. Yes, there are metrics to meet (returns per hour, accuracy rates), but they're reasonable and there's good coaching to help you improve rather than just pressure to perform. The pay at our location started at $14/hour for new preparers, with bonuses based on client satisfaction scores and return volume. After my first season, I got promoted to a senior preparer role with better hourly pay plus commission opportunities. Would definitely recommend at least checking out their info session - even if you stick with Liberty, it'll give you a good comparison point!

As someone who's worked in tax preparation for several years now, I'd recommend taking a step back and thinking about your long-term goals before making this decision. Both companies can get you started in tax prep, but they really do serve different purposes. If you're looking at this as primarily seasonal income and want a more relaxed environment, Liberty might be fine despite the training issues you're experiencing. However, if you're serious about building a career in tax or accounting, H&R Block's structured approach, better training resources, and advancement opportunities make it the clear choice. That said, don't discount the value of what you're learning at Liberty right now. Even if the instruction style isn't ideal, understanding tax calculations manually will serve you well throughout your career. Many seasoned preparers who only learned software-based methods struggle when they encounter unusual situations that require deeper understanding. My suggestion? Finish your Liberty course to get that foundational knowledge, then consider H&R Block for next season to get the structured training and career development opportunities. You'll end up with the best of both worlds - solid fundamentals plus professional development in a company with real growth potential. Also, don't overlook networking opportunities at either company. The connections you make with other preparers, supervisors, and even clients can be just as valuable as the training itself for building your career in this field.

This thread has been incredibly comprehensive and helpful! As a newcomer who just stumbled onto this discussion while researching my own 1099/W-2 situation, I'm blown away by the quality of advice and real-world examples shared here. I'm in a similar position with about $22k in 1099 income this year and had been completely overwhelmed trying to figure out the Solo 401k rules on my own. The IRS publications are dense and confusing, but seeing everyone break down the actual calculations and share their tax savings numbers makes this so much clearer. A few key takeaways that really helped me: - The $23,000 employee contribution limit applies across ALL 401k accounts combined - You can still make employer contributions to a Solo 401k based on your SE income even if you've maxed out employee contributions elsewhere - The ~20% employer contribution rate accounts for the SE tax adjustment (thanks for clarifying that detail!) - Setup needs to happen by Dec 31st but funding can wait until tax deadline I'm definitely moving forward with opening a Solo 401k based on everything I've learned here. The potential tax savings of $800+ on my income level makes the setup effort a no-brainer. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical, real-world guidance that makes all the difference when navigating these complex tax situations!

This is such an excellent resource! I'm also dealing with mixed W-2/1099 income for the first time and feeling completely overwhelmed by the retirement contribution rules. Reading through all the real experiences and actual tax savings numbers has been incredibly eye-opening. What really stands out to me is how the Solo 401k seems to be a game-changer for anyone with even modest 1099 income. The ability to make both employee AND employer contributions (up to that ~20% of net SE income) creates so much more retirement savings capacity than I realized was possible. I'm particularly grateful for the clarification about the December 31st setup deadline vs the funding deadline - that distinction could have easily tripped me up. And seeing the breakdown of how the SE tax adjustment works in the contribution calculations was super helpful since that's not something you'd easily figure out on your own. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar boat, the consensus here seems crystal clear: the tax benefits alone make a Solo 401k worth setting up if you have any meaningful self-employment income. The setup process sounds much more straightforward than the IRS publications make it seem! Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and numbers - this thread should definitely be bookmarked as the definitive guide for mixed income retirement planning.

Ughhh I'm still waiting for mine and it's February 12th! This is sooo annoying because my tax guy needs all my docs by the 20th or he won't guarantee filing before April. Anyone else in the same boat? I had like 200+ trades last year so maybe that's why?

Still waiting on mine too! I've been checking the app every day like it's going to magically appear. I did a mix of stocks and crypto trades throughout 2024, probably around 150 transactions total. It's so frustrating because I usually file my taxes in early February to get my refund ASAP, but this year I'm stuck waiting on Robinhood. Has anyone tried downloading their transaction history and just calculating everything manually? I'm tempted to do that rather than wait until the 15th, but I'm worried I'll mess something up with the cost basis calculations or miss some dividend that got reinvested automatically.

I think everybody is overthinking this. If you have a rental property that isn't a triple-net lease, most tax pros consider it a business eligible for QBI. The 250-hour safe harbor just gives you automatic qualification and protection from challenges. I've been claiming QBI on my 3 rentals for years with no issues. I have property managers for all of them and probably spend less than 50 hours total on them each year. Unless you're blatantly ignoring all aspects of the property, you're probably fine.

I've been through this exact same situation and ended up working with a tax professional who specializes in QBI deductions. What I learned is that the key isn't just how many hours you spend, but the nature and regularity of your activities. In your case, regularly communicating with the PM about maintenance, HOA compliance, inspection scheduling, and tenant renewals actually demonstrates significant business involvement. The fact that you're making decisions and staying involved rather than just collecting rent checks is important. My CPA explained that courts have looked at factors like: Do you maintain separate business records? Do you actively market the property? Do you make business decisions about repairs, improvements, and tenant selection? Are you involved in setting rent rates? Even with a property manager handling day-to-day operations, if you can show you're actively managing the business aspects of the rental, you may have a solid case. The $2,600 in potential tax savings definitely justifies getting a professional opinion from someone who really knows QBI rules. I'd recommend finding a CPA who has experience with rental property QBI cases specifically - it made all the difference for me.

As a newcomer here, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences! I'm in a similar situation to the original poster - filed for the first time this year and feeling completely overwhelmed by all the different ways to check my refund status. Reading through these responses, it sounds like getting set up with transcript access is definitely worth the hassle, even though the ID.me verification process sounds intimidating. Can someone clarify - if I'm checking my transcript and see that code 846 with a date, is that the date the IRS actually sends the money, or when they approve it for sending? I want to make sure I understand the timeline correctly so I can plan accordingly. Thanks for being so helpful to us newbies!

Just want to echo what others have said about the transcript being a game-changer! I was skeptical at first too, but after going through the ID.me setup (which yes, was annoying but only took about 2 days for me), the level of detail is incredible. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're checking your transcript on mobile, the formatting can be pretty rough. I'd recommend using a computer/laptop if possible because trying to read those transaction codes on a phone screen made my eyes cross! Also, for anyone worried about the weekly Friday updates being too slow - I found that even though WMR updates daily, it would show the same "still processing" message for weeks while my transcript was actually showing progression with different codes appearing. The transcript really does give you the full picture of what's happening behind the scenes at the IRS.