I used Ageras last year and had a positive experience overall. The platform itself is legitimate - they do verify that the accountants are licensed and have proper credentials. I got matched with 3 accountants and ended up choosing one who specialized in small business taxes like mine. The key is to really vet the accountants they match you with, just like you would with any tax professional. Ask about their experience with businesses similar to yours, request references, and make sure they have an active PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number). The accountant I worked with was very transparent about what was included in their quote and there were no surprises when it came to final billing. One tip: when you have your initial calls with the matched accountants, ask them to walk through exactly what they'll review and what their process looks like. The good ones will be happy to explain their approach and answer your questions. If someone seems evasive or rushes you to sign up, that's a red flag regardless of the platform. The quotes you received ($275-$650) sound reasonable for small business tax prep, especially compared to the $800+ you were quoted elsewhere. Just make sure to clarify what services are included at each price point.

I've been in a similar situation and ended up using Ageras about 6 months ago for my small business taxes. The platform is legitimate - they do verify accountant credentials before listing them. What I found helpful was treating it like any other professional service search. I scheduled calls with 3 of the 4 accountants who reached out to me and asked each one the same set of questions: their experience with businesses like mine, what exactly was included in their quote, their turnaround time, and how they handle communications during tax season. Two of the accountants were great - professional, detailed in their explanations, and transparent about pricing. One seemed rushed and couldn't give me specifics about what my quote included, so I crossed them off my list immediately. I ended up going with an accountant who quoted $375 for my S-Corp return. The final bill was exactly what was quoted with no surprises. She was responsive throughout the process and even caught a deduction my previous accountant had missed. My advice: don't rush the decision just because you got matched. Take advantage of those initial consultations to really evaluate who you're most comfortable working with. The quotes you received seem reasonable, but make sure you understand exactly what services are included at each price point before making your choice.

Just be careful with this strategy. My brother-in-law tried the "continuous business loss" approach for 4 years straight and got audited. Ended up owing back taxes plus penalties because he couldn't prove legitimate business intent. The IRS specifically looked at his purchases of depreciable assets and determined many weren't necessary for the business. Make sure you can demonstrate you're trying to make a profit. Keep good records, have a business plan, separate business accounts, proper bookkeeping, etc. It's not just about the numbers - it's about showing you're running a real business.

One thing I'd add to this excellent discussion is the importance of understanding the "at-risk" rules in addition to the passive activity limitations mentioned. Even if you materially participate in your business, you can generally only deduct losses up to the amount you have "at risk" in the activity. For most small businesses, this means you can deduct losses up to the amount of cash you've invested plus any amounts you've borrowed for which you're personally liable. But if you're using non-recourse financing (where you're not personally liable for the debt), those amounts don't count toward your at-risk basis. Also, regarding the sustainability question - while the hobby loss rule is important, don't overlook the "excess business loss" limitation under Section 461(l). For 2024, if your total business losses exceed $305,000 (or $610,000 if married filing jointly), the excess gets treated as a net operating loss carryforward rather than offsetting your current year income. This mainly affects high-income earners, but it's something to be aware of when planning your strategy. The key is balancing legitimate business deductions with demonstrable profit motive. Document everything, maintain separate business accounts, and consider consulting with a tax professional who specializes in small business taxation.

I'd strongly recommend against depositing checks made out to your girlfriend into your account, even temporarily. This creates unnecessary complications and potential red flags. Here's why this is problematic: 1. **Banking violations**: Most banks prohibit depositing third-party checks without proper endorsement or joint account status 2. **Tax confusion**: The IRS could view these deposits as your income, creating documentation headaches later 3. **Audit risks**: If either of you gets audited, you'll need to prove the money wasn't yours - why create that burden? The simple solution is to help your girlfriend open her own account. Many online banks (Capital One 360, Ally, etc.) can be set up in minutes with no minimum balance. She can even deposit checks via mobile app immediately. If she absolutely can't open an account right now, she should cash the checks at the issuing bank and handle the cash herself. Don't create a paper trail that suggests someone else's income is yours - it's not worth the potential headaches down the road.

I completely agree with everyone saying to help your girlfriend set up her own bank account - that's definitely the cleanest solution. But if you're absolutely stuck in the short term, make sure you understand the documentation requirements. The key thing the IRS cares about is who actually earned the income, not whose account it temporarily goes through. Your girlfriend will need to report this income on her taxes regardless of where the checks were deposited. However, you'll want to keep detailed records showing: 1. Screenshots or copies of the original checks showing her name 2. A simple written agreement between you two stating these are her earnings that you're temporarily holding 3. Records of when/how the money was transferred back to her If the amounts add up to several thousand dollars over the year, banks are required to report certain deposit patterns to the IRS. Having clear documentation will save you both headaches if there are ever any questions. That said, most online banks really can be set up in under 30 minutes with just a phone and ID. Even credit unions often have online applications now. It's honestly less work than creating a paper trail to explain deposits that aren't yours!

Wait I'm still confused. So if my wife and I file separately, does that mean our combined standard deduction is LESS than if we filed jointly? Like do we lose money by filing separately?

I can definitely understand the confusion! As several others have mentioned, you get the full $13,850 standard deduction each when filing separately - you don't split it. The math works out to the same total as joint filing ($27,700). But here's something I haven't seen mentioned yet: if you're considering MFS because you think it's simpler or safer, be aware that it actually makes your tax situation more complex in many cases. You'll need to coordinate with your spouse on certain decisions (like whether to itemize), and you might need to file in the same state if you live in different states. Also, one practical consideration - if you use tax software, most programs will automatically calculate both MFJ and MFS scenarios for you and show the difference. This can be really helpful to see the actual dollar impact of the credits and deductions you'd lose with MFS. Sometimes seeing those numbers side by side makes the decision much clearer than trying to figure it out from IRS publications alone.

I think there's some confusion in this thread. An ITIN doesn't actually "expire" the way people think. The IRS may deactivate ITINs that haven't been used on a tax return for 3 consecutive years, but that's different from expiration. If you've been using your husband's ITIN on your returns regularly, it may still be valid even if the physical card shows an "expiration" date. You should check the actual status with the IRS before assuming it's invalid.

I went through this exact situation last year and want to share what I learned after consulting with a tax professional. The key thing to understand is that you can absolutely continue using your husband's expired ITIN on your tax return when filing as Married Filing Separately. The IRS uses the ITIN primarily for identification purposes to link you as married, not for any tax calculations since you're filing separately. Here's what I recommend: 1. File as Married Filing Separately (not Head of Household, since you don't qualify without a dependent) 2. Use your husband's expired ITIN in the spouse section - this is completely acceptable 3. Don't include any of his income or claim any benefits related to him 4. Keep documentation showing you're married but living apart I was worried about the expired ITIN causing issues too, but my return processed normally with no delays. The IRS agent I spoke with confirmed that expired ITINs can still be used for identification when the non-filing spouse has no US tax obligations. The most important thing is getting your filing status right - MFS is typically the correct choice for your situation unless you have qualifying dependents that would allow Head of Household under the "considered unmarried" rules.