Don't forget about nonbusiness income! When I first did our state apportionment, I focused only on the three factors for business income and completely missed that nonbusiness income has totally different allocation rules. Things like interest income, rental income from properties not part of your regular business, and gain/loss from selling business assets often get allocated 100% to specific states rather than being apportioned. This was a painful lesson when we had a significant capital gain that year.

As someone who just went through this exact process last year, I want to emphasize the importance of getting your nexus analysis right BEFORE you start building your apportionment file. We made the mistake of creating apportionment calculations for states where we thought we had nexus, only to discover later that some states had different thresholds or that certain employee activities didn't actually create nexus. Start with a comprehensive nexus study considering: - Physical presence (employees, property, offices) - Economic nexus thresholds (sales amounts) - Click-through nexus or affiliate nexus rules - Payroll nexus thresholds Once you know exactly which states you need to file in, THEN build your apportionment methodology. Also, consider whether you need to register for nexus in any new states before your first filing - some states require registration within 30 days of establishing nexus. The remote work situation adds complexity because employee work locations can create nexus even if you don't have a physical office there. Document everything well because if you get audited, they'll want to see your methodology and supporting records.

I'm experiencing this exact same issue and it's been driving me crazy! I've tried everything I could think of - cleared cache, disabled extensions, tried different browsers - but still getting nothing but blank screens when I try to access the VITA Link and Learn tests. Reading through all these solutions has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to try the Microsoft Edge approach first since that seems to work for so many people here. If that doesn't do the trick, I'll work through the combination approach that Chloe outlined - disabling hardware acceleration, adding Windows Defender exclusions, and setting the site as trusted. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread issue with actual solutions rather than something wrong with my computer setup. My volunteer coordinator has been asking about certification status and I was starting to panic that I wouldn't be able to complete the requirements in time. Has anyone found that certain versions of Windows work better than others for this? I'm on Windows 11 and wondering if that might be contributing to the compatibility issues with the VITA site. Thanks to everyone who shared their troubleshooting experiences - this thread is a goldmine of practical solutions!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been trying to access the VITA Link and Learn tests for three days straight and getting nothing but blank pages no matter what I try. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I've learned more about potential fixes here than from hours of searching through official IRS documentation. I'm planning to work through the combination approach that so many people have had success with: Microsoft Edge + disabled hardware acceleration + Windows Defender exclusions + trusted site settings. It's fascinating how many different system components can interfere with the VITA site - browser compatibility, security software, graphics drivers, even TLS protocol versions! For anyone else still struggling with this, don't give up! The solutions in this thread really do work based on all the success stories shared here. It just might take trying several fixes together rather than individually. One quick question for those who've gotten through this - did you notice the site working better at certain times of day? I'm wondering if server load during peak certification season might also contribute to the blank screen issues, or if it's purely a client-side configuration problem. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share detailed troubleshooting steps. This community support has been amazing!

I'm dealing with a very similar RSU tax situation right now! My employer also liquidated some of my vested shares and I'm getting that same confusing 1099-B with no cost basis reported. It's so frustrating because it makes it look like I owe taxes on gains I never actually realized. From what I've been reading in the IRS publications, you're absolutely right that the vesting date FMV should be your cost basis. The key thing is that when RSUs vest, that fair market value gets added to your W-2 income, so you've already been taxed on that amount. Your actual capital gain or loss is just the difference between what the shares were worth when they vested versus what they sold for. One thing I learned is to make sure you save all your documentation - not just the CSV from your brokerage, but also any supplemental tax documents your employer provided about the RSU transactions. Some companies send additional forms or statements that help clarify the cost basis calculations. Have you checked if your employer's HR or benefits team has any resources to help with this? Mine had a tax guide specifically for RSU reporting that I found really helpful.

I'm going through something very similar with my RSUs from last year! The 1099-B situation is so confusing when there's no cost basis reported. One thing I learned after talking to a tax professional is that you should definitely double-check that your employer actually included the RSU income on your W-2. Sometimes there can be timing differences - like if the shares vested in December but were sold in January, the income might show up on different tax years' W-2s. Also, if you're using tax software, make sure it properly handles the adjustment. I initially tried doing it myself in TurboTax and almost made a huge mistake because I didn't realize I needed to manually override the cost basis field. The good news is once you figure out the right process, it's pretty straightforward for future years. Just make sure to keep detailed records of all your vesting dates and fair market values - it makes everything much easier come tax time.

Make sure you also contact Social Security Administration! A lot of people forget this step. Your W-2 info gets reported to them as well as the IRS, and it's important that your earnings are properly credited to your Social Security record. You can call them at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local SSA office. Bring both the incorrect W-2 and the corrected W-2c when you get it. They can verify that your earnings are properly recorded under your correct SSN.

This is definitely stressful but you're not alone - SSN errors on W-2s are more common than you'd think! Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared: 1. Contact your employer ASAP for a W-2c (corrected W-2). Be polite but firm about the urgency since this affects your refund timing. 2. Don't panic about your filed return yet. If you e-filed, the IRS will likely reject it automatically due to the SSN mismatch, which actually makes things easier since you won't need to amend. If it goes through processing, you'll need to file a 1040-X amendment. 3. Keep detailed records of everything - the original incorrect W-2, the corrected W-2c when you get it, and all correspondence with your employer. One thing I learned from my own tax issues is that the IRS is actually pretty understanding about genuine errors like this. They see it all the time. The key is being proactive about fixing it rather than hoping it goes unnoticed. Also, definitely check your "Where's My Refund" status online regularly. If your return was accepted despite the error, you'll probably see it get flagged for manual review, which will delay processing but isn't the end of the world. Hang in there - this will get sorted out, it just might take a bit longer than originally planned!

Great question! I went through this same struggle last year. Here are some additional red flags to watch out for that I learned the hard way: Be wary of EAs who guarantee huge refunds before seeing your documents - that's a major red flag. Also avoid anyone who asks you to sign blank forms or won't give you copies of your returns. One thing that really helped me was asking potential EAs about their experience with IRS audits and notices. Even if you don't expect problems, you want someone who can handle representation if issues arise. A good EA should be able to describe their process for dealing with IRS correspondence. Also, don't be afraid to ask about their continuing education. EAs are required to complete 72 hours of continuing education every 3 years, but many good ones do more. Someone who mentions recent tax law seminars or specialized training shows they're staying current. For your investment income and side business, specifically ask about their experience with Schedule C (business income) and Schedule D (capital gains). These are common enough that any competent EA should be comfortable with them, but you want someone who handles them regularly, not just occasionally.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is checking with your state's Board of Accountancy or licensing department. Many states maintain databases where you can verify not just that someone is an EA, but also check for any disciplinary actions or complaints filed against them. I learned this after hiring an EA who turned out to have had multiple client complaints (though nothing severe enough to lose their license). While the work was technically correct, the communication and professionalism issues made tax season much more stressful than it needed to be. For your investment income and side business situation, I'd also recommend asking potential EAs about their experience with quarterly estimated payments. Since you'll likely need to make these payments for your business income, you want someone who can help you calculate the right amounts and avoid underpayment penalties. Another practical tip: ask how they handle document collection and organization. A good EA should provide you with a checklist of what documents you'll need and may even offer secure online portals for sharing sensitive financial information. This becomes especially important when you have multiple income sources like you do. Finally, trust your gut during consultations. Technical competence is crucial, but you also want someone who explains things clearly and makes you feel comfortable asking questions. Tax issues can be stressful enough without having to deal with poor communication on top of it.