An 82 on your first practice test is actually really encouraging! I just went through this same process a few months ago and was in a similar situation - scored an 81 on my first attempt and was worried it wasn't good enough. From my experience, the practice tests are quite representative of the actual exam format and difficulty level. The real exam felt very similar, though I did notice a few questions that approached familiar concepts from slightly different angles. Nothing drastically different though. What really helped me improve from the low 80s to consistently hitting the high 80s and low 90s was creating a simple spreadsheet after each practice test. I'd note the specific tax concepts I missed (like "kiddie tax rules" or "educator expense deduction limits") rather than just broad categories. Then I'd spend 15-20 minutes reviewing just those specific rules before my next practice session. If you keep scoring in the 82+ range consistently, you should feel confident going into the actual exam. The 70% passing threshold gives you a nice buffer, and most people I know who scored in your range on practice tests passed on their first try. One last tip - definitely take at least one or two practice tests under strict time conditions to get used to the pacing. The actual exam timing felt much more manageable after I'd practiced that way.

An 82 on your first practice test is excellent! You're definitely on the right track. I passed my Level 1 exam a few weeks ago after scoring in the 80-85 range on practice tests, so you're in a really good position. The key thing that helped me was focusing on understanding WHY I got questions wrong, not just what the right answer was. For example, if I missed a question about dependent exemptions, I'd review all the rules around qualifying children vs. qualifying relatives, not just that one specific scenario. The actual exam felt very similar to the practice tests in terms of difficulty and format. There were maybe 2-3 questions that were worded a bit differently than I expected, but nothing that felt unfair or outside the scope of what I'd studied. One thing I wish I'd done earlier in my prep was to simulate the actual testing conditions more closely. Try taking a full practice test in one sitting without any breaks, phones put away, etc. It really helps build your focus and stamina for the real thing. You're well above the passing threshold already, so if you keep working through the practice material and addressing your weak spots systematically, you should feel very confident going into the actual exam. Good luck!

I went through this exact situation with some worthless biotech stocks from 2012. Unfortunately, you're right that amending returns from over 10 years ago isn't an option anymore - the IRS only allows amendments within 3 years of the original filing date (or 2 years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later). Having your broker remove the shares won't create a current-year tax loss either. The loss needs to be recognized in the year the stock actually became worthless, not when it's removed from your account. However, there might be one legitimate option: if you can document that you never had a reasonable opportunity to discover the stock was worthless during the proper timeframe (maybe the company kept filing reports or your broker continued showing it as active), you could potentially file Form 8082 with a detailed explanation. This is a long shot and would likely trigger IRS scrutiny, but it's within the tax code. Before going that route, I'd suggest consulting with a tax professional who specializes in securities transactions. The potential tax savings need to be weighed against the cost and risk of an IRS inquiry.

I dealt with a similar situation a few years back with some energy company stocks that went to zero around 2010. What worked for me was proving that the broker continued to show the securities as "active" in their system even after they became worthless, which prevented me from realizing I could claim the loss. The key documentation I used was: (1) historical broker statements showing the stocks were still listed with minimal prices like $0.0001 rather than marked as "worthless," (2) proof that the companies continued filing quarterly reports with the SEC even while essentially defunct, and (3) evidence that the broker never sent any notification about the securities becoming worthless. I filed Form 8082 along with a detailed letter explaining that the broker's continued listing of these securities with nominal values misled me into thinking they retained some potential value. The IRS accepted it after about 8 months of back-and-forth correspondence, but I had to provide extensive documentation. The process was stressful and required working with a CPA who specialized in these situations, but ultimately I was able to recover about $12,000 in capital losses that I thought were gone forever. Just make sure you have rock-solid documentation before going this route.

This is such a great thread with solid advice! I'm running a similar youth sports LLC and learned a lot from everyone's experiences. One additional tip that saved me headaches later: when you create that sponsorship agreement, include a simple clause about how both parties will handle the tax reporting. Something like "Sponsor acknowledges this payment may be reported as business advertising expense" and "LLC acknowledges this payment will be reported as business income." My accountant suggested this after I had some confusion with a sponsor who thought they could claim it as a charitable deduction. Having it spelled out upfront prevented any awkward conversations later. Also, definitely get that LLC bank account set up properly if you haven't already - mixing personal and business funds, even for youth sports, can create unnecessary complications come tax time. The IRS likes clean separation between personal and business finances, especially when you're dealing with larger amounts like this $6,750. Those kids are going to have an amazing tournament experience thanks to your diligent work on the business side!

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone new to running youth sports organizations, I had no idea about the complexities of handling business donations vs. sponsorships. One question I haven't seen addressed: if you're setting up sponsorship tiers for future fundraising, do you need to register anywhere or get any special permits to formally offer advertising/sponsorship services? Or is this something that falls under normal business operations for an LLC? I'm thinking about starting a similar program for our local youth volleyball club, but want to make sure I'm not missing any regulatory requirements. The last thing I want is to accidentally run afoul of any business licensing rules while trying to help kids get to tournaments! Also, huge props to @Lim Wong for asking this question in the first place - the responses here have given me a roadmap for handling our own fundraising challenges. Sometimes the business side of youth sports feels more complicated than the actual coaching!

I went through this exact same process last year and wanted to share a few additional tips that really helped me: 1. **Double-check your math** - I used both TurboTax's calculations and manually verified the numbers on a calculator. Small errors can cause delays in processing. 2. **Include Form 8858 if applicable** - If your missing income affects any credits or deductions (like Earned Income Credit), make sure those are properly recalculated on your amendment. 3. **Track your amendment status** - Use the IRS "Where's My Amended Return?" tool online. It's updated weekly and will show you exactly where your 1040X is in the processing pipeline. 4. **Consider certified mail for paper filing** - If you end up having to mail your amendment, send it certified mail with return receipt. This gives you proof the IRS received it and helps if there are any processing delays. The most important thing is don't panic! Filing an amended return is actually pretty common, and the IRS processes millions of them every year. As long as you're thorough with your documentation and pay any additional tax owed promptly, you'll be fine. The fact that you caught the error yourself and are fixing it voluntarily actually works in your favor.

Adding to all the great advice here - one thing that really helped me when I filed my 1040X last year was creating a simple checklist before submitting. I wrote down: 1) All supporting documents attached (corrected 1099s, etc.), 2) Part III explanation completed, 3) Payment made if additional tax owed, 4) Return signed and dated, 5) Backup copies saved. I also want to emphasize what others have said about paying any additional tax immediately. I made the mistake of waiting "to see what happens" with my amendment and ended up paying an extra $180 in interest that I could have avoided. The IRS Direct Pay system is super straightforward - just select "Amended Return" and the tax year, enter your payment amount, and you're done. One last tip: if you're using TurboTax to prepare your 1040X, double-check that it's carrying forward all your original return information correctly before making your changes. Sometimes the software can miss carryover items from the previous year, which could create additional errors. Take a few minutes to compare key numbers from your original return to make sure everything transferred properly. The whole process is definitely manageable once you get started. You're being proactive by catching and fixing the error yourself, which is exactly what the IRS wants taxpayers to do!

Great discussion here! I wanted to add something that might be relevant to your specific situation - since you're dealing with such a short employment period (3 months) in Oregon, you should also verify whether your employer will even process the W-2 adjustment if you repay in the same tax year. Some payroll systems have cutoff dates for adjustments, and with only 3 months of employment, there might be complications with how they handle the reversal. I've seen cases where short-term employees had to repay relocation funds but the employer's payroll vendor couldn't process the adjustment properly, leaving the employee to deal with it entirely through tax filings. Also, given that you're moving from Oregon to California, be aware that California is particularly aggressive about establishing tax residency. If you receive the California relocation money while still technically an Oregon resident, but then establish California residency quickly, both states might try to tax portions of your income. California has a "safe harbor" rule that if you're in the state for more than 9 months in a tax year, you're presumed to be a resident for the entire year. Document everything about your residency timeline - lease agreements, utility connections, voter registration changes, etc. This will be crucial if either state questions your residency status during the periods when you received relocation funds.

This is such a complex situation with multiple moving parts! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the potential impact on your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) if you end up having to claim the relocation repayment as a miscellaneous deduction in a different tax year. Since miscellaneous itemized deductions are currently suspended through 2025, if you can't get the W-2 adjustment and have to repay in 2026, you might be stuck with taxable income in 2025 but no corresponding deduction until 2027 when those deductions potentially return. This could affect your eligibility for various tax credits and deductions that are AGI-based. Also, consider asking both employers about gross-up provisions. Some companies will "gross up" relocation payments to cover the tax burden, essentially giving you extra money to pay the taxes on the relocation benefit. If your California employer offers this, it might help offset any tax complications from the Oregon situation. Finally, keep in mind that if you end up with a large tax bill from this situation, you might want to adjust your withholdings or make estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties. The IRS doesn't care that your tax situation is complicated - they just want their money on time! Good luck navigating all of this - definitely lean on the professionals for the multi-state aspects!