Everyone is talking about income thresholds but nobody's mentioning TIME VALUE! I make $180k and use an accountant simply because my time is worth more than the $350 I pay him. Could I do it myself? Sure. Do I want to spend 5-6 hours researching tax law and entering data? Hell no. Consider what your hourly rate is at work and how many hours you'll spend on taxes. If an accountant costs less than (your hourly rate × hours spent), it's worth it regardless of income level or complexity.

Great question! I'm in a similar boat - making $245k with straightforward W-2 income and have been wondering the same thing. After reading through these responses, it seems like the consensus is that income alone doesn't dictate whether you need an accountant. What really resonates with me is the time value argument someone mentioned. Even though my situation is "simple," I still end up spending a full weekend every year dealing with taxes, and frankly, I'd rather spend that time with family or on hobbies. For your upcoming marriage situation specifically, I think a one-time consultation makes total sense. Two high earners getting married can definitely trigger some tax planning opportunities or pitfalls that might not be obvious. Even if you go back to self-filing afterward, at least you'll know what to watch out for. The other thing I'd consider is that as your income grows, you're probably accumulating more assets (investment accounts, potentially real estate, etc.) that could complicate things down the road. Getting established with an accountant now might be worth it for the long-term relationship, even if you don't strictly "need" one yet.

doesn't anyone else think its crazy that we gotta jump through all these hoops for some tax savings?? i'm flipping houses in florida and just use an LLC, keep it simple. my buddy went S-corp and now he's spending like 5 hrs a month just on paperwork. not worth it imho unless ur making big $$$.

Great discussion everyone! As someone who's been flipping properties for about 5 years now, I can confirm that the S-Corp election sweet spot is usually around $75k-100k+ in annual profit. Below that, the administrative burden often outweighs the tax savings. One thing I'd add is timing - if you're just starting out and not sure about your profit levels, you can always begin with a regular LLC and make the S-Corp election later when your business grows. Just remember the election deadline is March 15th (or within 75 days of forming your LLC if it's a new entity). Also, don't forget about state taxes! Some states don't recognize S-Corp elections or have additional fees/taxes for S-Corps. In my state (California), there's an additional $800 franchise tax for S-Corps regardless of income, which needs to be factored into your calculations. For those flipping 3-4 properties annually with $60k-75k profit per property like the OP, you're definitely in the range where S-Corp election could make sense, but I'd strongly recommend running the numbers with a tax professional first.

I know this is different from the main QBID discussion, but has anyone had success with the 20% pass-through deduction for rental income when the properties are held in a trust? My family has 5 rental properties in our family trust and I'm trying to figure out if the same rules apply.

The confusion around QBID for rental income is totally understandable - I went through the same thing when I first learned about the 250-hour requirement. What really helped me was realizing that the safe harbor is just ONE path to qualification, not the only path. Here's what I've learned from my own experience with 4 rental properties: even though I don't hit 250 hours, I was still able to claim QBID by demonstrating that my rental activities constitute a legitimate trade or business. The key is showing regular, continuous activity with a profit motive. Some activities that count toward "business-like" operations that many landlords forget to document: - Time spent analyzing local rental markets and adjusting rents - Researching and vetting potential tenants - Regular property inspections (even if brief) - Coordinating with contractors and getting repair quotes - Managing property finances and reviewing performance - Planning capital improvements or property upgrades I started keeping a simple log of these activities, and while I'm nowhere near 250 hours, having documentation of consistent business involvement gave me confidence to claim the deduction. The IRS has been pretty reasonable in recognizing that most small landlords operate legitimate businesses even without massive time commitments. My advice: start documenting everything now, even small tasks. It adds up and paints a picture of genuine business activity.

I'm in almost the exact same situation and it's driving me absolutely crazy! Filed in late January, got accepted immediately, and have been stuck with that dreaded 570 code for about 3 weeks now. Processing date of 4/2/24 and expecting around $6,400 with EIC and CTC. The complete lack of communication from the IRS is honestly the most frustrating part. I've been checking my transcript every Friday morning like clockwork, hoping to see literally ANY change - maybe a 971 code, a 571, anything that would give me a clue about what's happening. But nope, just that same 570 code sitting there taunting me week after week. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both comforting and terrifying. Comforting because it's clear this isn't just happening to me - there's obviously some kind of systematic review going on this year, especially for returns with EIC and CTC. But terrifying because some people are waiting 6-8 weeks with no resolution! The timeline that @Chloe Harris shared earlier gives me some hope that things will eventually move, even if it takes way longer than expected. I'm trying to be patient and wait until my processing date passes before attempting to call, but honestly those services like Claimyr and taxr.ai that people mentioned are looking more tempting each day. We really shouldn't have to pay extra just to get basic information about what's happening with our own money, but at this point I'm so desperate for answers that I might cave. Stay strong everyone - hopefully we'll all start seeing some movement soon! 🤞

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Filed in early February and have been stuck with a 570 code for about 3 weeks now, processing date of 4/12/24. Also expecting a large refund with EIC and CTC (around $6,200). This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was starting to panic thinking something was seriously wrong with my return, but seeing so many others going through the identical experience is oddly reassuring. It's clear the IRS is doing some kind of systematic review this year, especially for returns claiming these credits. The complete lack of communication is absolutely maddening though. I've been doing the Friday morning transcript check like everyone else, but it's just that same 570 code staring back at me every week. No 971, no letters, nothing. From all the timelines people have shared, it seems like 4-8 weeks is becoming the new normal, which is just insane. I'm trying to hold out until my processing date passes before calling, but honestly those services like taxr.ai and Claimyr that people mentioned are looking more tempting each day when the anxiety gets overwhelming. Stay strong everyone - we'll get through this bureaucratic nightmare eventually! At least we know we're not alone in this mess. 🤞

I want to add my voice to this incredibly helpful discussion! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed at how much practical guidance is available here that I couldn't find anywhere else. I'm currently caring for my adult daughter who has cerebral palsy and receive Medicaid waiver payments through our state's HCBS program. Like so many others here, I've been reporting these payments as self-employment income on Schedule C for the past four years, paying SE tax on approximately $19,500 annually. Reading through everyone's experiences with IRS Notice 2014-7 has been eye-opening. I had no idea these payments could be excluded from income! My tax software (FreeTaxUSA) has never flagged this as an option, and my previous tax preparer never mentioned it either. I'm definitely going to pursue excluding these payments going forward and filing amended returns for prior years. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like I could potentially recover around $3,000-4,000 in overpaid self-employment taxes. My biggest question is about the transition year - if I've been filing Schedule C for years and suddenly stop, should I include any kind of explanation with my return about why there's no longer any self-employment income being reported? I want to avoid triggering any red flags with such a dramatic change in my tax situation. Also, has anyone dealt with this situation if you previously claimed business expenses related to caregiving on Schedule C? I've been deducting things like medical supplies and equipment - wondering how that gets handled once these payments are excluded rather than treated as business income. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community. This discussion has potentially saved me thousands of dollars!

This discussion has been incredibly enlightening! I'm new to this community and facing the exact same situation - I've been caring for my elderly father with Alzheimer's and receiving Medicaid waiver payments that I've been incorrectly reporting on Schedule C for the past three years. Reading through everyone's experiences with IRS Notice 2014-7 gives me hope that I can finally get this sorted out correctly. I've been paying self-employment tax on about $21,000 annually, so the potential savings from amended returns could be substantial. What I find most frustrating is how hidden this information seems to be. I've used TurboTax for years and it has never suggested this option, despite clearly entering Medicaid waiver payments. It's only through community discussions like this that caregivers seem to discover Notice 2014-7 exists. I'm planning to exclude the payments going forward and file amended returns for 2021-2023. Based on the experiences shared here, I feel confident about the process now. I'll make sure to keep thorough documentation of our state's HCBS waiver program and include a clear explanation statement with my returns. Thank you to everyone who has shared their real-world experiences. This kind of peer knowledge is invaluable for navigating these complex tax situations that seem to affect so many family caregivers. It's amazing how much we can help each other by sharing what we've learned!