This is why I switched to a small local CPA. I was paying H&R Block around $400-500 for my 1099 returns, and my local accountant now charges $275 for the same service with better advice. Those big chains prey on people who don't know better and add on unnecessary services.

$1,300 is definitely excessive for your situation! I've been doing 1099 work for several years and have never paid anywhere near that amount. Even with unemployment income added to the mix, you should be looking at maybe $200-400 per year maximum at most tax prep services. The fact that they didn't discuss pricing upfront is a huge red flag. Legitimate tax preparers should always provide a clear fee schedule before starting any work. Since you haven't signed anything, you absolutely can walk away and take your documents elsewhere. For future reference, if you decide to file yourself, TurboTax Self-Employed handles 1099 income really well and costs around $120 per year. It walks you through all the deductions you can claim as an independent contractor. For unemployment income, that's actually pretty straightforward to report - it's just additional income that gets added to your return. Don't let them pressure you into paying those outrageous fees. Get quotes from at least 2-3 other preparers or seriously consider doing it yourself with good tax software.

Might be too late for this year, but for future reference - identity theft protection with your tax software is actually worth it for situations like this. I had a similar issue and the protection service included having a tax pro work directly with the IRS to resolve the mismatch. Saved me so much headache for like $40.

This is such a frustrating situation! I went through something similar after my divorce and name change back to my maiden name. What finally worked for me was getting a letter from the SSA called a "Social Security Number Verification Letter" (SSNVL) that shows exactly how your name appears in their system. You can request this online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, and it's free. The letter shows the exact spelling, punctuation, and formatting of your name as it appears in the SSA database. Then make sure you file your return using the EXACT same format - including middle initials, hyphens, spaces, everything. The key is that both systems need to match character-for-character. Even something as small as "Mary J. Smith" vs "Mary Smith" can cause a rejection. Once I got that verification letter and matched the formatting exactly, my return went through without any issues. Also, if you're still having trouble, you might want to file a paper return this year with a copy of your SSA verification letter attached. That usually forces a manual review and gets your information updated in the IRS system for future years.

Just to add another option - have you considered checking if your situation qualifies for relief under the US-UK tax treaty? Depending on your specific activities, you might be able to claim treaty benefits that could eliminate some filing requirements or reduce taxes. The concepts of "permanent establishment" in the treaty could be relevant here.

This is a really complex situation that I've been dealing with myself. One thing I'd strongly recommend is making sure you understand the timing requirements for some of these filings. Form 8858 for disregarded entities has to be filed by the due date of the owner's return (including extensions), and if you miss it, there are automatic penalties that can be pretty steep - $10,000 per form per year. Also, don't forget about state-level implications. Even if your LLC is disregarded for federal purposes, some states might still require separate filings or have different rules for foreign-owned entities. You'll want to check the specific requirements in whatever state your LLC is formed in. The withholding requirements mentioned by others are crucial too - if you have effectively connected income and don't properly withhold on your foreign partners' shares, you could be looking at penalties on top of the taxes owed. It might be worth getting professional help given all the moving pieces here.

Quick question - were did you see the DD date on ur transcript? I cant find mine anywhere

Same situation here! My transcript updated with a 3/18 DD date but WMR has been stuck on that first bar for like 3 weeks now. From what I've learned lurking here, the transcript is definitely more reliable - it's pulling directly from IRS processing systems while WMR seems to be this separate tool that barely gets updated. I've seen so many people say their refund hit on the exact transcript date even when WMR never moved. Try not to stress too much, that 3/13 date should be solid! 🤞

Has anyone tried using the tax transcript request on the IRS website instead of calling? I find it super helpful to see what the IRS actually has on file before panicking about broker reporting errors.

This is a really frustrating situation, but I think I can help clarify what's happening. Based on your description that you bought BITI shares 2 weeks before you started selling, you're actually experiencing a textbook wash sale scenario - even though it feels counterintuitive. Here's the key: when you sold your older BITI shares at a loss, the wash sale rule kicked in because you had purchased "substantially identical" securities (more BITI) within the 30-day window before those sales. It doesn't matter that you eventually sold everything - each sale transaction is evaluated independently. What likely happened is this: Your losses from selling the older shares got disallowed and added to the cost basis of the newer shares you bought. When you eventually sold those newer shares, you should have gotten credit for those previously disallowed losses through the adjusted basis. The $30k disallowance doesn't mean you lost that deduction forever - it just got deferred. I'd recommend carefully reviewing your 1099-B to see if the basis adjustments for your final sales properly reflect the wash sale additions. If the math doesn't add up, then you might have grounds to dispute it with your broker. The key is making sure those disallowed losses eventually got recognized when you sold out completely.