Does anyone know if Setc Pros is even a real company? I tried googling them and couldn't find much information except some sketchy looking websites. No BBB listing, no legitimate reviews I could find.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I'm a tax preparer and see situations like this all the time. The fact that they're asking for $1,195 upfront is a HUGE red flag. Legitimate tax professionals typically work on a fee-for-service basis or contingency, not demanding large payments before doing any actual work. Here's what you should know: if you truly owe taxes, you can work directly with the IRS to set up payment plans, request penalty abatement, or even apply for an Offer in Compromise if you qualify. The IRS has programs specifically designed to help taxpayers resolve their debt without going through third-party companies. My advice? Don't send them any money. Instead, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to discuss your actual tax situation and available options. It might take some patience to get through, but it's free and you'll be working with the actual agency that handles your taxes.

Has anyone used one of those tax clinics that universities sometimes offer for international students? My school (UBC) has free tax help, but the appointments fill up super fast and I'm wondering if it's worth trying to get a spot or if I should just use one of the services mentioned here.

As someone who works with international students on tax issues, I want to emphasize a few key points that might help ease your worries: 1) **You're not in legal trouble** - The CRA understands that international students often miss their first year due to unfamiliarity with the system. They're much more interested in getting you compliant than punishing you. 2) **You'll likely get money back** - With tuition credits (which can be substantial), the basic personal amount, and potentially GST/HST credits, most international students with part-time jobs actually receive refunds rather than owing taxes. 3) **File both years together** - When you work with that tax company, have them prepare both your missed year and current year returns. This shows good faith effort to become compliant. 4) **Keep it simple** - Don't overthink the process. As an international student, your tax situation is likely straightforward: employment income, tuition credits, and basic deductions. The stress you're feeling is completely normal, but the reality is much less scary than you think. The Canadian tax system actually has several benefits specifically designed to help students like you!

Have you considered whether you might qualify for the Head of Household filing status? It could make a significant difference with three dependents. Also, did you receive any advance Child Tax Credit payments during 2023? Those would need to be reconciled on your return. What about educational expenses for any of your dependents? The American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit might apply.

With $65k and 3 dependents, you might actually be surprised by your tax situation! The Child Tax Credit alone could give you up to $6,000 in credits ($2,000 per qualifying child under 17). Plus, if you're filing as Head of Household, your standard deduction is $20,800 for 2023, which is significantly higher than single filers. A few quick questions that could help your situation: - Are you maxing out any pre-tax retirement contributions? You still have until April 15th to contribute to a Traditional IRA - Did you have proper withholding all year, or did something change mid-year? - Are you paying for childcare? The Child and Dependent Care Credit could provide additional savings Don't panic yet - run through a tax calculator or software to get a clearer picture. You might be in much better shape than you think!

One thing nobody's mentioned yet is that if your wife takes this church job, she'll still have to pay FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare), but how those are handled can be different. For regular employees (non-ministerial staff like your wife would be), the church is required to withhold and pay these taxes just like any other employer. But for ordained ministers, it works differently - they're considered self-employed for FICA purposes and pay self-employment tax instead. Just something to be aware of since churches sometimes get this wrong if they're not familiar with the difference between ministerial and non-ministerial staff tax treatment!

Just a heads up - I'm an accountant and have worked with several religious organizations. Make sure the church is properly classifying your wife as an employee and not as an independent contractor! Some churches mistakenly classify non-ministerial staff as contractors to avoid paying their portion of FICA taxes, but this is usually incorrect for someone in a staff position like production engineer. If they try to pay her without withholding taxes and give her a 1099 instead of a W-2, that's a red flag. She'd end up paying the full self-employment tax (15.3% instead of 7.65%) which would make that pay cut even bigger!

Here's a simple example that might help your coworker understand: Server: Makes $25k in wages + $25k in tips = $50k total income Line cook: Makes $50k in wages = $50k total income Both pay EXACTLY the same in taxes since their total income is identical. The only difference is HOW they earned it, not how it's taxed. What often happens though is servers make MORE total income than kitchen staff. So a more realistic example might be: Server: $20k wages + $40k tips = $60k total Line cook: $45k wages = $45k total In this case, the server pays more in taxes ONLY because they make $15k more in total income, not because they're taxed at a higher rate.

This is such a common misconception in the restaurant industry! I've seen so many BOH staff miss out on potentially higher earnings because they believe this myth about "server taxes." The reality is that the tax code treats all income the same - whether you make $50k from hourly wages or $50k from a combination of wages and tips, your tax liability is identical. What creates confusion is that tipped employees often have more complex payroll situations where taxes are withheld differently, making their paychecks appear smaller even though their total take-home (including cash tips) is usually higher. Your coworker might also be thinking about FICA taxes on tips, but even those are the same rate as regular wages - 7.65% for Social Security and Medicare combined. The only "special" thing about tip taxation is the reporting requirements and allocation rules that ensure proper compliance. I'd suggest showing your coworker actual tax calculations with the same total income from both scenarios. Sometimes seeing the numbers side-by-side is the only way to overcome these persistent industry myths.