Check if your state has a tax preparer registry or licensing requirement. In some states you can report unlicensed preparers and they face heavy penalties. In California the CTEC can fine them $5000 per return!

This is absolutely infuriating and I'm so sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately, tax preparer fraud is way more common than people realize. A few additional things that might help: • Contact your state's Attorney General's office - many have consumer protection divisions that handle tax preparer fraud • If the preparer was using a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number), report them to the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility • Document the timeline of when you discovered the fraud vs when the refund was issued - this can be crucial for criminal charges • Consider reaching out to local news stations - they love these consumer protection stories and the public pressure sometimes gets faster results The fact that she's ghosting you now actually works in your favor for proving intent to defraud. Keep trying to contact her via text/email so you have records of her avoiding you. Don't give up! I've seen people recover their money even a year later when they stayed persistent with the legal process. The IRS takes preparer fraud seriously once you get the right person's attention.

Don't forget about FBAR requirements if you're a US person with foreign financial accounts! If the total value of all your foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year, you need to file FinCEN Form 114. This is separate from your tax return and has serious penalties if missed.

Based on your situation, yes, you are considered a US person for tax purposes since you filed jointly with your US citizen spouse. This means you should be providing W-9 forms to those platforms (Etsy, Fiverr, Twitch) instead of W-8 forms. A few additional things to keep in mind: 1. **Foreign Tax Credits** - Since you're earning income in Canada that's likely subject to Canadian taxes, make sure you're claiming Foreign Tax Credits on your US return to avoid double taxation. 2. **Form 8938 (FATCA)** - If your foreign financial assets exceed certain thresholds, you may also need to file Form 8938 with your tax return (this is in addition to FBAR that others mentioned). 3. **Provincial vs Federal** - Remember that your Canadian income might be subject to both provincial and federal Canadian taxes, and you can generally claim credits for both on your US return. Since you're in the green card process, it's worth consulting with a tax professional who specializes in US-Canada tax issues to make sure you're optimizing your filing strategy and not missing any opportunities for credits or exclusions.

I think there's some confusion here. Even with the 100% deduction in 2021/2022, you still needed to meet the "ordinary and necessary" business expense test. For delivery drivers, your meals during shifts are generally considered personal expenses, not business expenses. The IRS views this as: everyone needs to eat, whether working or not. Where people get confused is with the "de minimis" fringe benefit rules for employers. If an employer provides meals to keep employees working (like during busy periods), those can sometimes be 100% deductible for the EMPLOYER. But as a 1099 contractor, you're not your own employee in that sense.

Just to add - I've been driving for Uber/Lyft for years, and instead of trying to deduct meals, I focus on maximizing my mileage deduction (58.5 cents per mile for 2022). That's where the real tax savings are for us gig drivers! Also, don't forget you can deduct a portion of your phone bill, car cleaning, amenities for passengers, etc. Those are much safer deductions than trying to claim your Taco Bell lunch while on shift.

I completed an OIC myself last year. Settled $48k for about $8k. Here's what helped me the most: 1. I used the Pre-Qualifier tool on the IRS website first to see if I even qualified 2. I called the Taxpayer Advocate Service (they're free!) for advice 3. I read the entire Form 656 instruction booklet twice before filling anything out 4. I included every possible piece of documentation upfront - bank statements, pay stubs, bills, etc. 5. I was 100% honest about everything - they will find out if you're not The hardest part was calculating an accurate offer amount. Don't lowball them - they have internal guidelines about what they'll accept based on your financial situation. And be patient! My process took 11 months from submission to acceptance.

Hannah, based on your situation, you're definitely a good candidate for an OIC. With $950/week income and that high car payment, plus no assets, you should qualify under "Doubt as to Collectibility." I'd strongly recommend starting with the IRS Pre-Qualifier tool that Isaac mentioned - it's free and gives you a good sense of whether it's worth pursuing. Given your financial constraints, doing it yourself is absolutely feasible if you're methodical about it. A few practical tips from someone who's been through this: 1. Download Form 656 and the instruction booklet NOW and read through it completely before starting. It's dense but explains exactly what the IRS is looking for. 2. For your car payment calculation - the IRS has transportation allowance standards by region. Your $800/month payment might exceed their allowable amount, so factor that into your offer calculation. 3. Start gathering ALL your financial documents now: bank statements (last 3-6 months), pay stubs, bills, loan statements, etc. The IRS wants complete financial transparency. 4. Consider the 20% down payment requirement - you'll need to pay 20% of your offer amount upfront with your application. The fact that you've already filed your missing returns shows good faith, which helps your case. Take your time with the paperwork - rushing it and getting rejected will set you back months.

My family did something similar last year and we learned that whoever pays the expenses is generally who gets the tax benefits. So if your parents still pay the property taxes and mortgage, they can claim those deductions. But the ownership for other purposes is split between life tenant (parents) and remainderman (you). The tricky part comes with calculating the actual value of each interest. The IRS has specific tables for this based on your parents' ages. Its super weird because technically you own a "future interest" that has a specific calculable value right now.

This is a really common estate planning setup, and you're smart to get clarity on the tax implications now! From what you've described, your parents retain most of the tax benefits while they're alive since they have the life estate. Generally speaking, your parents would continue to pay and deduct the property taxes and mortgage interest since they're the ones living there and making those payments. The life estate gives them the right to exclusive use of the property, which typically comes with the responsibility (and tax benefits) of maintaining it. You technically own the "remainder interest" right now, but it won't become active ownership until after your parents pass away. The good news is that when that time comes, you should receive a stepped-up basis to the fair market value, which can save significantly on capital gains taxes if you ever sell. One thing to double-check - make sure your parents filed any required gift tax forms when they created this arrangement, since transferring the remainder interest to you could be considered a gift depending on the property's value and your parents' ages. The IRS has specific actuarial tables to calculate this. Worth having a tax professional review the documents to make sure everything was handled correctly from the start!