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Has anyone used TaxJar or Avalara for this? I'm wondering how they count transactions for economic nexus thresholds compared to what everyone's saying here about invoice vs payment.
I use Avalara and they definitely count based on invoices/sales, not individual payments. Their system is set up to track the number of unique sales transactions, regardless of how many payments are applied to each one. Their reporting makes it really clear when you're approaching thresholds.
This is such a timely question for me! I'm actually dealing with the same confusion as I'm setting up my new consulting business. From what I've been reading in the state tax codes, it seems like most states are pretty consistent about counting "transactions" as unique sales events rather than payment events. I found it helpful to think about it this way: if a customer walks into a physical store and buys something for $500 but pays with 3 different credit cards to split the cost, that's still just one sale/transaction from the store's perspective. The economic nexus rules seem to follow the same logic - they're trying to measure your business activity level, not your payment processing volume. That said, I'm definitely going to implement some of the tracking solutions mentioned here because manually keeping track of this across multiple states sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. Thanks for asking this question - the responses have been super helpful!
That's a really helpful analogy about the physical store! It definitely makes the concept clearer. I've been overthinking this because my payment processor dashboard shows every individual payment, but you're right that from a business activity perspective, it's about the sales transactions. I'm curious - have you looked into whether there are any edge cases where this rule might not apply? Like if there's a significant time gap between payments (say, first payment today and final payment 6 months later), would that potentially change how it's counted? I'm planning to offer some longer-term payment plans and want to make sure I understand all the nuances.
Seeing lots of good advice here but just want to emphasize: *Please be careful providing your SSN online.* Make sure you're on the actual bank's secure website (https, lock icon visible). There are scam sites that pose as banks specifically to collect SSNs and other personal info from young people opening their first accounts. Always double-check the URL and maybe even call the bank's official number (from their real website) to confirm the application process.
This is so important! My cousin almost got scammed this way. The fake site looked EXACTLY like Bank of America's site, but the URL was slightly different. They asked for all the same info a real bank would need for opening an account.
Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely make sure I'm on the real Capital One site. I think I'll go to an actual branch location just to be safe. Better to do it in person than risk putting my info on a fake website.
Smart move going to a branch in person! That's exactly what I did for my first account. The staff there are really helpful and can walk you through everything step by step. Plus, you don't have to worry about any online security issues. When I went in, they had me fill out the W-9 right there at the desk - it literally took like 2 minutes. They also explained that the form is just so they can report any interest I earn to the IRS at the end of the year. No stress at all! Bring your driver's license and Social Security card if you have the physical card. Some branches are flexible about the SS card requirement, but it's good to have just in case. You're doing everything right by being cautious and asking questions first.
Has anyone actually had to go through the amendment process with Form 8962? I'm in the same boat for 2022 and wondering how complicated it is to submit. Do I need to fill out a 1040X too?
Yes, you'll definitely need to fill out Form 1040X along with the corrected Form 8962. You'll need to explain the changes in Part III of the 1040X and include any supporting documents showing why your premium tax credit amount changed.
I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago! The IRS website can be really confusing to navigate, but Olivia's link should definitely work. One thing I'd add is that if you're having trouble with the direct PDF link, you can also try going to irs.gov and searching for "Form 8962 2022" in their search bar - sometimes that brings up the prior year version more easily than navigating through all the menus. Also, just a heads up - if you're amending your 2022 return because of premium tax credit issues, make sure you have your Form 1095-A handy when you fill out the 8962. The marketplace should have sent you this form, and you'll need the information from it to complete the reconciliation correctly. Good luck getting it sorted out!
Has anyone dealt with Bonfire specifically for mission trip fundraising? Do they automatically check the 501(c)3 box or do you have to select it? Also wondering if they send the 1099 forms directly or if you have to request them?
I used Bonfire last year for my Mexico mission trip. They don't automatically check anything - they specifically ask if you represent a 501(c)3. You need to select "No" if you're an individual. And yes, they will automatically send you a 1099-K if you make over $600 - usually arrives by late January or early February.
I'm dealing with something similar right now! My church youth group is doing a mission trip to Honduras this summer and I also set up a Bonfire campaign. From what I've learned talking to other people who've done this, the key thing is that you personally are NOT a 501(c)3 even though your trip is through a church that is. The mistake people make is thinking that because the trip has a charitable purpose, they can claim non-profit status. But the IRS looks at who actually received the money - and that's you as an individual, not the church organization. I've been keeping detailed records of everything - not just receipts but also documentation from my church about the trip's charitable mission, photos from our preparation meetings, and a letter from the youth pastor explaining the service work we'll be doing. This way if I need to show the IRS that the expenses were for legitimate charitable work, I have proof. One thing that helped me understand this better was talking to someone at my church who handles their finances. They explained that if they had run the fundraiser through the church's accounts, it would be different - but since the money came directly to me through Bonfire, I need to report it as income and then document the trip expenses. Hope this helps and good luck with your Guatemala trip!
CyberNinja
I see you mentioned 570 and 971 codes, but what's your cycle code? The last 4 digits on your 570 transaction line can tell you when your account updates. If it ends in 05, you're on a weekly cycle (updates Thursday nights). If it ends in 01-04, you're on a daily cycle. Also, is your 971 date after your 570 date? That sequence matters for predicting resolution timeframes.
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Raul Neal
I went through this exact situation last month! Had 570/971 codes for about 12 days before getting my 846. The key thing that helped me was checking my transcript on Friday mornings - that's when most updates seem to happen. I also drive for gig work (DoorDash) so I totally understand the stress of needing that refund for car expenses. One thing I learned is that if your 971 notice date is recent, give it the full 21 days before panicking. Mine resolved on day 12 and the refund hit my account 3 days after the 846 code appeared. Keep checking your transcript weekly rather than daily - it'll save your sanity!
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