That's a fair point. We're actually aligned on most things, but he's much more risk-averse when it comes to spending. The website is just the latest example. I'd rather find a way to make this work than split up the partnership though - we complement each other in other ways and the business is doing well overall.

I understand wanting to preserve the partnership. If that's the case, maybe consider formalizing a process for these situations? My current partnership has a "champion" system - if one partner feels strongly about an initiative, they can choose to fund it initially from their distributions, but we have an agreement about how success is measured and when/how they get reimbursed if those metrics are met. For example, you could propose funding the website yourself with an agreement that if it generates X new leads or Y% revenue increase within 6 months, the partnership reimburses you. This shifts the conversation from expense to investment and creates a framework for handling similar situations in the future.

Depends entirely on the business needs. My company tried the DIY route and it was a disaster for our SEO and conversion rates. We eventually paid $9k for a professional site and saw a 300% increase in leads within 3 months. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

I appreciate the suggestion! We actually need some pretty specific functionality - product configurators, real-time pricing calculations, inventory management integration, etc. It's not just a basic informational site. I did look at the DIY options first but they couldn't handle what we need without a ton of custom code.

How does someone prove they're eligible for Head of Household status if they're audited? My tax guy always warns me about claiming this when I'm not 100% sure.

To prove Head of Household eligibility during an audit, you'd need documentation showing: 1) You paid more than half the costs of keeping up the home (rent/mortgage receipts, utility bills, grocery receipts, etc.), 2) You have a qualifying person who lived with you for more than half the year (school records, medical records, birth certificate for a child), and 3) You're unmarried or considered unmarried for tax purposes. It's definitely worth claiming if you qualify, as the tax benefits are substantial. The IRS mainly wants to see that you're financially responsible for the household and have a qualifying dependent. Keep good records of your expenses if you're concerned about potential audit risk.

Do they really check past filings before issuing refunds? I thought they just processed what you submitted for the current year.

That's good advice. Do you know how much it typically costs to have a CPA review a return that's already been filed? I'm already out the $125 I paid the fraudulent preparer plus whatever I'll end up owing the IRS... trying not to break the bank here.

Most CPAs will do a basic review of your situation for around $100-200, which I know feels like throwing good money after bad, but it's worth it to make sure everything gets fixed correctly. Some might even do a quick initial consultation for free to at least point you in the right direction. You can also check with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program if your income is under about $60k. They provide free tax help and might be able to advise you on next steps without charging anything.

Also check if they signed the return as a preparer! That's required by law - if they didn't sign it that's a HUGE red flag. Legitimate preparers always sign the "Paid Preparer" section of the return and include their PTIN. If they did your taxes but didn't sign, they're trying to avoid accountability.

What kind of detailed records do you recommend keeping? Is a credit card statement enough or do I need actual receipts for everything? I'm terrible at keeping track of paper receipts.

Credit card statements are a good start, but they're not enough on their own. The IRS wants to see the business purpose of each expense, which doesn't show up on credit card statements. I use a combination of methods - I take photos of paper receipts using an app that stores them digitally, save PDF receipts from online purchases, and maintain a spreadsheet where I note the business purpose of each purchase. For software subscriptions, I note what each one is used for in my business. The key information you need for each expense is: date, vendor, amount, what was purchased, and specific business purpose. Digital records are perfectly fine - you don't need to keep paper copies as long as your digital records show all this information.

What's this $2,500 threshold you mentioned? Does that mean I can deduct equipment purchases up to $2,500 immediately without depreciating them? That would be super helpful to know!

So how long does it typically take for the IRS to get the updated info from SSA after you get your new card? Is it immediate or is there like a delay of weeks/months?

It's usually not immediate. The SSA and IRS data synchronization typically happens within 2 weeks after your new card is issued, but in some cases it can take up to a month. However, you don't need to worry about the exact timing. Once you receive your new Social Security card with your updated name, that's your confirmation that the change is official with the SSA. For any tax filings after that point, you should use your new name as it appears on your card.

Is there any way around this? Like can she file a paper return with her married name instead of electronic filing? My sister had a similar issue.