Is CCH Axcess something you can learn on your own though? I thought you needed to work at a firm that uses it to get access. Are there any training resources available for people who don't already work somewhere with these specialized tax software packages?

You're right that it's difficult to get hands-on experience with CCH Axcess without working somewhere that uses it. However, CCH does offer some free webinars and training materials on their website that can at least familiarize you with the interface and capabilities. For specialized tax software, your best bet is to look for YouTube tutorials and documentation online. Many vendors have published training materials that you can access. While it's not the same as hands-on experience, being able to speak intelligently about the software and its capabilities can still give you an edge in interviews. Some universities also have partnerships with these vendors to provide student access - worth checking if your school offers this.

This is a really important point. I think there's often a gap between what companies say they want and what they actually use day-to-day. Have you seen any shift toward using more advanced tools in recent years? Or is it still primarily Excel-based?

Can it import the already completed Sch D and 8949 forms that OP mentioned, or would they have to re-enter all their crypto transactions manually?

Unfortunately it doesn't have a direct import feature for already completed forms. You would need to manually re-enter the information from your Schedule D and Form 8949. This is actually one downside compared to some other options mentioned. If you have a lot of crypto transactions, re-entering everything could be quite time-consuming.

Learned this the hard way too. Also date everything! I wrote notes on some of my forms but didn't put dates and couldn't remember which version was final when I got audited.

Thanks for bringing this up. I haven't received any notices about a tax sale yet, just the regular past due notices. I think I'm still in the penalty/interest phase rather than the actual lien sale process. I'm hoping to get the house sold before it gets to that point.

Then you're likely still in good shape. Most counties go through multiple steps before actually putting a property up for tax sale - first notices, then liens, then more notices, and finally the tax sale process. It usually takes 3+ years of non-payment in most places before they move to sell. Just make sure to disclose the situation to your real estate agent and potential buyers. The title company will find the tax liens during their search anyway, so it's better to be upfront. As others have mentioned, the unpaid taxes will just be deducted from your proceeds at closing.

Seconding this! My county had an "economic hardship" form that reduced my penalties by 75% when I provided proof of medical bills that had caused my financial problems. Definitely worth asking about.

I had no idea about quarterly payments! What's the threshold for when you need to start making those? And how do you even calculate how much to pay each quarter?

The general rule is if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year from self-employment, you should make quarterly payments. With your combined income from both sources around $9,000, you'll likely need to make these payments. For calculating the amount, you can either pay 100% of last year's tax liability divided by 4 (the safe harbor method), or 90% of what you expect to owe this year. I use the IRS Form 1040-ES worksheet to figure it out. The due dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year.

That explains it! I was shocked when I got a 1099-K from PayPal this year when I never received one before. I only sold maybe $1200 worth of my old clothes and furniture. Do I really have to pay taxes on selling my used stuff??

The rules actually work in your favor here! Since your German stepchildren are living with you (a US service member) in Germany, they can still qualify as US residents for tax purposes under what's called the "abode" test. Because your abode (tax home) remains in the US while you're on military orders, your dependents who live with you can still meet the residency test. You'll still need ITINs for them, but you should absolutely be able to claim them as dependents if you provide over half their support and they meet the other dependent tests. Your tax preparer might be confused because this is a special rule that applies to military families - civilian rules are different. Make sure your preparer is familiar with military tax situations, as there are several special provisions that apply only to service members.

thanks for the explanation! makes sense now why my preparer was confused - he mostly deals with local german clients and american civilians. gonna find someone with more military experience for next year. appreciate the help!

This is important to know - there's a difference between credits. For the Child Tax Credit, your child needs an SSN to qualify for the full amount. With just an ITIN, they only qualify for the non-refundable portion (up to $1,500) called the Credit for Other Dependents, not the full Child Tax Credit. This is one of those annoying distinctions the IRS makes.