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Has anyone used TurboTax for reporting crypto with all these fee adjustments? Their crypto section confused me last year.
TurboTax is terrible for crypto. I tried using it last year and ended up switching to CoinTracker which integrates with TurboTax. The basic TurboTax interface doesn't have good options for adjusting basis with fees.
I had the exact same confusion about bitcoin trading fees last year! After going through this myself, I can confirm what others have said - these fees definitely adjust your capital gains but aren't separate deductions. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track everything. For each bitcoin sale, I had columns for: original purchase price, purchase fees, sale price, sale fees, and adjusted gain/loss. The formula was basically: (Sale Price - Sale Fees) - (Purchase Price + Purchase Fees) = Actual Gain/Loss. So for your $1,275 in fees, make sure you're adding purchase fees to your cost basis and subtracting sale fees from your proceeds before calculating gains. This will naturally reduce your taxable gains without needing to claim them as a separate deduction anywhere. Keep all your exchange statements showing these fees - the IRS loves documentation for crypto transactions. Good luck with your filing!
This spreadsheet approach sounds really helpful! I'm definitely going to set something like this up. Quick question - when you say "purchase fees," are you including things like network fees for transferring bitcoin between wallets, or just the trading fees from buying/selling on exchanges? I've got both types of fees and wasn't sure if they're treated the same way.
This is absolutely unacceptable! I filed my return 8 weeks ago and just got off the phone with an agent who told me the same thing - another 120 days for "additional processing." When I asked what specifically was being reviewed, they gave me the runaround about "manual verification" without any real explanation. The worst part is that I e-filed everything correctly, have simple W-2 income, and claimed standard deduction - nothing complicated that should trigger these massive delays! I'm seriously considering filing a complaint with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) because this feels like a systematic failure in their processing system. We shouldn't have to become tax code experts just to get our own money back in a reasonable timeframe. The fact that they're holding thousands of returns for 3-4 months with zero transparency is completely unacceptable. Has anyone had success escalating through TIGTA, or is that just another bureaucratic dead end?
I totally feel your pain on this! The lack of transparency is what gets me the most - how can they just say "additional processing" and expect us to be okay with that for MONTHS? I've been reading through this thread and it seems like so many of us are in the same boat this year. I'm wondering if there's something systemic going on that they're not telling us about. Regarding TIGTA, I haven't tried that route yet but I'm definitely considering it too. From what I understand, they handle complaints about IRS operations and employee conduct. It might be worth a shot, especially if we can demonstrate this is affecting a large number of taxpayers with similar situations. Have you tried reaching out to your congressional representative's office yet? I've heard they sometimes have better luck getting actual answers from the IRS since they have dedicated liaison contacts. At this point I'm willing to try anything - we shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get basic information about our own tax returns!
I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now! Filed 9 weeks ago and just got the dreaded "120 additional days" notice when I called yesterday. What's really getting to me is how they act like this is totally normal - the agent literally said "we appreciate your patience" like I have a choice in the matter! I've been checking my transcript obsessively and all I see are these cryptic codes that don't make any sense. The most infuriating part is that I have the simplest return possible - single filer, one W-2, standard deduction, no dependents. How does THAT require 4+ months to process?! At this point I'm convinced they're using our refunds as an interest-free loan while we struggle to pay bills. The IRC section 6611 interest you mentioned better actually kick in because this is beyond ridiculous. I'm seriously considering documenting everything and filing complaints with both TAS and my congressman's office. We shouldn't have to become activists just to get our own money back! š¤
I think everyone is overthinking this. If your LLC remained active (you paid the fees, maintained registration, etc.) then it was never "started up" again - it was just continuing. Section 162 expenses are for ongoing businesses. Section 195 startup costs are for brand NEW businesses or completely new activities that are totally different from what you did before. The fact that you had a dormant period doesn't magically turn regular business expenses into startup costs.
Thank you all so much for the detailed responses! This has really put my mind at ease. It sounds like our approach with Section 162 deductions was correct since we maintained the LLC's legal status and business licenses the whole time. We never actually closed down operations - we just didn't have any clients for a few years. I appreciate the explanation about the difference between business expenses and startup costs too. The immediate deduction is definitely better for our situation than amortizing over 15 years!
Just wanted to share another perspective on this since I've dealt with IRS audits on business continuity issues. The key factor the IRS looks at is whether you had "regular and continuous" business activity, not whether you had revenue. In your case, maintaining business licenses, keeping a website active, and being ready to respond to business opportunities demonstrates continuity of operations. The IRS Revenue Ruling 58-112 specifically addresses this - a temporary cessation of business activity doesn't convert regular business expenses into startup costs as long as the business entity remains active and you maintain the intent to continue operations. Your Section 162 treatment was absolutely correct. I've seen taxpayers get into trouble when they incorrectly reclassify continuing business expenses as startup costs during audits, because it raises red flags about whether they understand their own business structure. Stick with what you filed - you're on solid ground here.
Just wondering - has anyone used those "tax relief" companies that advertise on radio/TV for situations like this? They claim they can settle with the IRS for "pennies on the dollar" but I'm not sure if they're legit or scams.
I've been through almost the exact same situation - 6 years of unfiled returns after getting overwhelmed by an initial IRS notice. The anxiety was paralyzing, but dealing with it was actually much less scary than I had built up in my head. Here's what worked for me: I started by requesting my wage and income transcripts online from the IRS website. This showed me exactly what employers had reported each year, so I didn't have to track down old W2s. Then I filed all the missing returns at once using tax software (TurboTax actually handles prior years pretty well). The biggest shock? I actually got refunds for 3 of those years because I had overpaid through withholdings. The refunds almost completely offset what I owed for the other years. Don't let the anxiety keep you frozen - the IRS genuinely wants to work with people who are trying to get compliant. You've been having taxes withheld this whole time, which shows good faith. Start with getting those transcripts and you'll have a much clearer picture of where you actually stand financially. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Tristan Carpenter
Has anyone dealt with the tax consequences if the IRS accepts the revocation? I'm thinking about revoking my S-Corp too, but I'm worried about how to handle things like the built-in gains tax or other penalties.
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Amaya Watson
ā¢If you're revoking within the same tax year and haven't filed any returns as an S-Corp, there's typically minimal tax impact. The big issues come if you've been an S-Corp for years and have accumulated earnings or appreciated assets. In your case, there's likely no built-in gains tax if you're still in your first year and haven't done anything operationally as an S-Corp yet.
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Chloe Boulanger
I've been through this exact scenario with a client earlier this year. The timing is actually in your favor since you're still within the same tax year. Here's what worked for us: We submitted Form 8832 with a detailed letter explaining that the S-Corp election was made in error and requesting to revert to disregarded entity status. The key was emphasizing that no S-Corp tax returns had been filed and no payroll had been processed under the election. The IRS approved our request within about 6 weeks. What really helped was including a copy of the original S-Corp election acceptance letter and clearly stating that we wanted the entity treated "as if the S-Corp election had never been made." For New Jersey, you'll definitely want to contact them separately. NJ doesn't automatically follow federal changes, so you may need to file additional paperwork there. Honestly, if your client is having serious doubts this early, it's probably worth pursuing the revocation rather than being stuck with an unwanted election for 5 years. The administrative burden of S-Corp compliance isn't worth it if it doesn't fit their business model.
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