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OP, I think your situation definitely calls for a professional, but don't go back to H&R Block. They're overpriced for what they offer. Find an actual CPA who specializes in individual taxes. The stock sales alone make this worthwhile - especially if they were RSUs or options from your employer, which have special tax treatment. When I was in a similar situation (moved states, had stock sales), I missed some deductions doing it myself that cost me thousands. The next year I used a CPA who found errors in my previous return and helped me file an amendment that got most of that money back. The $500 I paid was totally worth it.
KaiEsmeralda
ā¢Thanks for this perspective! I definitely won't go back to H&R Block after that experience. Do you have any tips on finding a good CPA who knows how to handle these interstate moves and stock issues? Is there anything specific I should look for or ask when I'm interviewing them?
Look for a CPA who specializes in individual taxes rather than business taxes. Ask specifically about their experience with interstate moves and stock compensation (RSUs, options, etc). A good question is "how would you handle allocation of income between California and Oregon for a mid-year move?" Also ask about their approach to organizing those old 401ks - a good tax professional thinks beyond just this year's return. Check Google reviews, but also ask for referrals from colleagues in similar situations. Since you work for a large company, there might be others who've dealt with the same stock and relocation issues who can recommend someone.
Anyone have recommendations for tax software if OP decides not to use a CPA? I had a somewhat similar situation (moved states, sold stock) but used FreeTaxUSA instead of TurboTax and saved a bunch of money while still getting all the forms I needed.
I'll second FreeTaxUSA. It handled my interstate move and stock sales for $15 (for the state return). Federal filing is completely free regardless of complexity. TurboTax would have charged me $120+ for the same forms.
Thanks for confirming! I felt like I was taking a risk trying a less-known software but it worked perfectly. The interface isn't as pretty as TurboTax but it asks all the right questions and handles the complex scenarios at a fraction of the cost.
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Just to add something important - if your in-laws were primarily living on Social Security and VA benefits, there's a good chance they weren't required to file at all. Many people don't realize this. For example, in 2022, a married couple over 65 only needed to file if their gross income exceeded $28,700. Social Security is often not counted in this calculation unless they had other substantial income. VA benefits are generally tax-free. Before you panic about years of unfiled returns, find out if they were even required to file. This could be much simpler than you think!
Thank you for mentioning this! I had no idea there were income thresholds where filing wasn't required. That makes me feel a bit better about the situation. Their mobile home was probably worth about $25,000 and they had no other major assets. Do you know if the IRS can tell us whether they were required to file for those years?
Yes, the IRS can absolutely help determine if they were required to file. When you contact them (either directly or through a service like others mentioned), ask specifically for "wage and income transcripts" for the years in question. These will show all income reported to the IRS under their Social Security numbers. The value of their mobile home actually doesn't factor into the filing requirement - it's based on income, not assets. Given what you've described, it sounds very possible they weren't required to file. The 1041-ES forms you received are likely related to the estate itself, not their personal unfiled returns, which is a separate matter that the IRS can clarify when you speak with them.
One thing nobody's mentioned - you should check if the estate itself needs to file a return. Form 1041-ES is for estimated tax payments for estates and trusts. If the estate generated income after your in-laws passed (like interest on accounts, sale of assets, etc.), the estate might need to file its own return separate from your in-laws' personal returns. Usually this only applies if the estate earned more than $600 in income before assets were distributed to heirs. Did the estate have any income-generating assets that weren't immediately distributed?
This is important! My mom's estate had a CD that generated $700 in interest during probate, and we had to file a 1041 for the estate even though she wasn't required to file personal returns for years before her death.
Thank you for bringing this up! There was a small checking account with maybe $3,000 that earned some interest, and a life insurance policy that paid out about $15,000. Would the life insurance payout count as estate income? We distributed everything pretty quickly after getting the insurance money, probably within 2-3 months.
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Aisha Khan
5 Don't forget about self-employment tax! Since this is independent contractor work, you'll owe an additional 15.3% on top of your regular income tax for Social Security and Medicare. At six figures, this is going to be a significant amount. I'd recommend putting aside at least 30-35% of your income for taxes going forward. Also, you should definitely start making quarterly estimated tax payments this year to avoid underpayment penalties. The due dates are April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year.
Aisha Khan
ā¢15 Is there any way to reduce that self-employment tax? That's a huge chunk of money on top of regular taxes!
Aisha Khan
ā¢5 You can reduce your self-employment tax by forming an S-Corporation instead of operating as a sole proprietor. With an S-Corp, you pay yourself a reasonable salary (which is still subject to self-employment tax) but can take the rest of your profits as distributions that aren't subject to SE tax. However, there are additional costs and complexities with an S-Corp, including payroll processing, separate tax returns, and other compliance requirements. Generally, it's not worth considering until you're consistently making at least $80-100K in profit. Given your income level, it might be worth consulting with a tax professional who specializes in small businesses to see if this strategy would benefit you.
Aisha Khan
19 Does anyone know what happens if I just don't report some of this income? Like I got a 1099 from one platform but most of my income is just direct payments that aren't tracked that way.
Aisha Khan
ā¢8 BAD idea. The IRS has been cracking down hard on unreported income, especially from payment apps. As of 2022, platforms like CashApp, Venmo, PayPal etc. are required to report transactions to the IRS if they total over $600 in a year. Even if you don't get a form, they're sending the info to the IRS. Plus, if you have large deposits going into your bank account that don't match your reported income, that's a major audit flag. The penalties for intentional underreporting can include up to 75% of the unpaid tax plus interest, and potentially criminal charges for tax evasion. Not worth the risk with six-figure income!
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Don't forget to check if you qualify for the Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBI) with your Schedule C businesses! That's a potential 20% deduction on your qualified business income. That might explain why the tax website is showing you owe so much - if you didn't account for that deduction.
Aisha Khan
ā¢Thank you for mentioning QBI! I didn't even know about that deduction. Do both of my businesses qualify for that? And would I apply it to each Schedule C separately?
Yes, both of your businesses should qualify for the QBI deduction as they're both reported on Schedule C. The deduction is actually calculated on your total qualified business income across all qualifying businesses, not on each Schedule C separately. The basic calculation is 20% of your net business income (after expenses), but there are income thresholds where it starts to phase out or get more complicated (over $170,700 for single filers in 2024, which doesn't sound like it applies to you). This deduction alone could significantly reduce what you owe, possibly explaining the high amount you saw on the first website you tried.
GalacticGuru
When I had two Schedule Cs, I found it helpful to use tax software specifically designed for self-employed people rather than the free options. The extra $50-60 was worth it for the guidance on splitting expenses and proper documentation.
Which tax software did you use? I tried [popular tax software] and it didn't explain anything about allocating home office expenses between multiple businesses.
Amara Torres
The Earned income tax credit calculation has some hidden gotchas that aren't obvious. Besides the earned income vs. other income distinction others mentioned, check if you have any foreign earned income or if you claimed foreign tax credits (Form 2555 or 1116). Those can disqualify you completely from the EITC even if you're below the income thresholds. Also, verify that TurboTax has the correct filing status. Sometimes it's easy to mess up when selecting Head of Household vs. Single with dependents, which affects the EITC calculation significantly.
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Gabriel Graham
ā¢I don't have any foreign income, so that's not the issue. But I'm wondering if maybe something else is affecting it? Does child support count toward earned income? I receive about $400/month for each kid but didn't think that counted as income for tax purposes.
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Amara Torres
ā¢You're right about child support - it doesn't count as taxable income and doesn't affect your earned income calculation for EITC purposes. That's definitely not the issue. Since you mentioned selling stocks for $12,000, another factor might be investment income. If you had other investment income besides the stock sale (interest, dividends, etc.) and the total investment income exceeds $11,500 for 2024, you could be disqualified from the EITC completely. Check if you have other investment income that, combined with any capital gains from your stock sale, might be pushing you toward that limit.
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Olivia Van-Cleve
Has anyone noticed how the Earned income tax credit formula is so confusing? I spent hours going through the calculation worksheets and still couldn't figure out why my credit didn't match what I expected. The "phase-in" and "phase-out" ranges make it so complicated.
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Mason Kaczka
ā¢Yeah the EITC is one of the most complicated tax credits. The IRS has an EITC Assistant tool on their website that might help you calculate it more accurately than TurboTax. Google "IRS EITC Assistant" and it should come up. You answer questions about your situation and it estimates your credit amount.
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