1 I actually tried bringing this up with HR last month, but they said they "don't have the administrative capacity" to handle those kinds of benefits right now. I work for a pretty large retail chain too, so it seems like they just don't want to bother with it. Would there be any other options if they refuse to set up a program like this?

9 Unfortunately, if your employer isn't willing to establish a qualified transportation fringe benefit program, you don't have many other options for making those parking expenses pre-tax. These benefits have to be employer-sponsored. You might consider looking into carpooling with coworkers to split costs or researching if there are any monthly parking passes that might reduce your daily rate. Some cities also have programs for retail workers in downtown areas - might be worth checking with your local transportation authority or downtown business association to see if any special programs exist for essential workers.

4 Monthly passes are definitely the way to go. I used to pay $18/day until I found a lot that offered $180/month instead of the $360+ I was spending. It was a 10-minute walk, but totally worth it. Some places also offer evening/weekend employee discounts if you ask - especially if you work at a business that brings customers to the area.

Thanks for the advice! Do you know how to set up that IRS Online Account? That sounds really helpful for next year.

You can set it up directly on the IRS website at irs.gov/account. You'll need to verify your identity with some personal info and either a credit card, mortgage, or loan account number. They've made the process more user-friendly recently. Once set up, you can see all W-2s, 1099s, and other income documents reported to the IRS under your SSN. It's super helpful for catching missing forms before you file. You can also use it to view your payment history, set up payment plans, and get transcripts of past returns if needed.

Mine took 9 months last year! Paper-filed and regretted it. The electronic amendments seem to go through much faster based on what friends have experienced.

Is that really true about the training? I always assumed those places had actual accountants or something. How do they get away with charging so much if the people aren't even experts?

Yep, 100% true. The training at the place I worked was just a few weeks long. Some locations might have a manager with accounting experience, but many of the seasonal preparers are just people who completed the company's basic training program. They're trained to use the company's software, which asks the same questions online software asks you. They charge so much because of overhead (physical locations, staff, etc.) and because many people don't realize they're mostly paying for data entry rather than specialized expertise. The companies market themselves as "tax experts" which gives a false impression. For complex returns, you're better off with an actual CPA - and for simple returns, online filing is usually just as accurate but much cheaper.

Yes! I used Free File last year through TaxSlayer since my AGI was under the limit (around $73k). The interface was exactly the same as their paid version, just free. It handles W-2s, simple self-employment, and basic deductions fine. The only annoyance was having to go through the IRS website first to access it - you can't just go directly to the company site or they'll try to upsell you.

Wait, so if my tax liability is already low because of other deductions and credits, I might not get the full benefit from this energy credit? Is there any way to carry over unused portions to next year?

That's exactly right - if your tax liability is already reduced by other credits and deductions, you might not be able to use the full energy credit. Your tax liability can only go down to zero, not negative. For the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), there is currently no carryover provision, so any unused portion is unfortunately lost. This is different from the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) for solar panels and similar installations, which does allow you to carry forward unused credits to future tax years.

Good news! The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) doesn't have an income phaseout or limit. Unlike some other tax credits that start to phase out at certain income levels, this one is available regardless of your income. So your one-time bonus won't affect your eligibility at all. Just make sure your improvements meet the efficiency requirements and you have the proper documentation from your installer or manufacturer.

But could not signing create problems if you ever need them to answer questions about your old returns? Seems like burning bridges might backfire later...