Something everyone's missing in this conversation - qualified retirement plans! While Roth IRAs have that marriage penalty with the lower limits, employer plans like 401ks don't have this issue. Also, don't forget about spousal IRAs - if one of you stops working when the baby comes, the working spouse can still contribute to the non-working spouse's IRA even with no income. This is ONLY available if you're legally married. And remember, with a kid, one of you gets head of household filing status if unmarried, which is better than single filing status but not as good as MFJ in many cases. The higher standard deduction for MFJ vs HOH+Single might offset some of what you're calculating.

Has anyone mentioned the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)? At your income levels, especially if you're in a high tax state with high property taxes, AMT can kick in and eliminate some deductions when married. Also consider that many tax benefits phase out based on AGI - not just Roth contributions but also student loan interest deductions, rental loss deductions, etc. As a married couple your combined AGI could push you over these limits. Something else to consider - marriage gives you double the capital loss deduction ($6,000 vs $3,000) which matters if you have investment losses to harvest.

I'm a tax preparer (not a CPA) and I can tell you this is completely unacceptable behavior. Every client has the absolute right to review their return before filing. In fact, we're required to get your signature on Form 8879 to authorize electronic filing, which specifically means you've reviewed and approved the return. Your CPA might be overwhelmed during tax season, but that's no excuse. Insist on seeing your return or find someone else, even if it means filing an extension. Better to file later with an accurate return than file on time with errors you never got to check.

After reading all these comments, I called my CPA's office and clearly stated "I need to review my return before it's filed as is my legal right." The receptionist put me on brief hold, then came back and scheduled a time for me to come in tomorrow. Sometimes being direct and stating it as a right rather than a request makes all the difference. Thanks everyone for the confidence to push back on this!

Just to add another data point - I paid my taxes with a credit card last year to hit my Amex Platinum bonus. My accountant marked "will not submit payment with return" and then I went to IRS.gov and used their approved processor links. I used Pay1040.com which had the lowest fee at the time (1.87%). The whole process took maybe 5 minutes. Just had to enter my SSN, tax year, payment amount, and card info. Got an email confirmation right away. No issues at all and my tax transcript later showed the payment posted correctly. The bonus points were definitely worth the processing fee in my case.

Omg I almost made a huge mistake with this exact situation last year! My tax guy told me to write my credit card number ON THE TAX FORM!!! I was like hell no and did some research. Found out the IRS NEVER wants your actual card number on tax forms!! That would be a security nightmare. What you do is file your taxes normally, then go to IRS.gov, click the "Pay" button, and it gives you links to the official payment processors. I used ACI Payments Inc and it was super easy. Yes the fees kinda suck (I paid like $90 on a $4500 tax bill) but I got enough points for a free flight to Vegas so totally worth it lol

7 Has anyone tried using the IRS2Go mobile app instead of the website? I had similar timeout issues on their website last year but discovered their app sometimes works when the site doesn't. It has a transcript request feature that uses a different system. Worth a shot before paying for a service or making appointments!

15 If everything else fails, file Form 4506-T by mail AND submit an extension using Form 4868 to give yourself more time. The extension gives you 6 more months to file (though you still need to pay any estimated taxes by the original deadline). This buys you time to get your transcript without penalty. I had to do this last year because of similar IRS issues.

To directly answer your original question - $500-1000 is definitely on the high side for just filing a 990-N. That's the kind of price you might pay for a full 990 with financial statements and schedules, not the simplified e-Postcard. I'd suggest first checking if your national fraternity organization provides any tax filing assistance. Many larger Greek organizations offer support to their chapters for exactly this situation. They might have guides or even staff who can help you through the process. If you decide to go the DIY route (which is completely reasonable for a 990-N), make sure you keep all the confirmation emails/documents from your filing. You'll want proof that you've met your obligations in case questions ever come up.

Quick tip - make sure your fraternity is actually eligible for the 990-N! Some social fraternities operate under section 501(c)(7) as social clubs rather than 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, and the filing requirements can be different. Also check if your state has separate filing requirements beyond the federal 990-N. In some states, even small exempt organizations need to file additional forms or annual reports to maintain their status.