Did you end up contacting your employer's HR department about the missing form? I'm wondering if that's something they're required to provide or if it's optional.

Yes, I did contact HR and they confirmed they're legally required to provide Form 1095-C to all full-time employees regardless of whether they enrolled in coverage or not. Mine had apparently been sent to an old address. They issued a new copy, but this was after I had already filed my taxes which led to some complications. HR mentioned the deadline for employers to provide these forms is March 2nd this year, so if you don't have yours by then, definitely reach out to them.

Code 1E typically means you were offered minimum essential coverage that met the minimum value requirements for both employee and dependents. Basically confirming your employer offered adequate insurance that would have covered you and any dependents.

Since you declined the coverage, the specific offer code doesn't really matter for your tax filing. It's more relevant for your employer's compliance reporting. But 1E is actually a good code - means they offered you decent coverage.

Thank you for breaking down the penalties! That's really helpful. Would you happen to know if the CP2000 notice typically comes with any additional penalties beyond the standard failure-to-pay ones? I'm trying to weigh all the factors.

The CP2000 itself doesn't add extra penalties beyond the standard failure-to-pay penalty and interest. However, once you receive a CP2000, you're on the IRS's radar in a more official way. If they find other issues during this review process, it could potentially trigger a more comprehensive look at your return. Additionally, responding to a CP2000 means accepting their calculation of what you owe, which might not account for any offsetting deductions or credits you could have claimed with an amended return. With a 1040-X, you control the narrative and can present your complete tax situation.

This is a really important point that people miss. When the IRS adjusts your return, they don't know all your circumstances and often assess the maximum possible tax. Did you try to contest their calculation after you got the notice?

I've heard good things about Xero but never tried it. Is it difficult to migrate from QuickBooks? I've got about 3 years of data I wouldn't want to lose during a switch.

The migration process is pretty straightforward. Xero has built-in tools specifically designed to import from QuickBooks. I moved about 5 years of data over without losing anything significant. The only minor hiccup was with some custom categories I had created, but even those transferred with just a little manual adjustment. What I found most helpful was hiring a bookkeeper familiar with both systems to oversee the transition. They made sure all my historical data mapped correctly and set up my new chart of accounts in a way that made sense for my business reporting needs. The whole process took about a weekend, plus a little cleanup over the following month as we spotted a few minor discrepancies.

How did you find an industry-specific bookkeeper? I've been looking for someone who understands the event planning business but haven't had much luck.

Does choosing "Child" vs "Other Relative" actually matter in the software if you're the dependent (not the person claiming the dependent)? I thought that distinction only mattered on the parents' return.

Yes, it actually does matter even on your return as the dependent. TurboTax uses this information to determine your eligibility for certain credits and deductions that might still be available to you despite being claimed as a dependent. For example, education credits have different rules depending on whether you're a qualifying child vs. qualifying relative. The relationship also affects certain phase-out calculations for credits you might still be eligible for. TurboTax is making calculations based on tax law that treats these categories differently, so providing accurate information ensures you get the right result.

Yes! This happened to me too. I think it happens if you go back and change something in your profile like your address or filing status. I've learned to always double-check that box before submitting.

Does TurboTax Live let you talk to the same CPA each time or is it random? I tried something similar with H&R Block and got a different person every time which was frustrating since I had to re-explain my situation repeatedly.

It's generally a random CPA each time you initiate a new conversation, which can be frustrating if you have multiple questions spread out over time. However, I found a workaround by saving all my questions for one session and covering everything at once. You can request the same person if you remember their name, but availability isn't guaranteed. If you're looking for consistent advice from the same professional throughout the year, a dedicated CPA would definitely be better. TurboTax Live is more for getting specific questions answered during the tax preparation process rather than ongoing tax planning.

How did you find a good CPA? I've been thinking of switching but not sure how to select someone trustworthy who won't overcharge me.

I found my CPA through referrals from other small business owners in my area. That's usually the best approach because you can hear about real experiences. I asked specifically about their responsiveness throughout the year and whether they're proactive with tax planning, not just filing. A good way to vet potential CPAs is to have an initial consultation (many offer this for free) and ask specific questions about your situation. If they start immediately identifying potential deductions or strategies you haven't thought of, that's a good sign. Also check if they have experience with your specific type of business - a CPA who specializes in real estate might not be ideal for your online business.