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If I could give 10 stars I would If I could give 10 stars I would Such an amazing service so needed during the times when EDD almost never picks up Claimyr gets me on the phone with EDD every time without fail faster. A much needed service without Claimyr I would have never received the payment I needed to support me during my postpartum recovery. Thank you so much Claimyr!
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Really made a difference, save me time and energy from going to a local office for making the call.
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An incredibly helpful service! Got me connected to a CA EDD agent without major hassle (outside of EDD's agents dropping calls – which Claimyr has free protection for). If you need to file a new claim and can't do it online, pay the $ to Claimyr to get the process started. Absolutely worth it!
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Used this service a couple times now. Before I'd call 200 times in less than a weak frustrated as can be. But using claimyr with a couple hours of waiting i was on the line with an representative or on hold. Dropped a couple times but each reconnected not long after and was mission accomplished, thanks to Claimyr.
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I tried for weeks to get thru to EDD PFL program with no luck. I gave this a try thinking it may be a scam. OMG! It worked and They got thru within an hour and my claim is going to finally get paid!! I upgraded to the $60 call. Best $60 spent!
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One thing to watch out for - I tried doing this last year with my Chase card thinking I was being clever, but the processing fee of 1.98% basically wiped out my 2% cashback. After calculating it all out, I think I made like $8 in actual profit. Not really worth the hassle unless you have a card with higher rewards or a signup bonus you're trying to hit.
That's a good point about the fees potentially offsetting the rewards. My main card actually gives 2.5% back on everything for the first $10k spent each quarter, so I should still come out ahead. Did you have any issues with the IRS or your credit card company questioning the large payment? That's my main concern.
I didn't have any issues with the IRS questioning the payment. They really don't care how you pay as long as they get their money. My credit card company did temporarily flag the transaction due to the size, but that was resolved with a quick text confirmation. If you're using a card that gives 2.5% back, you'll definitely come out ahead. Just give your credit card company a heads up before making the payment to avoid any fraud holds. Large IRS payments are actually pretty common, especially during tax season, so the credit card companies are generally familiar with them.
Has anyone looked into whether receiving Zelle payments from someone else for tax reimbursement could trigger the new $600 reporting threshold? I've heard mixed things about whether that applies to personal payments.
The $600 reporting threshold only applies to goods and services payments, not personal transactions like reimbursements. As long as you're not marking these as "goods and services" in Zelle (which I don't think is even an option), you should be fine. It's just like splitting a dinner bill.
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I used to work for one of these "tax resolution" companies. 100% these letters are designed to scare people into calling. The company I worked for would buy lists of people with tax liens then send out thousands of these scary letters. When people called in panicking, sales reps would push unnecessary services with huge fees. Some signs that scream SCAM: - Urgent language about "immediate action required" - Threatening language about wage garnishment, bank levies, etc. - Mentions of "special programs" they can access - Excessive fees upfront before any work is done - Guarantees about settlement amounts The IRS does have legitimate payment plans and programs, but you can access these directly without paying thousands to a middleman.
Thank you so much for the insider perspective! The letter my dad got has almost all of these warning signs you listed. They're definitely using scare tactics with all the talk about "immediate action required" and "avoid asset seizure." Would the IRS ever send letters through third parties like this? Or is that alone enough to know it's not legitimate?
The IRS will never initiate contact through a third party. That alone is a huge red flag. All official IRS communications come directly from the IRS on their letterhead with official seals and usually include your tax ID number. The only time third parties might legitimately contact you about taxes is if you've already hired them, or in rare cases if you've been assigned to a private debt collector - but even then, the IRS would contact you first to tell you they've assigned your case to a private collection agency.
Do NOT let your dad call that number!!! My grandfather got scammed out of $7,000 by one of these "tax resolution specialists" last year. They convinced him he was about to have his social security payments garnished and that they were his only hope to avoid it. They kept him on the phone for hours using scare tactics until he finally agreed to pay their "resolution fee" using his credit card. It was a nightmare trying to get the charges reversed.
This happened to my mom too! These scammers specifically target older people who might not know how to verify if tax issues are real. They got her for $3,200 claiming they would "settle her tax debt" which turned out to be completely made up.
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Have you considered reaching out to CPAs who specialize in US-Mexico tax issues? I practice in Texas near the border and we handle these situations regularly. The key issues for S corps in Mexico include: 1. Entity classification - Mexico doesn't recognize S corps, so you'll need to determine how Mexico will classify the operation 2. Transfer pricing - Documentation requirements if goods/services move between US and Mexican operations 3. Permanent establishment - Having fixed operations in Mexico creates Mexican tax obligations 4. Currency translation - Dealing with peso transactions and exchange rate considerations 5. VAT implications - Mexico has a value-added tax system unlike US sales tax Feel free to message me if you want to discuss a referral arrangement. This is definitely not something to learn on the fly.
Those are helpful points, especially about the entity classification and VAT implications. I hadn't even considered the currency translation issues. Would you recommend any particular resources for understanding the basics of the US-Mexico tax treaty? I'd like to get enough background knowledge to at least ask intelligent questions when I do consult with a specialist.
The best starting point would be the actual US-Mexico tax treaty text, which you can find on the IRS website. While technical, it outlines the fundamental principles. For a more accessible overview, the IBFD has good summaries of treaty provisions that explain concepts like permanent establishment thresholds and withholding tax rates. The Tax Executive Institute also publishes good articles on US-Mexico cross-border taxation. For the currency translation issues, look at the basic rules in IRC Section 988 and Reg. 1.988, which cover foreign currency transactions. Understanding these basics will definitely help you ask the right questions when you consult with specialists who handle these matters regularly.
One major point not mentioned yet - the S corp status itself could be jeopardized! Under IRC §1361, an S corporation cannot have a foreign subsidiary as a disregarded entity. If your client creates a Mexican subsidiary rather than just a branch, they could inadvertently terminate their S status. A branch structure might work better, but that creates direct nexus with Mexico and direct Mexican tax liability for the S corp. Definitely not a DIY situation.
Would a check-the-box election help in this situation to treat the Mexican entity as disregarded? I thought that might provide some flexibility.
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I went through this last year with my NYS business. For anyone dealing with this issue, make sure you're filing the right type of extension. If your business is a single-member LLC and treated as a disregarded entity, you'd file an extension for Form 1040-NR with Form 4868. But if your LLC elected to be treated as a corporation, you'd need to file Form 7004 for an extension instead. Also, remember that the ITIN application (Form W-7) generally CAN'T be filed by itself - it must be attached to a valid tax return unless you meet one of the exceptions. This tripped me up badly.
That's a really good point about the different forms. My LLC is set up as a disregarded entity, so I'll need the Form 4868. I didn't realize the W-7 has to be attached to a tax return - does that mean I need to complete a full tax return even though I'm filing for an extension?
Yes, that's one of the trickier parts of this process. You'll need to complete your tax return (Form 1040-NR in your case as a foreign person with a disregarded entity LLC), attach the W-7 application, and then submit them together. The extension (Form 4868) gives you more time to file the return, but you'll still need to prepare the return to get your ITIN. It seems contradictory, but what many people do is prepare the full return, attach it to the W-7, and submit both while also filing the extension to avoid penalties. When your ITIN is assigned, the IRS will process the already-submitted return.
Don't forget about state taxes too! If your LLC is in Florida that's good news because Florida doesn't have state income tax, but you might still have other state filing requirements depending on where you conducted business. Also, for the payment itself, if you don't have an ITIN yet, you can use the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) or send a money order with Form 4868. Just make sure your name and address are exactly the same on all documents so they can match everything up later.
The EFTPS system requires an EIN though, which they might not have either as a foreign person. I think mailing a check or money order with Form 4868 is the safest option in this situation.
Yara Sabbagh
I was in your exact position 2 years ago! My advice: it depends on the complexity beyond just your filing status change. For me, switching to a CPA was worth it because I also had some self-employment income and investment complications. The CPA found several legitimate deductions TurboTax never prompted me for and saved me about $1,700 compared to what TurboTax calculated. However, if your return is still relatively simple (W-2 income, standard deduction), the difference is probably just your filing status change. In that case, a CPA probably won't find much more than TurboTax. One thing to consider - run your taxes through TurboTax as both MFS and MFJ (before filing) and compare the difference. Sometimes it's worth combining finances just for tax purposes if the savings are significant.
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Dylan Campbell
•Thanks for the advice! I do have some small 1099 income from a side gig but otherwise pretty straightforward. How much did your CPA charge if you don't mind me asking? Also, did you find them locally or use an online service?
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Yara Sabbagh
•I paid $350 for my return which included federal, state, and the Schedule C for my side business. That seemed reasonable considering the savings. The previous year I'd paid about $120 for TurboTax with all the add-ons. I found my CPA through a local referral - a colleague at work who had similar tax needs. I'd recommend getting a personal recommendation rather than just picking someone random. The quality and pricing varies dramatically. Also consider asking potential CPAs if they offer a free initial consultation to discuss your situation before committing.
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Keisha Johnson
One thing nobody has mentioned yet is that tax software has basically caught up to what most CPAs can do for standard tax situations. Most CPAs for individuals are basically just inputting your info into their professional tax software. Where CPAs really add value is: 1) Complex situations like business ownership, multiple rental properties, etc 2) Year-round tax PLANNING rather than just tax preparation 3) Representation if you get audited If you're just looking to maximize your refund for a relatively straightforward situation, I'd suggest trying a different tax software first. I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA and got slightly better results for a fraction of the cost. The smaller refund is almost certainly due to your MFS status rather than TurboTax missing anything.
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Paolo Rizzo
•I second FreeTaxUSA! TurboTax kept increasing their prices and I switched last year. Got the exact same refund but paid $30 instead of $120. Their interface isn't as polished but it gets the job done.
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