Thanks for sharing your experience! That's actually exactly the kind of approach I'm looking for - strategic planning rather than just compliance. Would you be comfortable sharing the name of your advisor either here or via message? And roughly what should I expect to budget for this kind of service?

I work with Michelle Sterling at Coastal Tax Advisors in the San Francisco area. She's fantastic and very knowledgeable about construction businesses specifically, which could be perfect for you. She has clients throughout the West Coast and handles everything virtually when needed. As for budget, it's definitely more expensive than traditional accounting services. I pay about $3,500 annually for tax preparation plus $250/hour for strategic planning sessions (usually 5-6 hours spread throughout the year). That sounds like a lot, but my tax savings have been nearly 8x what I pay her. The first year will be more expensive as they do a complete analysis and restructuring if needed. They typically work on a flat fee arrangement once they understand your business complexity.

I had the opposite experience actually. My WealthAbility advisor has been super responsive. I think it really depends on the individual practice rather than the network as a whole. Did you check reviews before signing on? Also, did you clarify communication expectations upfront? My advisor and I set clear expectations about response times from the beginning.

I didn't check reviews as thoroughly as I should have. The advisor was referred by a friend who had a good experience, but my friend's business is much larger than mine, so I think he got prioritized differently. You make a good point about setting communication expectations upfront. We never really discussed that, and I assumed emails would be answered within a couple of days. Next time I'll definitely make that part of the initial conversation and get it in writing. Still think the tax strategies were solid though, just frustrating to not get timely responses.

Thanks for this tip! My tax preparer didn't mention the self-employment tax deduction at all. Do you know if this is something that gets calculated automatically or do I need to specifically ask about it? Also, can I still set up a SEP IRA for last year's taxes or is it too late now?

Any decent tax software or preparer should calculate this automatically, but it never hurts to specifically ask to make sure it's included. It appears on Schedule 1 of your 1040 as an adjustment to income. You actually can still set up and contribute to a SEP IRA for last year! You have until your tax filing deadline including extensions (so potentially as late as October 15, 2025), though you need to establish the account before filing your return. The contribution limit is either 25% of your net self-employment income or $69,000 for 2024, whichever is less. This is one of the best ways to reduce your tax burden if you have the cash available to make contributions.

The home office deduction used to be a bigger red flag years ago, but it's much more common and accepted now, especially for legitimate 1099 contractors. The key is making sure the space is used "regularly and exclusively" for business. That means no using your office for personal stuff. If you keep good records and photos of your office space and can show it's dedicated to work, you'll be fine. Just be accurate with the square footage calculation - don't claim your entire apartment if you're only using one room!

This is great advice. What specific questions would you recommend asking to really test if they know eCommerce? And did you find someone who charges flat monthly rates or hourly?

This is so important! When I amended from 1040 to 1040NR last year, I discovered my country's tax treaty exempted the first $5000 of my teaching assistant income completely. The tax software I originally used had no idea about this!

Thanks for mentioning Form 8843! Do I need to include that with the amendment even if I already submitted it with my original (incorrect) 1040 filing?

Yes, you should still include Form 8843 with your amendment package even if you filed it with your original return. The amendment is essentially a complete revised return, so all required forms should be included. When the IRS processes amendments, they prefer having all relevant forms together in one package rather than having to reference parts of your original filing. The good news is you can just use a copy of the same Form 8843 you submitted originally (assuming the information on it was correct). No need to complete a new one unless something on it needs correction.

What about retirement accounts in foreign countries? I have something similar to a 401k in Australia, and I've heard conflicting things about how the US treats these accounts.

Foreign retirement accounts are one of the trickiest areas for US expats. Unfortunately, unless there's a specific provision in the tax treaty between the US and your country (like there is for Canadian RRSPs), the US often doesn't recognize the tax-deferred status of foreign retirement accounts. For Australian superannuation accounts, they exist in a gray area. Some tax professionals treat them as equivalent to US retirement accounts, others report them as foreign trusts requiring complex reporting, and others treat them as regular investment accounts. Recent IRS guidance has leaned toward treating them as foreign pension plans, but it depends on your exact situation. I recommend getting specific advice on this issue from a tax professional who specializes in US-Australia tax matters, as getting it wrong can have significant consequences.

Thank you for sharing your experience! It's reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the same situation. I was definitely imagining scenarios where I'd be pulled into secondary inspection and questioned about my tax situation! Did you use the Streamlined Filing Procedures that others mentioned? And how long did the whole process take from starting to get compliant until you were fully caught up with the IRS?

Yes, I used the Streamlined Filing Procedures - it was fairly straightforward but took about 3 months from start to finish. I gathered all my foreign tax documents, bank statements, and employment records first (that was the most time-consuming part). Then I worked with a tax preparer who specialized in expat issues to complete the necessary forms. The actual filing involved submitting 3 years of back tax returns along with a statement explaining why I failed to file (I just honestly explained I didn't understand my obligations as a dual citizen living abroad). For the FBAR forms (reporting foreign accounts), I had to file 6 years worth. About 4 months after submission, I received notices confirming everything was processed. I didn't owe any taxes thanks to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credits for taxes I'd already paid in the UK.