15 How do you find a CPA who'll just do a consultation rather than taking over your whole tax filing? When I've looked into it, they all seem to want to charge me $300+ to do the entire return.

9 Many CPAs do offer consultation services, especially in the post-tax season months (May-December). You just need to be clear when you call that you're looking for tax planning or consultation, not preparation services. A good approach is to call and say something like: "I prepare my own taxes but would like a one-hour consultation to review specific areas where I might be missing deductions." Most will charge their hourly rate (typically $150-250) but the targeted advice can often save you more than that. Ask specifically for a consultation appointment rather than tax preparation services.

19 Not OP but I'm curious too - does TaxAct handle inventory tracking well? I'm starting a small online shop and trying to figure out if I need more sophisticated software.

Thanks for the advice. I've been reading through my contract and you're right - there's an arbitration clause buried in the fine print. Did your sister have to hire a lawyer to get her money back, or was she able to handle the complaint process herself?

She handled most of it herself with just a little guidance from a lawyer friend. The key was documenting everything thoroughly - she created a timeline of all promises made, services not delivered, and every interaction with the company. For the attorney general complaint, she included copies of all contracts, recordings of phone calls (where legal), and a detailed account of the harm caused. The most effective part was when the attorney general's office started their investigation. Companies often respond quickly when an official agency gets involved. She didn't have to proceed to formal arbitration because the company offered a settlement once they realized she was serious about pursuing all available channels. Stay persistent and document everything.

The IRS does take action against fraudulent tax resolution companies, but they're more focused on practitioners who are directly misrepresenting IRS rules or filing false documents. For consumer protection issues like this, the FTC and state agencies usually have more immediate jurisdiction. That said, reporting to multiple agencies increases the chances of action.

How do you decide what percentage of things like internet and cell phone to deduct when you use them for both personal and business purposes? I've heard conflicting advice about this.

The general rule is to deduct the percentage that you use for business purposes. For example, if you use your cell phone about 60% of the time for business calls/emails/etc., then you can deduct 60% of your cell phone bill. It's important to have some reasonable basis for determining these percentages. Some people keep logs for a sample period (like tracking business vs. personal internet usage for a few weeks) to establish their percentage. Others base it on time spent working vs. personal time. Whatever method you choose, just be consistent and make sure you can explain your reasoning if asked.

I've used TurboSelf-Employed for the past two years and it's definitely worth it for me. It walks you through all the self-employment forms step by step and automatically calculates your quarterly estimated payments. It also helps identify deductions I would have missed on my own. The expense categorization feature saves me tons of time - it learns which categories to assign to recurring expenses. And it keeps a running estimate of what I'll owe so there are no surprises at tax time.

Is there a limit to how much can go into these accounts total? Like between what my employer puts in and what I might add?

Yes, there are annual limits to the total contributions that can go into retirement accounts. For 2024, the total contributions to a defined contribution plan (like a 401(k) or 403(b)) is capped at $69,000 or 100% of your compensation, whichever is less. This includes both employer and employee contributions combined. For traditional pension plans (defined benefit plans), the limits work differently and are based on actuarial calculations of what's needed to provide your promised benefit at retirement. Your benefits administrator at the union hall should be able to tell you exactly how much room you have for additional voluntary contributions based on your specific plan rules and the IRS limits.

I did this last year when I moved from a union job to management. Process wasn't too bad - contact your plan administrator and request a direct rollover to avoid tax withholding. Make sure you have an IRA already set up before you start the process. One thing to watch - some union pensions won't allow rollover until you're fully vested or have been inactive in the union for a specific period.

Are you absolutely sure about this? I've been contributing to an HSA for years and my accountant never mentioned it reduces SE tax. Seems like this would be common advice if true.

Yes, I'm sure. HSA contributions are one of the few "above-the-line" deductions that reduce self-employment income before SE tax is calculated. It's often overlooked because tax software handles it automatically, and many accountants just focus on the income tax benefits. If you look at Schedule 1, HSA contributions are deducted before arriving at your Adjusted Gross Income. Then on Schedule SE, your net earnings from self-employment are calculated using this adjusted figure, which means HSA contributions directly reduce your SE tax base.

How much did it cost you to set up and maintain the S-Corp? I hear there are annual fees and payroll costs that eat into the tax savings. Is there a rule of thumb for when it's worth it?

Setup was about $500 with my state filing fees, then I pay around $1,200/year for payroll processing and my accountant charges an extra $350 for the S-Corp tax return versus Schedule C. So my annual ongoing cost is roughly $1,550. But I'm saving about $4,200 in SE tax, so I'm still ahead by $2,650 each year. The general rule of thumb I've heard is it makes sense when you're consistently making over $60-70K in net profit. The math works out great at higher income levels but gets questionable below $50K profit because of those fixed costs. And there's definitely more paperwork and deadlines to keep track of - quarterly payroll filings, etc. But my accountant handles most of it.