I actually tried that initially! The company said they don't report these credits anywhere because they consider them "promotional incentives" rather than compensation. They told me it was my responsibility to determine the value and report it correctly. That's exactly why I'm so confused about how to handle it.

That's definitely making things more complicated then. In that case, I would document everything carefully - when credits were earned, their approximate cash value, and how you calculated that value. The fact that the company calls them "promotional incentives" doesn't change your tax obligations, but it does make record-keeping more important. If you're self-employed, these would still be business income on Schedule C. Consider consulting with a tax professional who specializes in self-employment or sales compensation structures to ensure you're covered.

This is actually really good advice. If you're tracking the credits as income when earned, then using them for legitimate business expenses later, you should be able to deduct those expenses when incurred. Just make sure you're not double-counting!

I logged into my account and there's nothing about an outstanding balance or pending charges. Just looks normal. I've checked all email folders including spam - absolutely nothing from them requesting payment. My contact info is all current too. It's just weird that they haven't made any attempt to collect.

That's definitely unusual. Their automated system should have flagged your account by now. Most likely explanations: There's a glitch in their system that failed to flag your account as unpaid. This happens sometimes when the IRS changes delivery method without proper notification codes to the software company. The best ethical approach would be to contact them, but realistically, if you don't, there are two possible outcomes: either they'll eventually discover the error and bill you (could be weeks or even months), or it falls through the cracks permanently. I've seen both happen.

Do tax prep companies really send unpaid fees to collections? Seems excessive for what, like a $100 charge?

That's the kind of thing I'm worried about! I don't mind paying what I owe, but it's weird they haven't contacted me at all. Maybe I should just call them before it gets worse. Thanks for sharing what happened to your friend - definitely don't want collections involvement.

Thank you for this suggestion! We did replace the roof about 7 years ago (around $11,000) and installed central air conditioning (about $8,500) about 5 years ago. We also replaced all the windows about 9 years ago for around $6,500. I don't think our tax person asked about any of this specifically. Would these count as improvements that could help reduce our tax bill? And if so, do we need receipts or some kind of proof, because honestly I'm not sure if we kept all of that paperwork.

Yes, all of those would absolutely count as capital improvements that increase your cost basis! The roof, HVAC, and windows are all classic examples of capital improvements rather than repairs. Even without receipts, you can still claim these improvements, though documentation is preferred. If you don't have receipts, try to gather whatever evidence you can - canceled checks, credit card statements, emails with contractors, or even photos showing the before and after. You could also get estimates from contractors showing what similar work would have cost in those years as supporting evidence. These improvements total around $26,000, which could significantly reduce your tax bill. Definitely bring this information to your tax preparer right away or consider getting a second opinion from a CPA who specializes in real estate taxation.

This is an important point - loan amount doesn't impact basis, but if the loan proceeds were used for property improvements, those DO increase basis. I made this mistake on my first rental and it cost me thousands.

I found that using Microsoft Edge in InPrivate mode (their version of incognito) somehow worked for me. Not sure why, but maybe it bypasses some cache issues? Give it a try - it was the only browser that worked after I tried Chrome, Firefox and Safari.

Thanks for the suggestion! I just tried Edge InPrivate mode and it still didn't work for me. I'm beginning to think there's something specific about my account that's causing issues. Might have to resort to calling the IRS support line after all.

Don't get discouraged! The basic certification covers about 80% of what you'll see at most VITA sites. Advanced is only needed for things like self-employment income (Schedule C), capital gains with basis calculations, and some education credits. Many sites will let you volunteer with just basic certification and you can refer the more complex returns to other volunteers. The technical issues are frustrating but not reflective of the actual volunteering experience, which is incredibly rewarding. Last year I helped over 200 families get refunds they desperately needed. The look on someone's face when you tell them they're getting a $5,000 refund they didn't expect makes all the certification headaches worth it!

That's really helpful! I have done some work on the property - replaced the roof and updated the electrical. Would those count? And do I need any special documentation beyond the receipts?

Yes, a new roof and electrical updates definitely count as capital improvements that can be added to your basis! Keep all receipts, contracts, and if possible, before and after photos of the work done. For substantial improvements like these, it's also good to have the contractor invoices that detail the work performed, not just the payment receipts. The IRS wants to see that these were actual improvements that extended the life or value of the property, not just repairs or maintenance.

This is actually pretty risky advice. Seller financing means you don't get all your cash upfront, which defeats the OPs purpose of paying off debt and buying another house. Plus you take on the risk of buyer default. There are better ways to manage the tax situation.