Just to add a bit more clarity on the Form 3903 situation - even before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the deduction for non-military, there were strict time and distance tests. The distance test required your new workplace to be at least 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job was. The time test required working full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months after arriving in the new location. If this is a military-related move, definitely look into amending your 2022 return. If not, unfortunately the suspension applies through 2025, so you're out of luck at the federal level.

Has anyone successfully amended a tax return for a different reason? I'm wondering if it's worth the hassle. I think I messed up some deductions last year (not moving related) but I'm scared of triggering an audit.

If you're comfortable with a bit more hands-on approach and want to save money, Square Payroll is another decent option. I use it for my retail shop with 6 employees. It's pretty straightforward, handles tax filings, and integrates well if you're already using Square for payments. The biggest advantage is the price - it's one of the more affordable options out there. The downside is the customer service isn't great if you run into problems. But since you have accounting knowledge, you might not need as much support.

Don't forget to check if your bank offers payroll services! I use Chase Payroll for my landscaping business and it's been great. Since it's integrated with my business checking account, transfers for payroll are super easy.

When I got an LT38 last year, it turned out one of my 1099s didn't get reported correctly. Double check if you had any side income, investment transactions, or early retirement withdrawals in 2021 that might have been missed. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one! Also, call the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 877-777-4778 if you're struggling. They're an independent organization within the IRS that can help resolve issues. Completely free service that saved my butt when I was dealing with incorrect penalties.

Don't ignore the LT38! I made that mistake and ended up with a bank levy that completely froze my checking account for almost 2 weeks. Even if you can't pay the full amount, responding to the notice stops the collection process while you work out a solution. The easiest option is an installment agreement - you can set this up online for debts under $50,000 at https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-payment-agreement-application. I'm currently paying $85/month on a similar tax debt. The interest and penalties continue to accrue, but at least you avoid levies and it's better than paying credit card interest rates.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned this but if you file late without an extension, you're looking at penalties if you owe money. Like 5% of unpaid taxes for every month you're late, up to 25%. If you're getting a refund there's no penalty for filing late BUT you only have 3 years to claim your refund.

For the future, I learned my lesson and now I take pics of all my important tax docs with my phone as soon as I get them. Store them in a secure folder and you'll never lose them again, even if you move or misplace the paper copies.

This is why I always do my own taxes using software. Tax preparers at those cheap places often have minimal training and make mistakes like this. For a simple return (sounds like you just have a W-2?), you can use free filing options through the IRS website. Did the preparer ever explain WHY they thought you needed an EIN? There are very specific circumstances where an individual might need one (like if you're setting up a solo 401k), but for a typical college student with a part-time job, there's absolutely no reason.

Something similar happened to my son last year. The tax place was trying to classify him as an "independent contractor" when he was clearly just a regular employee with a W-2. They said getting an EIN would help him "write off expenses" and get a bigger refund. Turned out they were planning to file a Schedule C with fake business expenses. The IRS ended up auditing him and it was a huge mess to clean up. He had to pay back the incorrect refund plus penalties. Definitely contact the IRS right away and maybe even consider filing a report with the FTC for tax preparer fraud.