This is really helpful insider info! Do you think it's better to approach smaller local firms or larger regional ones for a small construction business? I've heard conflicting advice about which provides better personalized service.

For a small construction business, I generally recommend a mid-sized local firm rather than either extreme. The smallest firms (1-2 CPAs) often lack specialized industry knowledge and may not have the bandwidth during busy season. The largest firms typically focus on bigger clients and charge premium rates. A mid-sized local firm with 5-10 CPAs often hits the sweet spot - they typically have at least one person with construction industry expertise but still provide personalized service. They're also more likely to offer flexible billing arrangements like the flat fee model you prefer. Just make sure to ask specifically if they have other clients in construction and what percentage of their practice it represents.

I tried one of those matching services last year for my photography business. The experience was mixed - the price was better than local CPAs, but the person they matched me with didn't really understand state-specific deductions for my industry. I ended up having to explain a lot of things that I feel a more specialized CPA would have known. Might work if your situation is straightforward though.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly what I was worried about - the lack of specialized knowledge. My situation involves multiple state filings and industry-specific deductions, so it sounds like I might be better off continuing my search for a local CPA who understands my field, even if it costs a bit more.

FreeTaxUSA is good, but I switched to TaxSlayer because their self-employed package has better explanations of deductions specific to my industry. Also half the price of TurboTax.

Thanks for the TaxSlayer recommendation! I'll check them out next year. The industry-specific deduction guidance sounds really helpful. What I loved most about FreeTaxUSA was their audit assistance features and the clear explanations about self-employment tax calculations.

Just checked and the account info is definitely correct. I used the same account for my state refund and that came through fine. I'm pretty sure the problem is on the IRS side, not mine. Sigh.

That's good you checked. One other thing - did you claim any pandemic-related credits, like recovery rebate credit or earned income tax credit? Those are getting extra scrutiny this year and can delay processing by weeks or even months.

DO NOT file an amended return unless there's actually something wrong with your original return! Filing an amended return will only reset your place in line and create even more delays. It could potentially add months to your wait time.

Thanks for bringing this up. My main job doesn't have any rules against outside work, but I should probably check if the second potential job would have an issue with it. And yeah, I'm a bit worried about burning out... do you think it would be manageable if I did the second job only 3-4 days a week instead of a full 5?

If you can get a second job that's only 3-4 days a week, that would definitely be more manageable than what I tried to do. I was doing 5 days at both places and it was crushing after a few months. Just be realistic about your energy levels and make sure you still have at least one day completely off to recover each week. And be prepared to adjust if you start feeling the effects. The medical bills from my burnout ended up costing more than the extra income I made from that period!

Not all jobs offer overtime though. I'm salaried and can work 60 hours and still just get my regular paycheck. It sucks.

That's great advice about the transcripts! I just requested them online. Do you know how long it usually takes to get them? And would filing a complaint against the accountant actually help my case with the IRS at all?

You should be able to access your transcripts immediately if you set up online access. If you requested them by mail, it typically takes 5-10 business days. The transcripts will show all reported income, your filed return details, and any payments or credits applied to your account. Filing a complaint against the accountant probably won't directly help with your current IRS issue. The IRS generally holds taxpayers responsible for their returns regardless of who prepared them. However, if there were truly egregious errors or misconduct, documenting it officially could potentially help if you need to request penalty abatement based on reasonable cause. It's also just good for consumer protection so others don't experience similar problems.

Yes! I disputed a CP2000 from 2016 just last year. The key is having documentation. In my case, I had records showing I'd already paid the amount through withholding that wasn't properly credited. If you can prove your case with solid documentation, the year doesn't matter as much as having the evidence.

That's really encouraging to hear! I've been stressing about this thinking I had no chance. Luckily I'm somewhat of a document hoarder and kept all my stock transaction records from my brokerage. Going to start putting together my response letter this weekend.