Thanks for the tip about retail options! Do you know if there's a significant difference in the features between the desktop and online versions? Is one better for more complicated tax situations like self-employment or investments?

The desktop version tends to be better for more complicated tax situations. If you're self-employed or have significant investments, I'd recommend the desktop version. It gives you more control and offers more advanced features for complex scenarios. The desktop version also allows you to file multiple returns (up to 5) without additional cost, which is great if you're doing taxes for family members. The online version charges separately for each return. Desktop also makes it easier to access previous years' returns without additional fees, whereas the online version sometimes charges you to access older returns.

I successfully used it last week, but only for the online version. When I clicked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, it automatically applied a $15 discount plus the advertised percentage off. I tried to find a way to apply it to the downloadable version but couldn't figure it out. The Chase customer service rep confirmed it's online only.

Thanks for confirming! I'll go with the online version then. Seems like that's the only way to get the discount.

That's terrifying! Did you have any tax identity theft issues after the breach? I'm always paranoid about that happening.

Do you remember what the official IRS number is? I got one of these calls yesterday and now I'm paranoid even though I'm 99% sure it's a scam.

The general IRS customer service number is 800-829-1040. When you call, be prepared for a long wait time, and have your tax return handy as they'll ask verification questions to confirm your identity. I recommend calling early in the morning right when they open or later in the evening before they close as those tend to have shorter wait times. You can also try calling mid-week as Mondays and Fridays are typically their busiest days.

Yes, these scams are successful enough that they keep doing them. My coworker's father lost $12,000 to an IRS scammer last year. They told him he had outstanding tax bills and would be arrested at work the next day if he didn't pay. They kept him on the phone for 5 hours while he went to different stores buying gift cards. He was too embarrassed to tell anyone until weeks later.

Is the liability protection really that valuable though? I've heard you need good insurance anyway since people can still try to pierce the corporate veil if you don't keep business and personal completely separate?

The liability protection is valuable but not perfect. You're right that you still need good insurance, and yes, "piercing the corporate veil" is a real concern. If you don't maintain separate business bank accounts, mix personal and business expenses, or don't follow corporate formalities, the courts can potentially hold you personally liable. LLC protection works best for legitimate business debts and certain types of lawsuits. It's one layer of protection that works alongside proper insurance. So it's not an either/or situation - smart business owners have both the legal structure AND insurance coverage.

The Medicare surtax (0.9%) only applies to incomes over $200k for singles/$250k married, so it won't affect most small business owners just starting out. The bigger recent tax change was actually the SECURE 2.0 Act which changed retirement plan options for small businesses.

What's an EOR service? Is that like a PEO? And do you have any recommendations for ones that work well with very small businesses? I'm only looking to hire one person to start.

An EOR (Employer of Record) is similar to a PEO but specifically designed for international hiring. They essentially become the legal employer in the foreign country while you maintain day-to-day management. For small businesses hiring just one or two people, services like Deel, Remote.com, or Ontop tend to be more cost-effective than traditional global PEOs which usually cater to larger companies. They handle everything from compliant contracts to local tax withholding and benefits requirements. The fees usually range from 5-8% of the employee's salary, which might seem high but is typically cheaper than setting up your own foreign entity. For just one employee in India, this approach could save you significant headaches with compliance.

The US-India tax treaty definitely applies here. Article 15 covers dependent personal services (employment), while Article 14 covers independent personal services (contractors). Generally, if your Indian worker never comes to the US to perform services, their income is only taxable in India. As for LLC vs S-Corp, it really depends on your overall business situation. An LLC with S-Corp election could give you some employment tax advantages if you're also taking a salary, but for purely hiring overseas workers, the structure is less important than properly documenting the relationship. What matters more is whether you classify them correctly as employees vs contractors, and whether you follow the reporting requirements for foreign persons.