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Has anyone used the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator on the official IRS website? I found it helpful for a similar situation.
I tried it but found it confusing. You have to enter a ton of detailed information and I wasn't sure if I was doing it right. It also doesn't save your information so you have to re-enter everything if you want to try different scenarios.
Yara Nassar
Just to be clear, you're DEFINITELY not paying your employer's portion of payroll taxes. That's a completely separate thing that never shows up on your tax return. What you're experiencing is just the result of our progressive tax system when you have multiple incomes in a household. Each dollar of your income is essentially taxed at your highest marginal rate when added to your husband's income. So if his income put you in the 22% bracket, your additional income gets taxed at 22% (minus deductions). That's completely normal and how the system is designed to work, even though it can feel unfair.
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Another perspective: I have three dry cleaning locations and used a tax preparer for years. Switched to a CPA two years ago and my tax bill dropped by nearly $7500 the first year. The difference? My CPA understood how to properly categorize equipment depreciation across multiple locations, helped restructure my business entity, and identified legitimate meal and vehicle deductions I was missing. For food businesses, there are TONS of industry-specific deductions a specialist might know. One tip: don't just get any CPA. Find one with restaurant/food service experience. They know the specific deductions and challenges in your industry.
Did your CPA also help you throughout the year or just at tax time? And how much more did you end up paying compared to your tax preparer?
My CPA definitely helps year-round. He reviews my books quarterly and advises on timing major purchases for maximum tax advantage. He's also helped me set up proper accounting for each location to track profitability separately. I pay about $2,200 per year compared to $650 for my former tax preparer, but with the tax savings and business insights, it's been one of my best investments. The first consultation was free, and he clearly explained how his strategies would save more than his fee.
One thing nobody has mentioned - ask your current tax preparer if they're an Enrolled Agent (EA). Some tax preparers have this credential, which means they're federally licensed and can represent you before the IRS just like a CPA. If your current preparer is an EA with small business experience, they might be perfectly qualified and cheaper than a CPA.
Good point! My "tax preparer" is actually an EA and she's been fantastic with my two retail locations. Much cheaper than the CPAs I interviewed but still knowledgeable about business tax strategy.
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Another important consideration: if your mom might need nursing home care in the next 5 years, transferring assets from her account to yours could create a huge problem with Medicaid eligibility. They look back 5 years at transfers, and this could be seen as trying to hide assets.
AstroAce
ā¢I hadn't even thought about the Medicaid implications. That's a really important point since she might need that level of care eventually. Is there a way to use the proceeds for her benefit that wouldn't trigger Medicaid issues while still meeting her needs?
You should use the proceeds only for your mom's benefit and keep meticulous records of every expenditure. Maintaining a separate account specifically for her funds managed under the POA is essential. This money can be used for her care, living expenses, medical costs not covered by insurance, and quality of life improvements. For Medicaid planning, some families work with elder law attorneys to establish properly structured trusts, but you need professional guidance specific to your state as the rules vary. The key is demonstrating that funds were used for her benefit rather than gifted away to avoid Medicaid spend-down requirements.
Don't forget to keep really good records of all home improvements your mom made over the years! This increases the basis of the home and reduces potential capital gains. Things like a new roof, kitchen remodel, finished basement, etc. Get as many receipts as you can find.
Ethan Wilson
ā¢This is so important! My parents sold their house last year and we forgot to account for the $30k kitchen renovation they did in 2010. Would have lost out on that adjustment to the basis if the closing agent hadn't mentioned it. Old credit card statements can help prove these expenses if you don't have the receipts anymore.
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Oliver Brown
The "free" tax software thing is such a scam. They all advertise as free but then hit you with fees as soon as you have anything slightly complicated. I started using the Free File Fillable Forms directly from the IRS website. It's completely free no matter what forms you need to file. Fair warning though - it's basically just the electronic version of paper forms with basic calculations. No hand-holding or guidance like the commercial software offers. You need to know what you're doing or be willing to research tax rules yourself.
Mary Bates
ā¢I tried Free File Fillable Forms last year and made a huge mistake on my Schedule C. Ended up having to file an amended return which was a massive headache. Sometimes paying a little for guidance is worth it if you're not super tax-savvy.
Just an fyi, Credit Karma Tax (now called Cash App Taxes) is actually completely free even for self-employed people. I used it last year for my freelance design work and didn't pay a penny for federal or state filing. They don't upsell or have hidden fees like TaxAct. Only downside is they don't support every tax situation - like if you have multiple state returns or certain less common forms. But for basic self-employment with Schedule C, it works great!
Thanks for this recommendation! I'll definitely check out Cash App Taxes. That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for - something that can handle Schedule C without surprising me with fees halfway through. Really appreciate everyone's suggestions here!
Caleb Bell
One thing nobody mentioned yet - check if you actually did receive prior notices. The IRS is required to send multiple notices before sending debt to collections. Pull your IRS account transcripts (can be done online) and it will show all notices sent to you. If they sent notices to an old address or there's no record of prior notices, that strengthens your case for abatement. Also, 1065 penalties are especially harsh because they're designed to enforce timely filing for information returns. The $195/month/partner can add up quickly, which explains your $4950 penalty for what seems like a simple mistake.
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Harper Collins
ā¢That's a great point about checking the transcript for prior notices! I'll definitely do that. Our business did move offices in early 2023, and I'm now wondering if notices were sent to our old address even though we filed a change of address form. Is there a specific way to mention this when requesting abatement?
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Caleb Bell
ā¢If your transcript shows notices were sent but you never received them because of an address issue, definitely mention that when requesting abatement. This falls under "reasonable cause" arguments. Specifically say: "We filed Form 8822-B to change our business address, but it appears notices were sent to our previous location. We never had the opportunity to respond to the original notices before this went to collections." The IRS is generally understanding about address issues, especially if you can show you tried to update your information properly. This would be in addition to requesting First-Time Abatement, giving you multiple angles for relief.
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Danielle Campbell
I hate to be the pessimist, but be prepared for this to take multiple attempts. I had almost identical partnership penalties last year and the first abatement request was denied despite having a clean record. Had to call back, escalate to a supervisor, and be very persistent. Eventually got it abated, but it wasn't the easy one-call fix some people are suggesting. The IRS is incredibly backlogged right now.
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Rhett Bowman
ā¢I second this. My first request was denied too, but second time worked. The key was getting actual IRS transcripts that proved we had good filing history. Just saying "we've always filed on time before" isn't enough - they want to see proof in their system.
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