Is there a specific format you recommend for this viewing log? Should it be detailed or just basic info like date, title, and purpose? I'm trying to get better about documentation but don't want to overcomplicate things.

Nothing fancy needed! A simple spreadsheet or even a note on your phone works well. Include: 1) Date watched, 2) Title, 3) Platform (Netflix, theater, etc.), 4) Brief purpose (e.g., "Studied accent work for upcoming role" or "Researched period movement for 1920s play"), and 5) Approximate time spent. This doesn't need to be elaborate - just enough to show the IRS that you're tracking business versus personal use. Most of my professional actor friends spend about 5-10 minutes per week updating their viewing logs. The key is consistency rather than extensive detail.

Were there any red flags that triggered your audit? I'm curious if it was the streaming services specifically or something else in your return that caught their attention.

Thanks for mentioning this! Do you know what the income limits are to qualify? My mom's on a tight budget but not sure if she'd be considered low-income enough for assistance.

The income limits vary by state since these are state-administered programs, but generally for the QMB program (most comprehensive one), income needs to be at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is about $1,215/month for an individual in 2025. Assets typically need to be under $9,900 for an individual (excluding your primary home and car). There are other programs with higher income limits though. The SLMB program (which pays just the Part B premium) allows income up to 120% FPL, and the QI program allows up to 135% FPL. Definitely contact your state's Medicaid office or local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) counselor - they provide free assistance with these applications.

Be careful with those Medicare Advantage plans though. They look great with the $0 premiums but then restrict which doctors you can see. My dad switched to one and then couldn't see his cardiologist anymore because they weren't in network. And the out-of-network costs were insane!

This is exactly what I suspected! Did they actively tell you guys to avoid mentioning that you weren't CPAs? Or were you trained to handle questions about credentials?

We were trained to say we were "certified tax preparers" which sounds impressive but really just meant we completed the company's internal training program. If directly asked if we were CPAs, we had to answer truthfully, but the script was to pivot to "I'm a trained tax professional with X years of experience using our proprietary software." Management knew most clients assumed we were CPAs or had accounting degrees, and they definitely didn't discourage that misconception. During training, they emphasized that we should highlight our "certification" and experience with the tax software rather than discussing formal credentials. It was deliberately misleading without technically lying.

That's actually a really smart approach. How do you find a CPA willing to do just a review rather than insisting on preparing the whole return? When I've asked in the past, they all wanted to do the complete service.

International Tax Review was incredibly helpful for me, especially their special reports on BEPS implementation and digital taxation. The case studies helped me connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications. Their transfer pricing analyses are particularly strong - look for their "Transfer Pricing Forum" section which has comparative country practices.

Thanks for the tip about the Transfer Pricing Forum section! I've been struggling with understanding how different countries approach the comparable uncontrolled price method differently, so that sounds perfect. I'll definitely focus on the BEPS implementation articles too - that's an area where our course materials seem a bit outdated compared to current practice.

Don't give up! I was in your position last year. Break it into manageable chunks and focus on mastering one concept before moving to the next. I created flashcards for key treaties and principles and reviewed them during my commute. Also, don't try to memorize everything - focus on understanding the principles and knowing where to look for specific rules.

Do you have a template for this spreadsheet you could share? I'm doing freelance work for the first time this year and I'm trying to get organized before tax season.

I don't have a template to share but it's pretty simple to create. I just use columns for: Client Name, Project Description, Date Paid, Amount, Payment Method, W-9 Submitted (Y/N), 1099 Expected (Y/N), and 1099 Received (Y/N). I also have a separate tab for business expenses with columns for: Date, Vendor, Description, Amount, Payment Method, and Category (like "Software," "Equipment," etc). Nothing fancy but it keeps everything organized when it's time to do taxes.

Technically you're supposed to report all income, even small amounts. But realistically the IRS is more concerned with larger amounts. You should definitely start reporting your income going forward though. The IRS has been increasing focus on gig/freelance work.