Do you think the size of the bank matters? I was leaning toward a local credit union, but wondering if a national bank might be better for a tax business specifically.

Size definitely matters, but there are pros and cons to both approaches. National banks typically offer more sophisticated online tools and wider ATM networks, which is helpful if you travel to meet clients. Credit unions often provide more personalized service and better rates, plus they're more likely to work with you if you have special circumstances. For a tax business where trust is paramount, having a relationship with a local banker who knows you can actually help build credibility with clients.

I switched from BoA to a local credit union last year. Best decision ever. The switch took about 2 weeks to fully transition recurring payments, but the savings and better service were totally worth it. Do it now before tax season hits and you get too busy!

This is really helpful! When I respond, should I send copies of all my documentation or just the specific records related to the discrepancies they found?

Only send copies of the specific documentation that directly addresses the discrepancies mentioned in your CP2000. Sending too many unrelated documents can actually confuse the review process and potentially delay resolution. Make sure each document you send clearly relates to a specific item they're questioning. I like to use a cover letter that lists each discrepancy and exactly which supporting documents address each one. This makes it easier for the IRS agent reviewing your case to connect your evidence to their questions.

I've never heard of an extension request being denied if you ask before the deadline. The IRS is generally reasonable about giving people time to gather documentation. The problem comes when people ignore the notice entirely or wait until after the deadline to ask for more time.

Is there any software that does this tracking automatically? Seems like a lot of manual work if you have monthly or quarterly vestings.

There are several options for automatic tracking. Most of the major brokerages (Schwab, Fidelity, E*Trade) have reporting features that attempt to track this, but honestly they're often inaccurate for RSUs specifically. I've found that dedicated equity compensation tools like Carta, StockOpter, or even some features in tools like Personal Capital can help with tracking. There are also some newer fintech apps specifically for equity compensation, but I still recommend maintaining your own spreadsheet as a backup. Once you set it up initially, it only takes a few minutes to update each vesting period.

This is such an important point! My company does withholding at vesting but only at 22%, and I got hit with a huge tax bill my first year with RSUs because I didn't realize I needed to make estimated tax payments on the difference. The whole RSU taxation system is unnecessarily complicated.

Would it be bad to change it to 1 halfway through the year? I've been at 0 since January.

Not bad at all! You can change your withholding at any time during the year. If you switch from 0 to 1 allowance now, you'll just start having less tax withheld from your remaining paychecks this year. The withholding system is designed to adjust throughout the year. Your employer calculates the withholding for each individual paycheck based on your current W-4 information, not based on what you submitted in January. So making the change now just affects your future paychecks - it doesn't retroactively change anything.

This is the most likely answer. I remember the shock when I went from my $12/hr campus job to my first salaried position. Suddenly I was seeing hundreds in taxes instead of like $30-40 per check. Welcome to adult life lol

This is a really important point. I got burned by this exact issue with a Korean subsidiary. Even though my company qualified as a UK resident under management and control rules, Korea applied their LOB provision and denied the UK treaty rate because they determined my structure was primarily for tax advantages. Cost me thousands in unexpected withholding taxes.

That's exactly the scenario I was warning about. The trend in international tax enforcement is moving strongly against structures that appear designed primarily for treaty benefits. The key factors authorities look for include: having genuine economic substance in the jurisdiction claiming treaty benefits (employees, office, equipment), a clear business purpose for the structure beyond tax savings, and decision-making that actually happens in the claimed jurisdiction. Without these elements, there's significant risk of treaty denial regardless of technical residency status.

Check-the-box could create other problems though. If the Indian sub is disregarded for US purposes but remains a corporation for Dutch and Indian purposes, you might create a hybrid entity mismatch that could trigger anti-hybrid rules in the Netherlands. The Dutch implemented ATAD2 which specifically targets these arrangements.