As someone who's been reading through all these incredibly detailed responses, I'm blown away by how comprehensive everyone's advice has been! The consistent message from people who actually went through this process is really compelling. What stands out most to me is that this isn't really about whether you CAN pass the test without the class - it sounds like many people with accounting backgrounds probably could. The real question seems to be whether you'll be properly prepared to handle the full scope of tax preparation work during your first busy season. The structured client interview process that multiple people mentioned sounds like something you really need hands-on training for. I've only done taxes for myself and family, so the idea of systematically gathering information from stressed clients while navigating professional software simultaneously sounds pretty daunting without proper preparation. The relationship building aspect that keeps coming up is huge too. Having managers who know your capabilities and can offer guidance when you encounter unusual situations during that first hectic tax season seems invaluable. Plus, @Daryl Bright's point about even CPAs finding value in learning H&R Block's specific methodology really drives home that this is legitimate professional training, not just basic tax review. I think I'm convinced - better to invest the time upfront and feel genuinely confident than to potentially struggle while clients are depending on accurate, professional service. Thanks to everyone for such thoughtful perspectives!

As someone who recently transitioned from corporate accounting to tax preparation, I can definitely relate to your situation! I had a similar background - accounting degree with minimal hands-on tax experience beyond personal returns. I ultimately chose to take the H&R Block class and I'm so glad I did. While my accounting foundation helped with understanding the concepts, the class taught me so much more than just tax knowledge. The most valuable parts were learning their specific client interview process, getting comfortable with their professional software, and understanding their quality control procedures. What really made the difference was the practical training with real client scenarios. Working through complex situations like rental properties, self-employment income, and unusual family circumstances while learning to navigate their system efficiently took practice. The instructors also shared tons of workflow tips that helped me manage time effectively during busy season. The relationship aspect ended up being huge too. Having established connections with managers and fellow preparers made my first tax season much less stressful. When I encountered my first really complex return, I knew exactly who to call for guidance. My advice would be to take the class if your schedule allows it. Yes, you might be able to pass the test without it, but the confidence and preparation you'll gain will make your first season so much smoother. Better to invest the time upfront than struggle to learn everything on the fly when clients are depending on you for accurate returns!

I've been importing from EU countries for over a decade and this VAT confusion is incredibly common with individual sellers. The root issue is that many European sellers primarily deal with business customers who do have VAT numbers, so they assume all buyers should have them. Here's the definitive explanation to send your seller: "I am a private individual in the United States purchasing for personal use. The US does not have a VAT (Value Added Tax) system. Instead, we have sales tax which operates completely differently and is managed at state/local levels. US consumers do not possess VAT identification numbers because VAT does not exist in our tax framework. Under EU VAT Directive 2006/112/EC, exports to non-EU countries are zero-rated for VAT purposes. My US shipping address serves as sufficient documentation that this qualifies as a VAT-exempt export sale." The beauty of this approach is that you're educating them about the fundamental difference between US and EU tax systems while citing the actual regulation that governs their VAT exemption. Most sellers immediately understand once you explain that VAT literally doesn't exist in the US - they can't expect you to have registration for a tax system that our country doesn't use. Your $65 purchase is well below any threshold requiring special documentation, and honestly, the seller should have known this basic export procedure before listing internationally on eBay.

I've been importing personal items from the EU for years and this VAT number confusion is probably the most common issue US consumers face with European sellers. The fundamental problem is that your Italian seller is applying business-to-business procedures to what is actually a simple consumer export. Here's what's happening: In Italy, sellers must charge VAT on domestic sales, but exports outside the EU are VAT-exempt. Your seller is asking for a VAT number because that's the standard procedure when selling to EU businesses - they need to verify the buyer's VAT registration to apply the exemption. However, as a US individual, you don't have (and cannot have) a VAT number because the United States doesn't operate under a VAT system at all. We have sales tax instead, which works completely differently and is handled at state/local levels. Send your seller this clear explanation: "I am a private individual in the United States making a personal purchase. The US does not have a Value Added Tax (VAT) system - our country uses a different tax structure with state-level sales taxes. Therefore, US consumers do not possess VAT identification numbers. Under EU VAT regulations, exports to non-EU countries like the US are VAT-exempt, and my US shipping address serves as proof this is an export sale." Be confident in your response - you're not missing any required documentation. The seller just needs reassurance that they can legally ship to you without charging Italian VAT, which they absolutely can based on your US address alone.

This has been such an enlightening discussion about a problem I never fully understood before. As someone who's worked in various service industries but never restaurants specifically, I had no idea how pervasive and systematically problematic tip reporting issues were. What really strikes me from reading everyone's experiences is how this creates a multi-generational cycle of non-compliance. New servers learn from experienced ones that "everyone does it," restaurants perpetuate the culture because it saves them money, and the IRS enforcement seems sporadic enough that people rationalize the risk. Meanwhile, servers who try to do everything by the book face financial hardship and potential workplace pressure. The tools and services mentioned in this thread (like the tracking apps and tax assistance) seem helpful for individuals trying to navigate the system, but the core problem appears to be structural. When compliance with tax law puts workers at a financial disadvantage compared to their peers, something is fundamentally wrong with either the law or how the industry operates. I'm curious - for those of you advocating for policy changes, what would ideal reform look like? Would it be eliminating the tipped minimum wage entirely, creating automatic tip reporting systems, or something else? And are there other countries or states that have figured out better approaches to this issue that we could learn from?

This entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening for me as someone who's never worked in food service. I had no idea that tip reporting was such a widespread and complex issue affecting so many workers. What really stands out to me is how this creates a lose-lose situation for servers. If you under-report to survive financially day-to-day, you risk devastating audit consequences years later. But if you report everything accurately, you face immediate financial hardship and potential workplace retaliation in an industry where you're already making $2.13/hour base pay. The fact that restaurants actively benefit from this situation (avoiding employer FICA taxes) while servers bear all the long-term risk seems fundamentally unfair. It's essentially institutionalized tax evasion where the most vulnerable workers carry the consequences. I'm particularly struck by the stories of servers keeping detailed records and using tracking apps to protect themselves. It shows how much individual responsibility workers have to take on to navigate a system that seems designed to push them toward non-compliance. This really highlights why we need structural reforms - whether that's eliminating the tipped minimum wage, requiring restaurants to participate in IRS compliance programs like TRAC/TRDA, or creating automatic reporting systems. Individual solutions help people cope with the current system, but they don't fix the underlying problem that puts servers in this impossible position in the first place.

Just want to add that since you're in Florida, you have one major advantage - no state income tax! This means you only need to worry about federal taxes on your Meta Bonus income. However, don't forget that you'll still need to pay self-employment tax (15.3%) on top of regular income tax. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started earning from social media: open a separate savings account and immediately transfer 25-30% of any bonus payments you receive. This way you won't be scrambling to find tax money when filing season comes around. The quarterly estimated tax payments that others mentioned become really important once you start earning more consistently from Meta's programs. Also, keep screenshots of your Meta Creator Bonus dashboard and any payment notifications - these help document your income sources if the IRS ever has questions about your 1099-MISC.

Maya, I completely understand the confusion! I went through the exact same thing when I started earning from Instagram's Creator Fund. Even though it feels weird to call yourself a "business" when you're just posting content you enjoy, the IRS treats any income from these creator programs as self-employment income. Here's what I learned: when TurboTax asks for business info, keep it simple. Use your own name as the business name, select "Sole Proprietorship," and for the business activity code, use 519130 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting). Don't overthink it - you're not incorporating or anything complex. The good news about being in Florida is no state income tax! But you will need to pay self-employment tax on that $4000, which is about 15.3%. Start setting aside money now for next year's earnings - I learned this the hard way. Also, make sure you're tracking any expenses related to your meme page. Things like your phone bill (business portion), any apps you pay for, internet costs, etc. can all be deducted and will reduce your tax burden. Good luck!

I want to echo what others have said about getting the step-up basis corrected - this is absolutely critical and could save you thousands in taxes. I went through a similar situation last year with my father's estate. One thing that might help explain your high appreciation: if your sibling had been making regular contributions to the brokerage account before passing, the cost basis might include older purchases at much lower prices. The step-up should apply to everything owned at death, but if the account had positions purchased years ago when the market was significantly lower, that could explain the large unrealized gains. For finding an estate tax specialist, I'd recommend checking with your state's CPA society - they usually have directories where you can search by specialty. Also, many estate planning attorneys work closely with CPAs who focus on estate taxation and can provide referrals. Regarding your distribution decision, given that your parents are likely in lower tax brackets than the estate, transferring the shares directly is probably your best bet. Just make sure you document everything thoroughly and get written confirmation from the brokerage about the correct step-up basis before making any distributions. The fact that you're being so thorough about this shows you're doing a great job as executor. These are complex issues that even tax professionals sometimes get wrong, so don't feel bad about needing to research everything carefully.

Regarding your question about providing cost basis information to your parents - definitely give them detailed documentation! When you transfer the shares, provide them with a clear summary showing: (1) the original stepped-up basis for each holding as of your sibling's date of death, (2) any shares purchased through dividend reinvestment since then (with their separate basis), and (3) the date of transfer to them. This documentation will be invaluable when they eventually sell and need to calculate capital gains. Without it, they (or their tax preparer) might have to reconstruct the basis information, which can be difficult and time-consuming. I'd suggest creating a simple spreadsheet showing each holding, the number of shares, the stepped-up basis per share, and the total basis. Include copies of the brokerage statements showing the step-up correction and any dividend reinvestment activity. Your parents' future tax preparer will thank you for being so organized! Also, make sure to keep copies of all this documentation in the estate files. If there are ever any questions from the IRS about the basis calculations, having complete records will make everything much smoother. You're absolutely right that direct transfer is typically the better approach given your parents' lower tax brackets. Just make sure to get that step-up basis verification from the brokerage first - it sounds like that's the key missing piece before you finalize the distributions.