This is such a common confusion for new marketplace sellers! I went through the same thing when I started my online business. Here's what I've learned after dealing with this for a few years: Your gross receipts on Line 1 should be the total amount of actual sales you made to customers, minus any refunds or returns. So if your marketplace report shows you had $15,000 in sales but $500 in refunds, you'd put $14,500 on Line 1. The important thing is to NOT subtract any of the fees or expenses from that gross receipts number. All those marketplace fees, shipping costs, payment processing fees, etc. get reported separately in the expenses section of Schedule C. This gives the IRS the complete picture of your business activity. I'd also recommend keeping detailed records of what each fee category represents - some go on Line 10 (commissions and fees), others might be supplies (Line 22) or office expenses (Line 18). The IRS wants to see both your total business income AND your total business expenses calculated separately. Don't stress too much about getting it perfect your first year - the key is being consistent and reasonable with your categorization. You've got this!

I've been dealing with this same issue for my online business! One thing that really helped me understand it was thinking about it from the IRS perspective - they want to see the full scope of your business activity, not just what ended up in your bank account. So for Schedule C Line 1, you report your total sales to customers (minus refunds), which shows how much business you actually did. Then in the expenses section, you list all the costs of doing that business - marketplace fees, shipping, supplies, etc. This gives them a complete picture: here's how much I sold, here's what it cost me to make those sales, and here's my net profit. The mistake a lot of new sellers make is only reporting the net amount that got deposited to their bank account as "gross receipts." But that's not what the IRS is looking for - they want to see both sides of the equation separately. Your marketplace fees aren't reducing your sales, they're a cost of doing business, so they belong in the expenses section where they can be properly categorized and deducted. Keep all your marketplace reports and statements - they'll have everything you need to fill out Schedule C correctly!

I'm also new to this community but have been closely monitoring this thread as I'm experiencing the exact same delay. Filed jointly in late January, AGI $82k, last name starts with B. According to the original alphabetical schedule, I should have been among the very first to receive the payment, but here I am still waiting like so many others. Reading through all these responses, there's definitely a clear pattern - joint filers in the $75-85k income bracket are systematically delayed regardless of where our last names fall alphabetically. I've been checking my FTB online account multiple times daily, but like everyone else, it only shows my standard 2023 return with no MCTR status information. What's particularly frustrating is the lack of transparency from FTB about these delays. @Amara Nwosu's information about additional verification requirements for joint filers is the most helpful explanation I've seen anywhere. Has anyone tried reaching out to their state representatives about this systematic delay affecting what appears to be thousands of joint filers? At this point, it seems like we need more official communication about the actual timeline for our specific situation.

I'm also new to this community and experiencing the exact same delay pattern as everyone else here. Filed jointly in early February, AGI $77k, last name starts with A - so according to the original alphabetical schedule, I should have been literally first in line to receive the MCTR payment. But like so many others in this thread, I'm still waiting despite being well within that A-M timeframe that was supposed to wrap up by October 21st. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful in understanding what's happening. The pattern is crystal clear: joint filers in the $75-85k income bracket are systematically delayed regardless of alphabetical placement. @Amara Nwosu's explanation about additional verification requirements for joint filers really seems to be the key insight here - it explains why virtually everyone sharing their delay story fits this exact profile. I've been checking my FTB online account daily since October 1st, but like everyone else, it only shows my standard 2023 return information with no MCTR status updates. What's particularly frustrating is that FTB hasn't provided any official communication about these delays affecting what appears to be a significant population of joint filers. Has anyone tried calling FTB recently to get an updated timeline specifically for joint filers going through this verification process? It would be helpful to know if there's at least an estimated completion date for whatever additional review they're conducting. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's really reassuring to know this is a widespread processing issue rather than individual problems with our returns.

This thread is incredibly helpful for understanding what actually happens after the "Completed" status! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with a similar situation - my 2023 amended return shows "Completed" as of January 10th, 2025. Reading everyone's experiences, it's clear that "Completed" doesn't mean what most of us think it means. The range of wait times after completion is shocking - from 2-3 weeks to 3+ months! @Lauren Wood's professional insight about backend processing steps really explains why there's such inconsistency. It sounds like there are quality reviews, check printing queues, and mailing processes that happen after the "Completed" status. @Evelyn Kelly your situation at 3+ months past completion is definitely beyond normal delays. The specific questions @Lauren Wood provided are gold - definitely ask about the exact issue date, amount, mailing address, and any holds. @Ian Armstrong and @Miguel Ramos showing that reissued checks come quickly once you get the right person gives me hope these situations can be resolved. Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and experiences. This community knowledge is way more valuable than the vague information on the official IRS tools! I'll be following this thread closely and will share my own experience as it develops.

Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really eye-opening! I'm dealing with a similar situation - my 2023 amended return shows "Completed" as of December 3rd, 2024, so I'm about 2 months out now. Based on what everyone is sharing, it sounds like I'm getting close to the point where I should be concerned. @Lauren Wood's breakdown of the backend processing steps after "Completed" status is incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were quality reviews, check printing queues, and mailing processes that happen after that date. The questions you provided are exactly what I'll ask if I need to call. @Evelyn Kelly definitely call that number tomorrow with those specific questions! Your October completion date puts you way past any reasonable timeframe. The success stories from @Ian Armstrong and @Miguel Ramos show that once you get the right person on the phone, they can usually track down what happened and get a replacement check issued quickly. It's frustrating how the "Completed" status is so misleading - they really should be more transparent about what that actually means vs when people can expect their refunds. This thread has been more informative than anything on the official IRS website! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines.

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.