This thread has been a lifesaver! I'm also on H-1B and was literally about to sign up for Sprintax before seeing all these horror stories. The idea of paying $75+ only to wait days for forms that might not even be ready by the deadline is absolutely unacceptable. I checked with my HR department after reading your suggestion and they DO have a partnership with a tax service that covers both federal and state filing for non-residents - completely free for employees! It's crazy how these resources exist but companies don't always advertise them well. For anyone still stuck with Sprintax, definitely pursue that chargeback. A service that doesn't deliver what it promises is exactly what credit card dispute protection is for. Document everything and don't let them keep your money for failed service! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and alternatives - you've probably saved hundreds of people from this nightmare!

The Recovery Rebate Credit isn't applicable for 2023 returns. The last stimulus payment that could be claimed was on 2021 returns. For 2023, it's more likely an earned income credit issue or possibly a premium tax credit reconciliation problem, especially if OP had marketplace insurance.

This is really solid advice, especially about filing a police report. I never would have thought of that, but you're absolutely right - if someone diverted refund money to an unauthorized account, that's theft plain and simple. The credit report check is also brilliant. If she's willing to steal tax refund money, who knows what else she might be doing with people's personal information. Better to be safe and monitor everything closely. One question though - when you file a police report for something like this, do you need concrete proof first, or can you file it based on suspicious circumstances? I'm asking because I might be in a similar situation with a different preparer who's been really sketchy about providing documentation.

This is really comprehensive advice, especially about requesting the Return Transcripts to confirm nothing was actually filed! I hadn't thought about that verification step. Your point about pension distributions and RMDs is particularly relevant - my dad worked for the state for 30 years and had a pension, and both parents had IRAs that they were taking distributions from. I should definitely contact the state pension system and their IRA custodians directly. One question - when you mention consulting with a tax professional experienced with estate returns, should I wait until I have all the transcripts and documents gathered, or would it be beneficial to have an initial consultation now to make sure I'm requesting everything I need? I'm worried about missing something important in my document requests that would require starting over. Also, regarding the Return Transcripts showing if anything was filed for 2020 - if it confirms that nothing was submitted, does that change the timeline for filing or potential penalties? I know there are different rules for deceased taxpayers but I'm not sure how they apply when returns were never filed at all. Thank you for the encouragement about documenting everything. It helps to know that my persistence will actually matter if penalty relief becomes necessary.

I'd recommend having an initial consultation with a tax professional now, before you finish gathering all documents. They can guide you on exactly what transcripts and records to request, potentially saving you time and ensuring you don't miss anything critical. Regarding the timeline - if the Return Transcripts confirm nothing was filed for 2020, you're looking at filing very delinquent returns. For deceased taxpayers, the normal filing deadline still applies (April 15th following the tax year), but the failure-to-file penalties can be substantial. However, the reasonable cause provisions mentioned earlier become even more important in your case since you can demonstrate the preparer's misconduct caused the delay. The good news is that if your parents typically owed taxes and had withholding from pensions/Social Security, there might be refunds due that could offset penalties. After 3 years though (which has passed for 2020), any refunds would be forfeited, but this could still reduce the overall balance owed. One crucial point: make sure to file Form 56 (Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship) with the IRS as soon as possible if you haven't already. This formally establishes your authority as executor for all tax matters and ensures the IRS communicates directly with you about the estate's tax issues. The fact that you're being so thorough despite this terrible situation really speaks to your character. Your parents would be proud of how carefully you're handling their affairs.

This is such a thorough roadmap - thank you for laying it out so clearly! I feel like I finally have a concrete plan of action instead of just feeling overwhelmed by all the different pieces. I especially appreciate you mentioning Form 56 right up front. I've been focused on getting the tax documents but hadn't realized I needed to formally establish my executor authority with the IRS first. That seems like it could be causing delays in my other requests. Your point about the account transcripts potentially showing estimated payments is giving me some hope. My parents were very diligent about their finances, so it's entirely possible they made quarterly payments that I don't know about. That could make a huge difference in what's actually owed. I'm also relieved to see multiple people recommending the state board complaint. I've been hesitant because I didn't want to make the situation worse, but it sounds like it might actually help pressure her to return the documents (or at least officially acknowledge they're lost). One quick question - when filing Form 56, do I need to submit separate forms for each parent, or can one form cover both deceased taxpayers since I'm executor of both estates? Thank you for the encouragement about documenting everything. This community has given me so much hope that I can actually resolve this mess properly.

You'll need to file separate Form 56s for each parent since they're technically separate taxpayers with separate Social Security numbers, even though you're the executor for both estates. Each form should reference the specific deceased taxpayer's information. However, you can submit them together in the same envelope to the IRS, and many tax professionals recommend including a cover letter explaining that you're the executor for both estates. This helps the IRS understand the relationship between the two cases, which can be helpful for correspondence and processing. The good news is that once you establish your authority with both forms, all your subsequent transcript requests and communications will be much smoother. The IRS will have your executor status on file and won't question your right to access the information. Don't hesitate about filing that state board complaint - in my experience, these complaints often motivate preparers to suddenly "find" documents they claimed were lost, especially when they realize there could be professional licensing consequences. Even if the documents are truly gone, having the complaint on record strengthens your case for penalty relief with the IRS. You're handling an incredibly difficult situation with remarkable organization and persistence. Your systematic approach is exactly what's needed to get this resolved properly.

Welcome to the community @Mia Green! It's great to see another new business owner getting their tax situation sorted out before making costly mistakes. Your takeaway summary is absolutely perfect - you've captured all the key points from this discussion. I'm in a very similar situation as a freelance consultant who also bought season tickets thinking they'd be fully deductible. This thread has been a real lifesaver for understanding the current tax landscape. The 2018 changes really caught a lot of us off guard! Your plan to donate those 6 unused tickets is excellent - I did something similar last year and found that Boys & Girls Clubs and youth sports leagues are incredibly appreciative and very good about providing proper documentation for tax purposes. Just make sure they're qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and get written acknowledgment letters. One tip I'd add about the voice memo system - I've found it helpful to also send myself a quick follow-up email after client meetings summarizing what business was discussed and any next steps. That creates an additional timestamp and business purpose record that the IRS would view favorably if you're ever audited. Since you're just getting started, now is the perfect time to establish these good record-keeping habits. Consider setting up a separate business credit card just for client entertainment expenses - it makes year-end categorization so much easier. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to know other new business owners are going through the same learning curve with these complex tax rules!

Welcome to the community @Paolo Esposito! You've made such a smart decision to research this before buying those season tickets - that $2,400 saved will definitely help your bottom line as a new business owner. For mobile apps that work well for business meal tracking, I've had great success with a few options: 1. **Expensify** - Takes photos of receipts, automatically extracts amounts/dates, and integrates with most major tax software. You can add voice memos for business purpose directly in the app. 2. **QuickBooks Self-Employed** - If you're already using QB, their expense tracking feature is fantastic. It categorizes expenses automatically and creates reports perfect for Schedule C. 3. **Shoeboxed** - They actually have humans review your receipt photos for accuracy, which gives me extra confidence for audit purposes. A bit pricier but worth it for the peace of mind. The key is picking one system and sticking with it consistently. I've found that having everything in one place (photos, business purpose notes, client info) makes tax prep so much smoother. Your restaurant-focused approach is definitely the way to go. Not only do you get the legitimate 50% deduction, but the quieter environment usually leads to much more productive business conversations anyway. Plus, no complex allocation headaches like you'd have with stadium concessions! Great job getting your systems set up properly from the start - you're going to save yourself so many headaches down the road!

@Eli Butler This is really helpful info! I m'curious about the verification hold you mentioned - what kind of verification did they need? I m'planning to use gift cards for my payment but I m'worried about delays since I m'already cutting it close to the deadline. Was it something you could have avoided or just a random security check?

@Alexander Zeus The verification hold happened because it was my first time using that payment processor and the payment amount was relatively large $600 (.)They sent me an email asking me to verify some basic info - just confirming my identity and that I authorized the payment. It took about 10 minutes to respond to their email, but then it took 3 business days for them to actually process the payment after that. I think you could potentially avoid it by using a smaller test payment first like ($50 a) week or two before your main payment, but honestly I m'not 100% sure. If you re'cutting it close to the deadline, I d'definitely recommend calling the payment processor directly to ask about their verification procedures, or consider using a different payment method as backup just in case. The last thing you want is a delayed payment causing penalty fees!

@Maya Jackson This is super useful advice! I had no idea about checking expiration dates - I just assumed gift cards lasted forever. I m'definitely going to check all mine before I start the registration process. One follow-up question - if a gift card is close to expiring like (within a month ,)does that cause any issues with the tax payment processors? Or as long as it s'valid when you make the payment, you re'good to go? I m'worried about starting the process and then having a card expire mid-payment or something. Also really appreciate the heads up about the scam registration sites. With all the tax deadlines and stress, it s'easy to just click on the first result that pops up without double-checking the URL.

@AstroAce As long as your gift card is valid when you actually process the payment, you should be fine! The payment processors don't usually check expiration dates in advance - they just try to process the transaction when you submit it. So if your card expires in a month, you have plenty of time to get everything registered and make your payment. That said, I'd definitely recommend not waiting until the last minute, especially if you're close to tax deadlines. Gift card payments can sometimes take a few business days to fully process and show up in the IRS system, so give yourself some buffer time. The registration process itself is pretty quick (usually takes just a few minutes per card), but like others mentioned, sometimes there can be verification delays on the actual payment processing. Better to start early and have everything sorted well before your card expires!