This is really helpful information! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a December 31st fiscal year end for my S-Corp. Just to make sure I understand the pattern correctly - since my fiscal year ends December 31, 2024, I would file a 2024 tax return by March 15, 2025, covering the period January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024. The confusing part for me is that this means my S-Corp return and my personal return would both be for the same tax year (2024), but my K-1 income from the S-Corp gets reported on my personal return. Is there any timing issue I should be aware of when both returns are due around the same time in 2025? Also, @Mateo Sanchez, your point about needing a valid business purpose for non-calendar fiscal years is concerning. How do you determine if your fiscal year qualifies as a "natural business year"? My business is seasonal and most of our revenue does come in the last few months of the calendar year, so I'm wondering if that helps justify the December 31st end date.

Great question! I was in the exact same boat when I first set up my S-Corp with a fiscal year end. The rule is straightforward once you understand it: you file based on the calendar year in which your fiscal year ENDS, not when it begins. So for your fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, you'll file a 2024 tax return (Form 1120-S) due March 15, 2025. This return covers your business activity from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. One thing that helped me keep this straight: think of it as "which year am I closing the books in?" Since you're closing your books in 2024 (September 30, 2024), that's your 2024 tax year. Also, don't forget that even though your S-Corp files for 2024, you'll report your K-1 income on your personal 2024 return too (due April 15, 2025). The timing works out since your S-Corp return is due first and should generate your K-1 in time for your personal filing. If you need more time, you can always file Form 7004 for an automatic 6-month extension on the S-Corp return. Good luck with your second year - it gets easier once you get the rhythm down!

That's amazing news about finally getting your 846 code! I totally understand the relief you must be feeling after dealing with an amended return and refund freeze for so long. From what I've seen in this community, paper checks typically take 5-7 business days to arrive after the 846 date appears on your transcript. Since yours is dated 01-07-2025, you should hopefully see it by this Friday or early next week. The sequence of codes you have looks really good - that 811 "refund freeze removed" on 12-21 followed by the 846 on 01-07 shows everything is finally processing properly through the system. And getting interest with that 776 code is a nice bonus after all the waiting you've been through! I'd definitely recommend signing up for USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already - you'll get an email each morning with photos of your incoming mail so you'll know exactly when that check is on its way to your mailbox. Fingers crossed it arrives soon! 🤞

Congrats on finally getting that 846 code! What a relief after all you've been through with the amended return and refund freeze. Based on what I've seen here, paper checks typically arrive 5-7 business days after the 846 date. Since yours shows 01-07-2025, you should hopefully see it by this Friday or early next week. That progression from 811 "refund freeze removed" on 12-21 to 846 on 01-07 is exactly what you want to see - everything's finally moving! And getting interest with that 776 code is awesome after all the delays. Definitely set up USPS Informed Delivery if you haven't already so you can track when it's actually coming to your mailbox. Keep us posted! 🤞

Quick question - I'm using TurboTax and wondering if it can handle Form 3115 for missed depreciation? Their support wasn't clear about it.

I went through this exact same situation with three rental properties I bought between 2020-2022. The stress was overwhelming until I realized how straightforward the fix actually is with Form 3115. A few practical tips that helped me: 1. Calculate your basis correctly - for residential rentals, you can only depreciate the building, not the land. Your purchase contract or property tax assessment should show the land vs building allocation. 2. Remember that depreciation starts when the property is "placed in service" for rental use, not necessarily when you bought it. If you spent time renovating before it was rentable, that affects your start date. 3. The Section 481(a) adjustment on Form 3115 will be substantial (mine was over $35k total), but don't worry - this is exactly what the form is designed for. The IRS expects large catch-up amounts. 4. File Form 3115 with your current year return, not as an amendment to prior years. This is key - it saves you from the hassle and potential issues of multiple amended returns. One last thing - make sure you continue depreciating correctly going forward! The mistake is fixable, but you don't want to repeat it. Good luck!

I've been getting bombarded with these same Tax Strategists of America ads and was seriously considering their services until I found this discussion. As someone who runs a small logistics company with 15 employees, their "zero tax" promises were really tempting because I always feel like I'm paying too much in taxes. Reading through everyone's real experiences here has been a huge wake-up call. The pattern is so consistent - these services are essentially repackaging basic tax strategies that a qualified CPA should already know, then charging thousands for it. The "zero tax" claim should have been an immediate red flag, but their marketing is incredibly polished and creates real FOMO. What I find most valuable is how this thread evolved into practical advice about finding industry-specialized CPAs instead. For logistics, I need someone who understands vehicle depreciation, fuel tax credits, per-mile deductions, and equipment financing strategies - not generic advice wrapped in fancy marketing language. I'm definitely going to skip these expensive "strategist" services and use that money to find a CPA who actually specializes in transportation and logistics businesses. The evaluation questions shared here are perfect - I'll adapt them to test potential CPAs on logistics-specific tax issues. Thanks to everyone for sharing such honest experiences. This discussion has saved me from what could have been a very expensive mistake while pointing me toward legitimate professional expertise instead!

I've been dealing with these exact same aggressive ads from Tax Strategists of America and similar services! As a small business owner in the tech sector, I was really tempted by their promises until I read through this incredibly thorough discussion. What strikes me most is how consistent everyone's experiences have been - the people who actually tried these expensive services consistently found they were paying premium prices for basic tax knowledge that a qualified CPA should already know. The "zero tax" promise being a major red flag makes perfect sense when you think about it logically. For tech businesses, I realize I should be looking for a CPA who understands software depreciation, R&D credits for development work, home office deductions for remote teams, and Section 199A implications for service businesses - not falling for generic "secret strategies" that probably don't exist. The evaluation questions everyone shared are incredibly valuable. Instead of spending $5,000+ on one of these heavily marketed consultations, I'm going to invest that money in finding a CPA who genuinely specializes in technology businesses and can provide ongoing strategic guidance throughout the year. Thanks to everyone for sharing such honest, detailed experiences - both the cautionary tales and success stories. This discussion has definitely saved me from making what could have been a very expensive mistake while pointing me toward legitimate professional expertise!

Another option nobody mentioned is to reach out to your local Congressional representative's office. I had a similar issue last year that I couldn't resolve after months of trying, and my Congressman's office has staff specifically for helping constituents with federal agency issues. They contacted the IRS on my behalf and got everything resolved within 2 weeks. Their offices deal with the IRS all the time.

I work as a tax preparer and deal with IRS phone issues regularly. Here's a pro tip that works about 70% of the time: call the IRS business line at 1-800-829-4933 instead of the individual taxpayer line. Even though you're calling about a personal tax issue, they often have shorter wait times and can transfer you to the right department once you explain your situation. Also, when you do get through (whether using one of the services mentioned or calling directly), make sure you have your Social Security number, the exact amount of the payment, the date you made it, and your confirmation number ready. The agent will need all of this to locate and transfer your payment. Write down the representative's ID number and get a confirmation number for the transfer - this will save you if you need to call back for any reason. One more thing - if your payment was made within the last 90 days, they can usually fix it with a simple account adjustment. If it was longer ago, it might require additional paperwork, so timing matters here.