I work in tax compliance and can tell you that your experience with H&R Block is unfortunately becoming more common. The $700+ charge for a Schedule C and capital gains return is absolutely excessive - even CPAs typically charge $300-500 for similar complexity. A few important points: First, they legally cannot hold your original documents (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) hostage. Those are your property regardless of any work they've done. Second, the claim about "empty forms required by the IRS" is misleading - you only need to file forms that contain relevant information to your tax situation. My advice: Go in person to collect your documents immediately. Don't negotiate or explain your reasoning - just state you need your original paperwork back. If they pushback, ask to speak with a manager and mention that withholding personal tax documents could be considered a business practice violation. For filing yourself, FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct will handle your Schedule C and capital gains easily for under $100 total. Since you already have your business expenses organized, you're more prepared than most people who successfully file their own returns. The software provides step-by-step guidance that's often clearer than what you'd get from a rushed tax preparer. Don't let them intimidate you into paying for incomplete, overpriced service. You've got this!

I went through something very similar with H&R Block two years ago - they had me there for over 3 hours, didn't finish my return, and then quoted me $650 for what should have been a straightforward Schedule C filing. The "per form" pricing model is designed to maximize their revenue, not serve your needs. Here's what I wish I had done sooner: Get your documents back immediately and don't pay for incomplete work. They cannot legally withhold your original tax documents - those W-2s, 1099s, and receipts belong to you regardless of any work they've started. After I retrieved my documents, I used TurboTax Self-Employed (about $120) and completed everything they couldn't finish in under 2 hours. The software actually explains each Schedule C section better than their preparer did, and there's no surprises about pricing. Don't feel bad about the time you've already invested - consider it a learning experience about avoiding these storefront tax mills in the future. Your situation is exactly why so many people are moving to quality tax software instead of these overpriced chain services.

This is absolutely appalling and I'm so sorry you're going through this. As someone who has worked in financial services, what this CPA did is a serious breach of professional standards and federal regulations. Filing a tax return without your explicit written consent is not just unethical - it's potentially criminal. The fact that he ignored your specific questions about legitimate business deductions while charging an outrageous $925 fee suggests this was either gross negligence or a deliberate attempt to rush through your return without proper attention. Either way, it's completely unacceptable. Beyond the excellent advice already given about filing complaints with the IRS and your state board, I'd strongly recommend: 1. **Get everything in writing** - When you contact the preparer, demand written confirmation of what authorization they believed they had to file your return 2. **Request your complete file** - They should provide copies of everything they submitted to the IRS, including all forms and schedules 3. **Document the financial impact** - Calculate exactly how much their errors are costing you (the difference between what they filed and what you actually owe) The silver lining is that since TurboTax showed you're due a refund, your amended return will likely be processed favorably. But don't let this preparer off the hook - they need to be held accountable to prevent this from happening to other taxpayers. You're handling this exactly right by fighting back. Keep us posted on how this resolves!

This is an absolutely shocking violation of professional standards and IRS regulations. As a newcomer to this community, I'm horrified by what you've experienced but impressed by how thoroughly you're handling it. What this CPA did - filing your return without any signed authorization - is not just unethical, it's potentially illegal. The requirement for Form 8879 (e-file authorization) exists specifically to prevent this kind of abuse, and there are no exceptions or gray areas here. A few additional thoughts based on what others have shared: **Immediate priorities:** - Contact the preparer in writing demanding copies of all documents and their claimed authorization - File your amended return as soon as possible to correct their errors - Document every interaction going forward **Red flags that suggest broader misconduct:** - The $925 fee for minimal work is excessive for a basic return - Completely ignoring your specific deduction questions shows either incompetence or negligence - The $1,575 swing between their filing and your correct calculation is enormous **Protect other taxpayers:** - File complaints with both the IRS (Form 14157) and your state CPA board - Consider leaving reviews to warn potential clients - Your documentation could help if there are other victims The fact that you're due a refund instead of owing money makes this an even stronger case of preparer misconduct. You caught this early in tax season, so you have time to get it resolved properly. Stay strong and don't let them intimidate you - you're absolutely in the right here and taking all the correct steps!

One thing that might help you going forward is to start keeping a gambling log from day one if you continue betting. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, platform, bet type, amount wagered, amount won/lost, and running total. It takes maybe 30 seconds per bet to log, but it makes tax time so much easier. For your current situation with 1,700+ bets, definitely try to download your complete betting history from both platforms as others suggested. Most online sportsbooks are required to maintain detailed records and make them available to users. Hard Rock and Fliff should both have options in your account settings to export transaction histories. Also worth noting - if you plan to continue sports betting regularly, consider whether it might make sense to itemize deductions in future years. If you have other itemizable expenses (mortgage interest, charitable donations, etc.) that combined with gambling losses might exceed the standard deduction, you could potentially offset more of your winnings.

Just wanted to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're using multiple platforms like the OP, make sure you're tracking your net position across ALL platforms, not just individual ones. I made the mistake of only focusing on my winning platform while ignoring losses on another, which gave me a completely wrong picture of my tax liability. Also, for anyone using apps like Hard Rock or Fliff, check if they offer any tax reporting tools or year-end summaries. Some platforms have started providing better tax documentation features to help users comply with reporting requirements. Even if they don't issue a 1099, many will provide detailed transaction exports that make the reporting process much more manageable. One last tip - if you're planning to continue betting in 2025, consider setting up a separate bank account just for gambling transactions. It makes tracking deposits, withdrawals, and your overall gambling P&L much cleaner for tax purposes.

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm dealing with a similar AMT NOL situation for the first time and was completely lost until reading everyone's explanations. Maya, I think what you're experiencing is exactly what several people have described - the 90% limitation on AMT NOL carryforwards means you'll always have some AMT liability when you have positive AMTI, even with substantial NOL carryforwards. It's counterintuitive but that's how the rules work. What really struck me from reading this discussion is how many different moving pieces there are: the 90% limitation, potential basis differences for depreciated assets, different treatment of various types of capital gains under AMT, and the fact that most tax software doesn't handle these interactions correctly. I'm curious - for those who have successfully resolved similar IRS adjustments, what was the typical timeline from submitting your response with corrected calculations to getting final resolution? My client is getting anxious about the process dragging on, and I want to set realistic expectations. Also, has anyone found any good continuing education resources specifically focused on AMT NOL issues? This seems like such a specialized area that regular tax courses barely touch on, but clearly it comes up often enough that we need to understand it better. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community knowledge is invaluable for practitioners dealing with these complex situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been an absolute goldmine of information! I'm currently dealing with my first AMT NOL carryforward situation and was completely overwhelmed until I found this discussion. Maya, your situation sounds almost identical to what I'm facing with a client who sold investment property after carrying forward NOLs for several years. Reading through everyone's explanations about the 90% limitation rule has been eye-opening - I had no idea that AMT NOL carryforwards couldn't completely eliminate AMT liability in most cases. The point about basis differences for depreciated assets really resonates with me. My client's situation involves rental properties that were depreciated over many years, and I suspect we're dealing with the exact same AMT basis adjustment issues that several people have mentioned here. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about manually working through Form 6251 line by line rather than trusting tax software. It sounds like this is one of those areas where the software consistently gets it wrong, which explains why so many practitioners struggle with these calculations. One question for the group - for those who have successfully handled AMT NOL carryforward issues, do you typically recommend clients spread out capital gains recognition over multiple years to minimize the AMT impact, or is it better to take the hit all at once? I'm trying to understand the best tax planning strategies moving forward. This community's willingness to share real-world experiences and practical solutions is incredibly valuable. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this discussion!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago when I incorporated my app development business in Ontario. One thing that caught me off guard was the timing - make sure you submit your W-8BEN-E to Apple before your next payment cycle, otherwise they'll withhold at the full 30% rate until the form is processed. Also, keep detailed records of your App Store Connect reports showing the breakdown between different revenue types (in-app purchases vs. paid downloads). The CRA may want to see this during your corporate tax filing, especially since you're transitioning from personal to corporate income. I had to go back and reconstruct several months of data because I didn't realize how important the categorization would be. One more heads up - if you're planning to expand to other platforms like Steam or Epic Games Store, each has slightly different requirements for Canadian corporations, so don't assume the Apple process applies everywhere.

I just completed this exact transition last month - moving from personal to corporate Apple developer account for my Canadian corporation. A few additional points that might help: When filling out the W-8BEN-E, make sure your corporate address matches exactly what you have registered with your province. Apple cross-references this information and any discrepancies can delay processing. I had to resubmit mine because I used a shortened version of my street name. For Part II of the form (Chapter 4 Status), as a Canadian corporation you'll typically check "Active NFFE" since you're not a financial institution. This was confusing at first because the terminology isn't intuitive for app developers. Also worth noting - if you have any plans to bring on US-based contractors or employees in the future, it can affect your beneficial ownership status on the form. I recommend consulting with a cross-border tax specialist if your business structure might change, as it could impact your treaty benefits eligibility. The whole process took about 2 weeks from submission to seeing the reduced withholding rate reflected in my payments. Keep copies of everything for both CRA and potential Apple audits.