Has anyone considered that this might actually be a criminal matter? Filing someone's taxes without authorization could potentially be identity theft or fraud. If I were in this situation, I'd consider filing a police report, especially if the CPA refuses to acknowledge they were wrong or tries to charge you for their "service.

This is absolutely outrageous and I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. As someone who works in tax compliance, I can tell you that filing without authorization is a massive red flag that could indicate other issues with this preparer's practices. Beyond the excellent advice already given, I'd strongly recommend checking if this CPA has any other complaints against them through your state's CPA licensing board website. Many states have public databases where you can search for disciplinary actions or complaints against licensed professionals. Also, document EVERYTHING - save all your communications with this preparer, keep records of when you met with them, what was discussed, and most importantly, get a written statement that you never signed Form 8879 or any other authorization. This documentation will be crucial if you need to escalate the complaint. The fact that they completely ignored your questions about legitimate deductions while charging nearly $1000 for basic work suggests they're either incompetent or running some kind of volume operation where they rush through returns without proper attention. Either way, you deserve much better service and definitely shouldn't be stuck with their mistakes. Keep us updated on how this resolves - your experience could help other community members who might face similar situations!

Don't be afraid to stand your ground on the pricing. I had a similar experience with Jackson Hewitt - they quoted me $250 initially then tried to charge $675 when finished due to "complexity." I refused to pay more than $300 and they eventually agreed after I spoke with the manager. You have leverage here - they've already done the work and would rather get something than nothing.

I've been in a similar situation with H&R Block charging excessive fees for complex returns. Here's what I learned: You absolutely have the right to get your original documents back without paying anything for incomplete work. They cannot hold your personal tax documents hostage. Before you go in, call and speak firmly but politely: "I need to collect my original tax documents. The service was not completed and I was not informed of the full pricing structure upfront." Don't let them pressure you into paying for work you didn't authorize at those prices. For next steps, I'd recommend FreeTaxUSA or TaxAct for your Schedule C and capital gains. Both handle complex returns well and cost under $100 total. The software walks you through each section with explanations, and since you already have your business expenses organized, you're well-prepared to do it yourself. The "empty forms" excuse is nonsense - the IRS doesn't require submission of blank forms. That's just a way to inflate their per-form charges. Get your documents back and file yourself. You'll save hundreds and have better control over your return.

Went through this exact issue last year! Capital gains trigger special treatment under AMT. Even with a large AMT NOL carryforward, you still gotta pay AMT on at least 10% of your AMTI because of that 90% limitation. Also, make sure your AMT basis in the assets sold is correct. If the regular tax basis and AMT basis are different (common with depreciated assets), that could explain why you're getting hit with AMT despite the NOL.

Maya, I feel your pain on this AMT nightmare! After dealing with similar issues for multiple clients, I've learned that AMT NOL carryforwards are one of the most misunderstood areas of tax law - even among seasoned practitioners. The key insight that helped me finally "get it" was understanding that AMT operates as a parallel tax system with its own set of rules. Your AMT NOL carryforward amount might be different from your regular NOL amount due to preference items and adjustments that were added back in the original loss year. Here's what I'd suggest checking: 1. Verify your AMT NOL carryforward amount is calculated correctly by reviewing the AMT adjustments from the original loss years 2. Confirm your tax software is applying the 90% limitation properly (many don't handle this correctly) 3. Check if there are any AMT basis differences in the assets you sold that could be creating additional AMT income I've found that manually calculating Form 6251 line by line often reveals discrepancies that software misses. The IRS adjustment you're seeing is probably legitimate if your software didn't account for these nuances properly. Consider getting a second opinion from a tax professional who specializes in AMT issues, as this area requires very specific technical knowledge that general practitioners often lack.

I've been filing gambling winnings on my taxes for years and one thing nobody mentioned yet is where to actually report this on your tax return. For most people, gambling winnings go on Schedule 1, Line 8z as "Other Income" with a description like "gambling winnings." If you itemize deductions, the losses go on Schedule A, Line 16.

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.

Quick tip from someone who went through this last year - don't forget about GST/HST implications of your App Store sales too! When I focused only on the US side with the W-8BEN-E, I almost missed the Canadian tax requirements. Apple remits directly to Canadian customers, but there are still reporting requirements.

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.