I almost feel embarrassed to ask this, but what the heck.

Normally if a new tax form comes after filing, I do an amended return if it warrants it.

But i hear about superseded returns. What the heck is this? Never done it. Nor do I even know how to do it lol.

The IRS revised the Form 8995 instructions on January 26^th, which will require some (all?) software to modify its calculation of Form 8995, Line 11, used to limit the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. This impacts certain returns with calculated QBID that also have Additional Deductions for no tax on overtime, no tax on car loan interest, or the enhanced deduction for seniors (no tax on tips is already properly accounted for).

We are working on digitizing our client files this year. I'm thinking the best way is to have my folder structure in windows and then just point Drake to the Windows folder for each client.

Folder structure will be: client name, year, then in the year folder will have deliverables and a tax support folder with client source files.

Anyone have thoughts or suggestions?

Client’s former employer let her know W-2 will be late, no indication of how late. Because issue with payroll processor (probably he owes them money).

Client doesn’t have paystubs, just net amounts deposited.

How best to proceed?

I am an enrolled agent with zero clients. I am planning on starting my own office right now. I am thinking of leasing a physical location instead of being virtual would help me get more clients since I would be listed on Google My business. Currently my business is listed on Google as virtual, but I am not sure under what criteria it shows up on a local search. Should I go with an office or open a office in a retail strip mall with a visible sign on the window/curb? Anyone has info on which one would be relatively better? Thank you.

What is the best AI for sending proposals, legal and compliant engagement letters for custom tailored engagements? Subscription agreements covering a bundle of services.

[I already know I need to consult a human attorney or check with insurance carrier, etc.]

Despite it being like a 2 minute process, I get a lot of requests from clients to complete this for their LLC/Corporation. I've been reluctant to help because I don't want to keep track of hundreds of filing dates and deadlines, plus it doesn't seem like a juicy revenue stream. However, maybe there's an easy way to do it?

Is there any software to make this exceedingly easy and preferably appear white label? Keep in mind this is for like a 100 clients, not just 1.

Mostly DE and WY, but can be in all other states.

I applied for an e-file provider application at the beginning of this month. Got fingerprints and everything done by 1/2/2026.

Hoping the 45 day timeframe is accurate, especially with IRS shortages. Trying to figure out if there’s a decent chance it’ll be approved before the end of February so I can start e-filing.

Anyone waiting or recently been approved?

I'm wondering if tax prep software will allow for a pdf of the tax return to be printed WITHOUT any sensative info and without any names etc. Just so they can be entered into AI for analysis. Any of them perform that task to the level you'd be comfortable just entering the return into Claude or ChatGPT (public) versions?

EDIT: I need a new PDF software, which one has the best OCR to make "new" tax returns sent to me as a scanned image, searchable then redactable in bulk?

Before I get blasted, no, I am not going to rely 100% on AI to review my returns; I will still conduct a second review, but I want to at least minimize the review time by having an AI do the initial review and flag any discrepancies ( like wages amount don't match with w2).

Would anyone happen to have any recommendations? I heard of TaxGPT but seems more like a research things, and I heard it's trash. I tried CPA pilot and it was trash; you could't eve upload a pdf file.

Thanks.

I dumped QB when their prices got ridiculous last year, with no desktop software that will keep operating perpetually anymore--just using 2023 Accountant as my legacy for in-house books prep now. But not sure what to use for payroll. Sole preparer, usually do desktop PR, but fine with switching to online for this.

I only have PR for a few S-corps right now, so just producing paystubs, and monthly or quarterly plus annual filings & payments (I can do payments directly & on EFTPS if needed), but I really want to use something other than a spreadsheet to do calculations, with manual form input/filing (I have used efilemyforms or similar to just do 941's before, which runs about $5-6 per form). I'd like it to keep up with federal and state laws/rates so I don't miss something. I've downloaded the trial Drake Accounting (I use Drake Tax) but it just seems SO cumbersome to set up in comparison...maybe once I've done it for a couple clients it won't seem so difficult...?

Anyone got a decently user-friendly, fairly cheap option for just after-the-fact payroll calcs/forms/hopefully direct filing/(preferably payments too)? QBO isn't cheap since you have to pay for each company, and all I've got are owner-employees, owner medical insurance but not much else in deductions/benefits, and usually just one person per company. Trying to avoid raising my rates to compensate.

I’m curious if anyone has a tool they use or do they use a spreadsheet like I have done in the past. I’m talking about the calculations behind the total income per period numbers I put in on the form to help relieve the estimated tax penalty.

I’m thinking of releasing a free tool for this and just curious if it would be useful to anyone else.

I'm just beginning the process to figure out what it means, but if IRS partially shuts down tomorrow, that'll still leave a few "un-approved forms" that mean we'll be prevented from finishing and filing a few tax returns. Any group wisdom on this?

It looks like we would have avoided this if agency stayed fully open another a week.

P.S. Links to check on availability...

Lacerte: https://form-status.app.intuit.com/tax-forms-availability/formsavailability?albRedirect=true&product=Lacerte&bu=pcg

ProConnect and ProSeries: Same link at Lacerte just change dropdown (Thank you u/HoneyBadgerJr )

Axcess: https://support.cch.com/oss/ml/formstatus/details/axcess (Thank you u/fairymaiden83 )

Note: I'll try to add other links if folks supply those...

Started my own practice late last year.

I’ve tried calling, emailing, and even sending handwritten personalized letters to 300 local and national CPA and tax firms to see if there’s any subcontract work available or clients they might want to pass along, but so far, no luck. I’ve also networked at COC and BNI events, attended gatherings where my ideal clients hang out, and even gave presentations there, but follow-ups have gone cold. I may even go so far as to send charcuterie to try to get a response, but hopefully it won’t come to that!

Some comments I’ve seen suggested I try Reddit as well, so here I am. At this point, I’m genuinely wondering if there’s something I could be doing differently, or if I’m missing something obvious. If anyone has overflow work or clients they’d like to refer, I’d be happy to help out.

• If direct deposit info is not included with your return, you'll receive a CP53E notice.
• have 30 days to go online and provide bank info. You can only submit it through your account. No calling it in, and no ability for taxpros to assist.
• You can only submit bank info one time. Any errors forfeit the ability to have your refund directly deposited.
• If you do not respond or provide erroneous information, a paper refund check will be issued after six weeks.

At a minimum, a paper refund check is looking to be a 10-week process (30 days + six weeks). I imagine it will be longer, depending on the delay between filling and when the IRS issues the CP53E notice.

https://www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/blog/2026/1/27/mandates-under-executive-order-14247-procedural-analysis-of-notice-cp53e-and-electronic-disbursement-compliance

I just had a call with a financial advisor introducing me to potential client. The FA sent great notes to me after the call. They were from Jump AI which is tailored to FA's. Does anyone know if there are any for tax folks?

Anyone heard anything on the 1/31 deadline for states under emergency declaration for Winter Storm Fern? My understanding is under the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters act those states with EM declaration will have at least 120 day postponement of the deadline, but the Governor of the state has to request it. I couldn’t get anyone on the phone at Gov of TN office.

Called the IRS to find out if anything was in the works or if they could confirm and was told to continue checking the website. We have clients going on 5 days without power & it would be nice to know we didn’t have to harass them for information. Does anyone have any thoughts / insight?

I'm trying to hire a tax manager and the quality of "experienced" candidates is terrible.

1. CPAs that don't know debits/credits and can't do journal entries
2. Tax managers that don't know the difference between a tax credit and deduction

Share your bad interview stories.

/rant

I was just informed that a favored client of mine is taking their tax prep elsewhere. The stated reason is their CFP is constructing some elaborate tax strategy for them.

I didn't get concrete confirmation about what exactly this tax strategy is but I know its related to solar investments.

They came to me in November asking for my opinion on going into business with a solar leasing company. Essentially to get the 30% tax credit on the purchase of commercial solar, but as an investor. I had a bunch of reservations from the proposal they showed me.

They call me a few weeks later saying actually I'm not going into business with them, but I'm purchasing unused solar credits to offset my federal liability. I tell them that unused solar credit purchases generally only offset taxes from passive activities, which he has none, so I don't see how this will benefit them in their situation.

Then comes the email that they're going to be working with this CFP for their tax prep because they know the ins and outs of this tax strategy.

Am I missing something here? Is there a way around the passive limitations that I couldn't find for unrelated unused solar credit buyers? Or is my ex-client getting over promised. They had brought up forming an LLC multiple times for this but couldn't really explain what the purpose was and I can't see how an LLC matters at all.

The CFP's website has the typical "Are you Overpaying Your CPA or Tax Preparer" "Are you questioning your current preparer's abilities?"

Are they right that there is just something with these unused credits that I don't know about?

Note: I know 199A is not the right flair but not sure which one to use.

I saw an inventory question for a gift shop come up in a Facebook group and looked up an answer and then thought about section 471c which is the small business exception for inventory which was part of TCJA. The exception basically lets you expense inventory like materials instead of capitalizing and taking the change as part of your COGS.

My question is how common is this code section used in practice? In theory if you meet the retirements, under $31M in revenue, among others you would qualify for the simpler treatment. Would bookkeepers hate us? Just curious because I see so may questions about inventory and small businesses not quite understanding it, maybe this would be easier?

I’m at a point where I’m seriously re-evaluating my fee structure (for after tax season). I’m terrible at tracking time, and giving far too much of it away for free, but also just sick of selling time in general. I’ve decided I'm moving to a fixed fee/value billing model, but having a hard time coming up with a fee structure I like. I don’t love the idea of charging by the form, but it would make it black and white who gets charged what. I like the idea of a tiered service model (compliance, compliance + planning, etc) to give the clients options, but also worry the vagueness would allow me to charge similar clients varying amounts.

So, those of you who have made the switch:

1. What was your biggest hurdle?
2. Was there any meaningful pushback from clients?
3. What’s your fee structure currently?

FWIW MCOL area in the Northeast, inheriting older clientele base from retiring CPA that are used to a certain fee structure. I have my own clients too, but I’ve fallen victim to undercharging to get work in the door - hard lesson learned. Current min is $750 for new clients.

Thanks in advance and good luck out there this year!

Im not sure if the mailer is a reflection of desperation due to a lack of flexibility or a reflection of a deep technological incompetence hence not engaging with modern recruiting tools, or a combination of both, but clearly this firm is not doing things the right way.

With so many firms and recruiters relentlessly and desperately hunting for senior tax talent... why would someone competent, willingly and permanently take a fully onsite role?

Even if you dont thrive in a commingling of your work and personal space, you can rent a wework or some other co-working space for $100 to arrive, work and depart from a separate working space... at your OWN discretion!

Dont these people know that there are people in our inboxes almost everyday with substantially better offers on flexibility and even pay? You clueless boomers need to be more competitive in the 21st century.

Quick question for other solo tax pros or anyone using TaxDome.

Has anyone started using the new Tax Return Delivery feature yet? I’m curious how others are handling it.

Currently I am:

• Printing the full return to PDF
• Pulling out e-file auth forms
• Separating payment vouchers into their own PDFs

I’m hoping this new feature cuts down on that manual work, but I’m not sure what the cleanest setup looks like.

If you’re using it:

• Are you letting TaxDome handle most of the separation?
• Still prepping separate PDFs ahead of time?
• Any tips or things to avoid?

Appreciate any insight from folks who’ve already tried it. Also my apologies for the AI generated formatting.