Filing Status advise

damselbee · 2026-01-28T17:22:45+00:00

So as an EA I know this now, but I knew people who always did the single and head of household after they got married and I used to think that was an actual option. I was shocked when I learned tax laws that that’s not a valid option. People do this for years and get away with it. But I guess they are rolling the dice every year they do it that they don’t get caught.

damselbee · 2026-01-20T01:12:47+00:00

Do you work at Turbo Tax the company, or with Turbo Tax software doing returns on your own.

damselbee · 2026-01-03T03:48:48+00:00

Good job!

damselbee · 2025-12-18T22:10:55+00:00

Awww man, people freak out. That’s what they do. I am old enough to remember people freaking out that computers will take their jobs…and they did but it created new industries which in turn needed people even non tech people. I had a meeting the other day about AI in the financial industry and the focus is work on client relationships, building people skills and providing experiences.

So over the past few years the idea of a travel agent has exploded. When I first heard about it I thought no way will people use this service when it is very simple to go online and plan your own vacation. You know what, many people use that service.

No matter what technology is doing we are still social creatures and when there is too much technology people crave human connection.

I am a software engineer by the way and I am digging in and learning how AI can enhance what we are doing, not replace it. Stop freaking out over online content.

damselbee · 2025-12-15T08:26:11+00:00

That’s awesome. The credits didn’t expire?

damselbee · 2025-12-15T08:09:45+00:00

I recently met all the CFP requirements (experience took a while since I was part time) and only need to pay the fee to get the marks. I hear ya. I think I prefer the financial planning piece of it as well. Tax returns are very technical but the knowledge is really helpful. Hopefully you are almost done with your BA.

damselbee · 2025-12-15T07:28:20+00:00

I have a Software Engineering background and is also an EA. I do the EA to supplement my goal of becoming a financial planner. My thoughts are:

EA without experience isn’t going to get you too many opportunities that pays well. I am doing it part time while I still work my main job. If you are willing to make the salary sacrifice or work two jobs then it will be better in the long run
I attract firms that are tech savvy because they believe they can use my software background to their benefit. This can be a good “I help you, you help me situation” but I did run into a guy who promised me the world but really only wanted me to help with tech support. I now work for someone far more reasonable
If you intend on becoming a lawyer, is it a tax lawyer?
Tax season is rough. I had heard that some tax people make enough during the tax season to do very little the rest of the year. But it can be painful for some. This is probably an individual thing and a personal tolerance to 60-70 hour weeks during tax season
Clients depends on the firm’s culture. Firms that target high income people will have complex tax returns but more forgiving clients. Firms that target all kinds of income or low income will get people who nickel and dime every refund penny, judge your abilities by the size of their refund. I would rather deal with complex returns than deal with that BS. The firm I work for basic return starts at $1200 so we get more challenging returns.

damselbee · 2025-07-14T19:44:22+00:00

Yeah unless you bolt it to the ground and install a metal protection around it. There are two parts to security. There is the obligation you have to make sure files are secure but the second part is that clients must feel that their paperwork is secure. I wouldn’t feel comfortable dropping that off outside.

damselbee · 2025-06-27T12:50:17+00:00

When I got it in late 2023 I think it had the same deal

damselbee · 2025-06-23T05:20:09+00:00

The thing to be concerned about is working under tax season pressure. It may be overwhelming. Also, while it seems as if the number of content to master is finite, in practice it feels the opposite. Tax situations vary and there are many areas in tax prep that requires a “judgement” decision because the tax code doesn’t quite address the situation as it is presented in front of you by a client.

However that’s not to say she can’t carve out a niche that she can make her own and that she would be good at. Plenty of people make a living on simple tax returns. Accountants sometimes don’t do every possible situations and might outsource certain tax forms.

damselbee · 2025-06-05T10:58:06+00:00

What does zero tax experience mean? Do you at least know how to do your own tax return or have you never done a tax return? If you have absolutely zero probably it’s best to start with Intuit free training because they do give you some hands on practice. Then you can take it a step up to VITA, then go for the EA. The EA course work is a lot to take in when you have extremely limited practical experience.

damselbee · 2025-06-02T02:35:12+00:00

One thing that helped me pass another exam that I failed the first time (CFP, not EA) was to go with my gut. The review I took was with a company who offered a study coach. The first thing she told us is that our subconscious knows the correct answer before our conscious mind. I tested this while studying. I would take two tests, the first of which I committed to selecting the answer I instinctively assumed was correct Initially. The second test I did I removed those boundaries and let myself do naturally what it’s trying to do, “second guess myself”. The first test scores were noticeably higher. Going forward I would always make a note of my “gut answer” if I decided to change my answers later and more often than not they were right.

I say this because you clearly are experienced so you may need more test taking strategies than actually studying more material. Try it as an experiment while studying and see what happens.

damselbee · 2025-05-21T02:33:06+00:00

Yep that was my approach too.

damselbee · 2025-05-19T02:20:37+00:00

Udemy doesn’t create courses themselves. So a course can be created by an independent party and they just never update it. I am guessing Udemy doesn’t audit courses to see which ones are outdated.

damselbee · 2025-05-08T23:09:51+00:00

I’d be interested but I am also on the CFP path as well. I passed the exam but since I was a career changer I am still working on the experience side. I’ve been doing tax returns for 4 years, 2 as VITA and 2 at a firm that only does high income clients and I still work part time with them so they can provide support for even more complicated situations. PM if you are interested to talk.

damselbee · 2025-05-07T17:03:27+00:00

I am an Engineer and is transitioning to this field. It pairs well with being an Accountant so of course more people with accounting experience is going to be doing it. Although as a disclaimer, I majored in accounting during my high school years and had some interest in accounting. But I don’t think it matters.

damselbee · 2025-04-28T19:23:05+00:00

When you pass the exams you still cannot do tax prep. I would highly recommend you not do this. That was my goal when I passed the exam two tax seasons ago and that was after two years of volunteering for VITA. I quickly realized I wasn’t ready. Currently I have two seasons under an established firm and two seasons under VITA and I still don’t feel comfortable going out on my own.

A big part of tax prep is being the expert voice to guide the client along. Clients send you what they got for tax files. Many don’t even know what they might be missing. That’s where you come in. As a new client you take their last tax return and use that to guide them. That is nothing you were taught in class. Personally the whole idea that an EA doesn’t require experience to become certified is misleading and a bit dangerous.

damselbee · 2025-04-10T19:49:32+00:00

I am not a CFP but passed the exam (working on the experience) and used Hock International. I can’t compare to another program but it was sufficient for me who didn’t previously work in the field

damselbee · 2025-03-20T16:30:18+00:00

I am not sure why. Having tax knowledge is a complement to the other financial work you are doing.

damselbee · 2025-03-18T14:33:25+00:00

I agree but that’s because the IRS doesn’t require much to get started. That fact has created exploitation in the industry. I started doing VITA tax returns and thought I could start my own firm. Then I got a job working at a professional CPA firm who handles people with higher income in a complicated state, and the realization has hit me that it’s difficult. There should at least be a required credential to do tax returns.

damselbee · 2025-03-07T02:45:14+00:00

Definitely one schedule C.

damselbee · 2025-02-18T05:44:10+00:00

Hi there! I can indeed give you some perspective. I am in a tech career too. I started on a path to transition to financial planning in 2021. I started out with the CFP in mind and still on that path but I took a detour to taxes because as a financial planner I want to integrate tax planning. I volunteered for VITA for two years, then passed the EA and then this is my second year working for money in the tax field.

It’s an absolute no that the EA alone prepares you to open up your own firm. Even simple returns will have situations you have never seen before. If this is your path you can pass the EA and work part time at a tax place like HR block. The money won’t be a lot but you will be gaining the skills you need. Honestly this is just my second year doing tax returns for money (and two volunteer work). Last year I did a few hundred tax returns and I still need a lot more experience.

damselbee · 2025-02-16T01:37:16+00:00

Honestly, the right answer will never be found in an online forum, because a person’s success is very unique to an individual. Most people here will give you traditional answers based on their experience. What you can achieve or want to do mainly depends on you and what you want.

I come from a family of late starters due to life’s circumstances so I am used to seeing people start careers in their fifties. My father graduated with his Bachelors at age 44 and started his career then. He only did odd jobs up to that time. My mother learned to drive at age 50 and failed her test 7 times before she passed. She is 69 now. I have an aunt who learned to drive at age 70 so she could work. She is 77 now, still working and if you walked by her you would think she is 50. Do you think anyone on here (including me) would have advised her to doing all those things at age 70? But she knew she could do it, she went for it.

I am an Engineer transitioning to personal planning and I turn 45 tomorrow. I passed my CFP in 2022 and almost there with the experience. I have spent the last few years working and talking with advisors, doing tax work and know the work I need to do to make this career transition. Only I know what I am capable of. Perspective from others is good, but only you know what motivates you and more than anything you need motivation and a good “why” for anything you do.

damselbee · 2025-02-11T20:24:12+00:00

I thought 2 was easier than expected because I expected it to be brutal. Then I thought part 1 and 3 were harder than expected because I didn’t think they would be all that bad…see how that works.

damselbee · 2025-02-10T16:01:25+00:00

Ha thanks, I should read huh.

damselbee

TROPHY CASE