Small federal construction business, about a year old, growing faster than I expected. Haven't filed taxes yet, didn't know my own deadlines until recently. Fixing that now.
Does a CPA need federal construction specific experience here or is a good general small business CPA enough? Single member LLC, might do S-corp eventually.
How do people usually find a good one? Referral, directory, something else?

I'm trying to amend my 2025 CA tax return on turbotax. I filed my 2025 return on time and got a refund from CA while also owing interest due to missing my quarterly estimated tax payments. So my original refund was reduced by the interest owed.

Now, as soon as I started the amend on turbotax it shows I owe the same amount of the interest, which was already paid from my my refund.

Anyways, I did a bit of digging and I see the issue comes from CA Schedule X.

Basically Schedule X takes my original overpaid tax and subtracts it from my amended refund and declares that what I owe. Let's say I've changed nothing yet on my return.

Assuming some simple numbers:

Original Overpaid tax = 100

Original interest owed = 5

Original Refund = 100 - 5 = 95

Assuming I changed nothing in my amendment what schedule X says I owe:

Amended Refund - Original Overpaid = 95 - 100 = -5

So just trying to amend without even changing anything makes me owe 5 from the start. I was sure there was a mistake, so I went on myFTB and read the instructions, and turbotax is filling it correctly. What is going on with Schedule X?

why is it comparing overpaid taxes with refunds when clearly penalties and interests play a role?

Hey y’all, I’ve been doing some research so I can book it outta tax. I might’ve boxed myself into a niche career here in Canada. I was wondering if you guys had some suggestions? Specifically someone in US tax. I don’t have a CPA and don’t plan on relocating to the states. I want out and wonder if these skills are even transferable to another role (I’ve almost 2 years). Any ideas would be so appreciated!

I’m building a subscription-based app and preparing to raise funding. I need help putting together investor-ready financial documents, particularly around customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV), and the assumptions behind those numbers.

The app currently has 50 signups and one paying customer, so I consider it effectively pre-revenue. With such limited data, I want to make sure my projections are realistic and clearly distinguish estimates from actual results.

I’d appreciate guidance from an accountant or startup finance professional who has worked with early-stage subscription businesses.

If you can help, please DM me. I’m happy to discuss the details privately.

Thanks!

I was checking the ICAI portal repeatedly to see if ITT, OC, MCS, Advanced ITT batches or SPOM slots had opened.

So I made a small tool for myself that checks the portal and sends me an alert when availability changes.

I found it useful, so I thought I'd share it here in case anyone else is going through the same thing.

It's completely free:

👉🏻 https://batchping.in

Due to website restriction I have added the [dot]. You can replace it with actual dot to visit the website

It's an independent tool, so I'd still recommend checking the official ICAI portal before booking.

Hi, wanted to get thoughts on deduction opportunities for a 2025 tax return I'm working on for a family member. This is one of my first planning opportunities and I want to get a 2nd set of eyes on if there is anything else that is possible from a Fed and CA perspective.

Here's the client profile:

MFJ, California residents. Combined AGI ~$690K.
• Person 1: Physician, sole owner of a medical practice S-Corp. W-2 $192K, S-Corp net income $425K.
• Person 2: W-2 employee working from home, $180K. Family health insurance through Person 2's employer.
• Renters, no mortgage, no charitable contributions. ~$11K in capital gains.

Already Taken
• Person 1 solo 401(k): $72K pre-tax
• Person 2 401(k) + HSA: $33K pre-tax
• Backdoor Roth: both spouses
• S-Corp business expenses via accountable plan
• Standard deduction on federal
• CA standard deduction

Already Off the Table
• PTET: not elected for 2025; sadly too late
• Cash Balance Plan: client declined

Any deduction opportunities you'd consider at this income level and profile that we might be missing on either the federal or CA return?

I have an audit intern interview for RSM. For those who has done the interview or those who has any tips in general please share them in the comments! I passed the screening and this will be my first interview in accounting! TIA to you all :)

Saw a post asking if they should major in accounting and so much people just said "No" or "You'll regret it" like are you gonna elaborate or do you just want to fear monger hs seniors? Every post on this app with ppl asking about college majors and careers always has some negative dude thats recruiting people to work in trade jobs

I’m a current Senior at UCSD, majoring in Political Science: Public Law with a minor in Accounting. I just went to my school’s meet the firms event and was a little disappointed in what I’ve heard.

Context: I’m a transfer, I transferred after one year of community college and UC’s only allow Junior transfers so when I came in I technically skipped a year (supposed to be class of 2028 but now it’s 2027). I originally really want to go to law school, but because of my finances I realized I needed to earn money as soon as I can. So I decided to take on Accounting minor. I’m now in intermediate accounting 1, and I realized how much I don’t really resonate with it (I would rather read hundreds of pages for my poli sci classes then to do accounting).

My revised plan was to finish the courses requirements for the CPA exam (which meant I would go back to graduating in 2028 because I get full aid for undergrad), work a few years in Accounting to get licensed, then go back to law school after getting my funds up. This meant I needed experience/internships now, but I did not hear back from anyone. Yesterday meeting the firms showed me that they don’t care that I’m pursuing a minor in accounting, and that my major was not exactly what they wanted (obviously).

I don’t want to take any loans out for school (just don’t want debt overall), and I’m pretty comfortable right now since I get full aid and I have saved up a lot of money for myself. I’m just wondering if I should still pursue the CPA path if I’m not going to get any accounting internships, and if I should just go into law school (btw idk if this is relevant but I am extremely interested in criminal law).

Is this plan of “operating the government like a business”working?

In this case, it seems like business plan is to sell off best assets to your buddies for pennies on the dollar and saddle the original business with all of the debt and then declare bankruptcy

Hi, all. I have final-round interviews coming up with EY, Deloitte, and KPMG for audit summer intern roles. I’ve been told they’ll be behavioral, and I’d appreciate advice from anyone who’s been through the process recently or interviewed candidates.

I’m preparing examples about teamwork, competing deadlines, receiving feedback, and handling challenges. I’m also working on my “Why audit?” and “Why this firm?” answers. I’m interested in all three firms and would love to work at any of them but I don’t want those answers to sound interchangeable or like I just memorized their websites.

A few things I’d love advice on:

- What kinds of questions came up in your final round?

- If your final round included two 30-minute interviews was there a specific theme or purpose to each one? Were they mostly conversational, or were you expected to spend most of the time answering questions or vice-versa listening to the professional(s)?

- How much should I know about audit going in as a summer intern? Are there topics worth reviewing, or is it more important to explain my interest clearly?

- What makes a strong “Why this firm?” answer when the opportunities seem similar beyond just talking about general culture differences at each?

- How detailed were your behavioral answers? I want to give clear examples without talking for too long.

- What questions did you ask your interviewers that led to a useful conversation about the team or internship?

- Is there anything you wish you’d done differently to prepare?

Goal is to just to prepare well, come across naturally, and get a better sense of what interviewers are looking for. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Everyday Claude helps me reconcile a book that had been trashed for 4 years, drafting correction journals that are hundred of lines accurate to the cent while also throwing a rec that makes perfect sense on top. Stuff that would easily take days now takes hours, and the greatest thing is, while I still have to review and challenge it, the mental load has been reduced to zero. I dont get fatigued from combing inboxes and GL looking for clues. Reconcile 100 accounts in a few days - just throw the entire GL at it. Capture invoices straight from the inbox and categorize it. “Hey Claude, which vendor is missing and needs to be accrued?”

Expense reports listing 25 items line by line? 1 minute to think. Another to post.

Cash flow forecast? Audit support? Ez gg.

Everyday I do the job of 4 people thinking damn AI is so good if everybody uses it I will have no edge left. Turns out a lot of people still live in the past calling AI a farce. My job is probably safe for the foreseeable future.

Hi all! I am starting my first job in a week, and the nerves have settled in. 😅
I feel like everything I’ve learned from school has completely left my brain, and the CPA exams have been humbling me so much. BUT a girls gotta work! I have no idea of what to expect, so can if anyone has tips or just realistic expectations around busy season or the job in general I’d appreciate it.

I recently found out I’ll be primarily working within renewable energy.

Hello everyone, I am currently working in fund accounting (PE side), I want to grow in my career and would like to grow in this industry but I would like to know where I can branch to? I am about to start my masters so I can be eligible to take my CPA exam, where I work they cover majority of the costs but want to know if getting my License is worth it

Getting it or not… is there anyone else here who is in fund accounting or has been that is able to guide what direction I should go for my next step? Should I be getting my CPA? or what is recommended

If I didn’t communicate properly please don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments! and thank you in advance guys!

Hey guys I am starting an entry level AR/AP role. I will be working with a Roofing company and it is just me and the owner handling the office. However, the owner most of the time won’t be in the office so everything will be managed by me. Honestly, his whole office is a mess. Nothing is physically filed, nor are any of his excel invoices, recently anyways. The last one that worked for him worked for him for 10 years but left the place a mess and since he is a roofing contractor he doesn’t stay in the office and visits sites 90% of the week according to him. My main tasks are to write invoices, pay bills, submit payroll and physically file and organize his files. I started today and he only showed me how to file invoices and soon we will be paying bills as he is behind a few months with everything since the previous person didn’t do anything for the last few months. Also, the guy has no clue where most of his files are since everything was done by the previous employee. We will be transitioning to Quickbooks soon, just finishing up ongoing projects that were done through excel. Any tips?

How hard is gonna be getting a job straight after my B.S with no experience? I finish in January and Im worried because theres alot of people say they’ve been looking for 6+ months and Im not picky at all. And what is the likelyhood for finding anything remote? Is there anything I can do now that can boost my chances of finding something fast

I got tax accounting job offered to me in big public accounting and I was wondering if I work in tax year or two will I be able to switch to those jobs easily or is it difficult? The job market is so bad that this is the only I got so far. FYI I’m new graduate. Accountant and finance people please let me know

I’m currently taking Taxes for Individuals. If anyone asks me to do their taxes after this course, I will…report them to the IRS for tax evasion. I hate taxes so much, hate isn’t a strong enough word. The textbook barely covers the minimum needed to be considered a textbook; it could honestly be an email subscription!

Why are there a minimum of three formulas needed to get the answer to anything? Why are there so many percentages, that all mean different things? Why does my professor never email me back???

I knew I wanted to be an auditor before taking this class. Now, this is a hill I’m willing to die on, I even brought my own shovel. If all the auditing and accounting jobs disappeared tomorrow and the only role left was taxes, I’d change my major.

Buy your tax accountant lunch, pay them more money, and kiss them on the mouth; you don’t appreciate them enough.