This thread has been incredibly valuable for someone like me who's completely new to tax preparation! I've been researching entry-level opportunities and was initially leaning toward H&R Block just based on name recognition, but the detailed comparisons here have really opened my eyes to the advantages of starting with Jackson Hewitt instead. The emphasis on their structured training program and mentorship opportunities really appeals to me - I'd much rather have that solid foundation even if it means a more rigid environment initially. And honestly, the prospect of being busier during tax season sounds better than having slow periods where I'm not learning as much. A couple of practical questions for those with Jackson Hewitt experience: How far in advance do they typically post their seasonal job openings? I want to make sure I'm ready to apply as soon as positions become available for the 2025 season. Also, is there anything specific I should be doing now to prepare myself as a stronger candidate - like studying particular tax topics or getting familiar with certain software? The insights about supplemental learning resources and the reality of needing IRS contact skills have also been eye-opening. It's clear that the company training is just the starting point, and serious preparers need to invest in additional education and tools to really succeed. Thanks to everyone for sharing such honest, detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world insight you can't get anywhere else!

Really appreciate all the detailed insights everyone has shared here! As someone who's been on the fence about entering tax preparation, this discussion has been incredibly helpful in understanding the real differences between these companies. Based on what I'm reading, it seems like Jackson Hewitt's structured training approach and better software systems make it the stronger choice for beginners, even if it means a more rigid environment initially. The mentorship program aspect that several people mentioned is something I definitely wouldn't have thought to ask about, but it makes total sense that having an experienced preparer to learn from would be invaluable during those first few weeks. I'm particularly interested in Emily's advice about visiting locations during busy season to get a feel for the office culture. That's such a smart way to see how they actually treat their staff when under pressure, rather than just going off the interview experience. One question I have for those with Jackson Hewitt experience - do they typically prefer candidates with any specific background or skills, or are they generally open to training complete newcomers? I have a customer service background but zero tax experience, so I'm hoping that communication skill set would be valued even without technical knowledge. The timing advice about applying in November/December is noted - I'll make sure to get my applications in early for 2025. Thanks to everyone for being so generous with sharing your real-world experiences!

I want to add something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the income limits for education credits now that you're filing as a resident alien. The American Opportunity Credit phases out for single filers with modified adjusted gross income between $80,000-$90,000, and the Lifetime Learning Credit phases out between $59,000-$69,000. As a graduate student or someone with campus employment, you're probably well below these thresholds, but it's good to be aware of them. Also, you can only claim the American Opportunity Credit for 4 tax years per student, so if this is your first year filing as a resident alien, make sure to track how many years you claim it going forward. One more tip - if you're planning to continue your education or pursue graduate studies, keep all your 1098-T forms organized. Now that you're eligible for education credits, these will be valuable for tax planning in future years. The transition to resident alien status really does open up significant tax benefits that most international students don't realize they're missing out on during their first five years.

The 4-year limit for the American Opportunity Credit is based on the number of tax years you actually claim the credit, not years of enrollment. So if you take a gap year and don't claim the credit that year, it doesn't count against your 4-year limit. This is actually beneficial for students who might have breaks in their education. Just to clarify a few other important points for anyone transitioning to resident alien status: 1. The American Opportunity Credit requires that you be enrolled at least half-time in a program leading to a degree or credential, and you cannot have finished the first 4 years of higher education before the beginning of the tax year. 2. You can claim both tuition AND required fees, plus up to $4,000 in qualified education expenses per year for the AOC. With $28k in tuition like the original poster mentioned, you'd easily max out the credit. 3. The credit is worth up to $2,500 per student, and up to $1,000 of that can be refundable (meaning you can get it back even if you owe no taxes). Since you're just starting this process, I'd also recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet tracking which tax years you claim education credits. It'll make things much easier when you're doing your taxes in future years and trying to remember what you've already claimed. The transition to resident alien filing really is a game-changer for international students - congratulations on making it through the substantial presence test milestone!

Has anyone used TurboTax to figure this out? Does it let you compare both scenarios (being claimed vs not being claimed)?

Hey Chloe! I was in almost the exact same situation when I was 24. The big thing that caught my attention in your post is that you mentioned a "HUGE difference" in your refunds between years - that's actually a red flag that there might be other factors at play beyond just the dependent status. Here's what I learned: if you're working two jobs and have been employed continuously, you're probably earning enough that your mom can't legally claim you as a dependent anyway. The income limits and support tests are pretty strict at your age. But here's the real kicker - if you qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in one of those years but not the other, that alone could explain the hundreds of dollars difference you mentioned. The EITC can be worth up to $600+ for single filers with no kids, and you lose it completely if you're claimed as a dependent. My advice: before you and your mom make any decisions, figure out if you actually qualify as her dependent first. With two jobs and planning to move out, you probably don't. Then you can both file independently and maximize your combined refunds. Good luck with the new apartment!

This is a really common situation that trips up a lot of people! The key thing to remember is that the IRS cares about the income you received, not whether you got the proper paperwork. Since you earned over $10,000 from this contract work, you definitely need to report it. I'd recommend reaching out to the business owner to ask if they filed a 1099-NEC for you - sometimes businesses file these directly instead of relying on payment platforms. But even if they didn't, you still need to report the income on Schedule C as self-employment income. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll owe self-employment tax on this income (around 15.3%) in addition to regular income tax. Since no taxes were withheld from your Venmo payments, you might also owe estimated tax penalties if this pushed you into owing more than $1,000 at filing time. For next year, consider making quarterly estimated payments to avoid this. Document everything you can - keep those Venmo transaction records, any messages with the business owner about the work, and receipts for any business expenses you incurred. Good record-keeping will protect you if there are ever any questions down the road.

I went through almost the exact same situation last year with Venmo payments for freelance work! Here's what I learned: you absolutely must report all that income even without a 1099-K. The IRS doesn't care if you got the paperwork - all income is taxable. Since you received over $10,000 total, this definitely needs to go on Schedule C as self-employment income. The fact that the payments weren't marked as "goods/services" doesn't change your tax obligation, though it might explain why Venmo didn't issue you a 1099-K. A few important things to keep in mind: You'll owe self-employment tax (about 15.3%) on top of regular income tax, and since nothing was withheld from those payments, you might face underpayment penalties if you owe more than $1,000. I'd definitely reach out to the business owner to ask if they filed a 1099-NEC for you - some companies file these directly rather than relying on payment apps. Either way though, your obligation to report the income remains the same. Start gathering all your documentation now - Venmo transaction history, any emails or texts about the work, and receipts for business expenses. You can deduct legitimate business costs like equipment, software, portion of home internet/phone if used for work, etc. Good record keeping will save you headaches later!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been running a travel blog LLC for 3 years now. The biggest mistake I see new bloggers make is thinking they can immediately deduct a luxury vacation by calling it "business research." Here's what actually worked for me: I started with shorter, lower-cost trips that were clearly business-focused. Think weekend trips to nearby cities where I could produce multiple pieces of content, interview local business owners, and document everything thoroughly. This helped establish a pattern of legitimate business activity before I attempted longer, more expensive trips. Also, don't underestimate the importance of having actual contracts or agreements in place. When I travel now, I often have pre-arranged partnerships with hotels, restaurants, or tourism boards. Having these formal business relationships makes the business purpose crystal clear and provides much stronger documentation than just saying "I'll write about it later." One practical tip: Consider the "but for" test. Would you have taken this exact trip, to these exact locations, staying in these exact places, "but for" your business? If the honest answer is that you would have taken a similar vacation anyway, you're in dangerous territory for deductions. The travel blog business model absolutely works for legitimate deductions, but it requires patience, documentation, and genuine business development - not just slapping an LLC label on your vacation plans.

This is such a valuable discussion! As someone who's been considering a similar path, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences - especially those who've been through audits. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of understanding your state tax implications too. While everyone's focused on federal deductions (which is obviously crucial), don't forget that state tax laws can vary significantly on business expense deductions. In my state, they sometimes have stricter requirements for travel expense documentation than the federal level, and they don't always conform to federal business loss rules. I learned this the hard way with a different side business where I had perfectly legitimate federal deductions that got challenged at the state level because I didn't have the right supporting documentation format. My advice would be to check with a local tax professional who understands both federal and your specific state requirements before you take that first big trip. The cost of a consultation upfront could save you thousands in penalties later. Also, consider starting an annual tax planning meeting where you review your documentation practices and make sure you're staying compliant as your business grows. What works for a $500/year blog might not be sufficient when you're doing $10K+ in revenue with substantial travel deductions.