Thanks for sharing your real-world experience! Do you track your inventory of supplies at all, or just expense them as you buy them throughout the year? My wife sometimes buys in bulk when there are deals.

I just expense supplies as I purchase them throughout the year, even when buying in bulk. Unless you're selling these products retail (which would make them inventory), supplies used in services are considered consumed when purchased for tax purposes. When my salon buys in bulk during sales, I still deduct it all in that tax year. The IRS understands this is normal business practice. Just keep your receipts organized in case of an audit, but don't overthink the timing of the deduction. This approach has worked for me for over 15 years without any issues.

What about things that fall into a gray area? Like those expensive brushes that last a few years but eventually wear out? Or the salon capes that might last 1-2 years? I'm never sure if those should be supplies or de minimis items.

Thanks for that suggestion! I looked into the Substantial Presence Test, but it seems that au pairs on J-1 visas are explicitly classified as "exempt individuals" for the first 2 years, meaning they don't count days toward the substantial presence test. She's definitely considered a non-resident alien for tax purposes. Really appreciate everyone's help though - I think I'm going to try one of the specialized services mentioned since the 1040NR seems to have some tricky differences from the standard forms.

Is that really necessary for au pairs? They're only here temporarily.

Yes, it applies to anyone who's required to file US taxes regardless of their visa status or how long they've been here. If they meet the $10,000 threshold in foreign accounts at any point in the year, they need to file the FBAR. Many au pairs keep savings accounts in their home countries while working in the US, and if those accounts plus any other foreign financial accounts total more than $10,000 at any point, they need to file. The penalties for not filing can be severe - starting at $10,000 for non-willful violations.

What app do you use for tracking? I've been looking for something reliable. And did you go with the 5 or 7 seat configuration? I've heard that affects whether it's considered an SUV for tax purposes.

I use MileIQ - it's been super reliable and creates reports I can send directly to my accountant. Regarding seating, I went with the 6-seat configuration (2-2-2), and yes, that helped ensure it qualified as an SUV which was important for Section 179 purposes since SUVs have higher deduction limits than passenger vehicles. The weight of the Model X also puts it in a favorable category for deduction purposes. One other tip - I took delivery in December but made sure all paperwork was completed and the vehicle was "placed in service" (used for business) before year-end. That allowed me to claim everything on that tax year rather than having to wait.

This is really smart advice. Did you have any issues with the battery range on the BMW for your typical driving?

No real issues with the battery range - the X5 hybrid gets around 30 miles of pure electric range which covers most of my in-town client visits. When I do longer trips to rural areas, it switches seamlessly to gas. Actually ended up being the perfect balance for my needs. The charging is way simpler too - I just use a regular outlet in my garage overnight rather than needing to install a special charger. Total cost of ownership has been lower than I expected when factoring in the fuel savings plus the tax benefits.

That's an interesting perspective! In our case though, there was definitely an established hourly rate. They track my hours precisely and deduct exactly $15 per hour from our tuition bill. The statements even say "Work credit: 12 hours at $15/hr = $180 deduction." So I think in my case it's clearly compensation rather than voluntary work with a thank you gift.

That's definitely different from what my wife experienced. With that specific hourly tracking and direct correlation between hours worked and tuition reduction, it sounds like a clear employment or contractor relationship. The school should definitely be providing you with tax documentation, either a W-2 if you're an employee or 1099-NEC if you're a contractor.

This is exactly what my daughter's preschool does! They call it "tuition remission" and there's actually a $5,250 tax-free benefit allowance for educational assistance programs if the school sets it up properly under Section 127 of the tax code. Anything above that amount would be taxable though.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Did you go through the OIC process yourself? If so, how long did it take from submission to getting a decision?

I did go through the OIC process myself. The entire process took about 8 months from when I submitted my application to receiving final approval. The initial review took about 3 months, then they came back asking for additional documentation about some of my expenses and assets which took another 2 months of back and forth. The final negotiation and approval took another 3 months. During this time, collections activities were suspended which was a huge relief. One important tip: be extremely thorough and accurate with your financial disclosure forms (433-A and 433-B if you have a business). Any discrepancies will delay the process significantly.

This is risky advice without knowing more details. Tax debt is often NOT dischargeable in bankruptcy unless it meets very specific criteria: - The taxes must be income taxes - The due date for filing the tax return was at least 3 years ago - You filed the tax return at least 2 years before filing bankruptcy - The tax assessment is at least 240 days old - You didn't commit fraud or willful evasion Chapter 7 also has significant long-term consequences. OP should definitely consult with both a tax professional AND a bankruptcy attorney before considering this route.