I've been dealing with S Corp filings for my consulting business for a few years now, and I totally feel your pain on the pricing! One thing that helped me was checking if your sister's S Corp qualifies for any simplified filing options first. If her business has gross receipts under $250,000 and total assets under $250,000, she might be able to use some of the simplified reporting methods which can make the return easier to prepare. This could potentially make the cheaper software options more viable. Also, since you mentioned her business is straightforward, you might want to double-check if S Corp election even makes sense for her situation anymore. Depending on her income level and business expenses, sometimes switching back to a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC (taxed as disregarded entity) can be simpler and cheaper to file, though obviously that's a bigger decision that would need careful consideration of the tax implications. Have you looked into whether any local CPAs offer reasonably priced S Corp preparation? Sometimes small local firms can be competitive with software prices, especially for simple returns, and you get the peace of mind of professional review.

I actually went through a similar situation last year with my small S Corp! After researching all the options mentioned here, I ended up using a combination approach that worked really well. First, I used FreeTaxUSA (as Mei mentioned) to prepare the return since it was only around $75 for the 1120-S e-filing. The interface was straightforward enough for my single-member S Corp. But before I submitted it, I had a few specific questions about some depreciation issues and reasonable compensation requirements. That's where the Claimyr service that Andre mentioned came in handy. Instead of paying a CPA $200+ just to answer a couple questions, I used their system to get connected to an IRS agent who clarified the specific issues I was unsure about. Cost me like $25 but gave me confidence that I was filing correctly. So my total cost was under $100 instead of the $200+ I was quoted by local CPAs or the major tax software companies. The return was accepted without issues, and I felt good knowing I had gotten official guidance on the tricky parts. For your sister's straightforward situation, this combo might work well - use affordable software for preparation, but have the IRS callback service available if any questions come up during the process.

I'd like to add some perspective from someone who recently navigated a very similar situation with my grandmother's estate planning. Most major banks do offer POD designations, and it's typically a simple form to complete - no special documentation beyond standard account holder identification. However, you're absolutely right to be concerned about potential conflicts with the revocable living trust and pour-over provision. Here's what I learned: even though jointly-owned accounts and POD accounts generally pass outside of probate (and thus outside the trust), some states have specific rules about how these interact with existing estate plans. The pour-over provision in your mom's will is designed to catch assets that weren't properly titled in the trust's name, but accounts with beneficiary designations (POD) or joint ownership typically aren't affected by this. That said, I'd strongly recommend having your mom's estate planning attorney review whichever approach you choose. When we added POD beneficiaries to my grandmother's accounts, her attorney suggested we also add a brief note to her trust documents acknowledging that certain accounts were intentionally kept outside the trust for convenience purposes. This created a clear paper trail showing the decision was deliberate, not an oversight. The small cost of a legal consultation could save significant headaches later, especially since you're dealing with a substantial sum and want to ensure everything aligns properly with the existing trust structure.

Based on your situation, I'd recommend exploring the POD (Payable on Death) option that several others have mentioned. It really does seem like the cleanest solution for your circumstances. Here's why POD might work well for you: Your brother can continue managing the account exactly as he does now (paying bills, etc.), but when your mom passes, the funds automatically distribute equally to both beneficiaries without any gift tax implications. No Form 709 required, no probate complications, and it aligns perfectly with your mom's intention to split assets equally. A few practical considerations: Most banks handle POD designations with a simple form, but you'll want to confirm your specific bank offers this service. Since your mom already has the revocable living trust set up, definitely run this by her estate planning attorney first. They can ensure the POD designation doesn't conflict with the trust structure and might suggest adding documentation (as Liam mentioned) to show this account was intentionally kept separate. One thing to keep in mind - if your mom's care needs change significantly and the account balance gets much larger or smaller, the POD designation will still apply to whatever amount remains. But that flexibility is probably better than getting locked into a specific dollar amount. The gift tax route (your brother inheriting everything then giving you half) would definitely require filing Form 709 for amounts over $18K, even though no actual tax would likely be owed thanks to the lifetime exemption. Why deal with that paperwork when POD avoids it entirely?

I'm in almost the exact same situation - gave my daughter $95k for her house down payment last year and completely missed filing Form 709. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful and honestly a huge relief. The key takeaway for me is that this is really about documentation rather than owing actual tax. Since we're nowhere near the lifetime exemption limit (around $13.61 million), we won't owe gift tax, but we still need to officially report it to "use up" that portion of our lifetime allowance. What's really concerning me now is the point someone made about banks reporting large transactions. I did a wire transfer directly from my account to hers, so there's definitely a paper trail the IRS could discover. I'd rather file the late return proactively than wait for them to find it and then have to explain why I never reported it. From what I'm gathering here, the penalties for late filing when no tax is actually owed should be minimal, but the peace of mind and proper documentation will be worth it. Definitely planning to get this sorted out ASAP.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation as the original poster. I gave my son $110k last year to help with his first home purchase - direct bank transfer just like you described. I also handled my own taxes since my usual CPA was dealing with health issues, and I completely overlooked the Form 709 requirement. What really helped me understand the situation better was realizing this isn't about owing tax (since we're nowhere near that $13+ million lifetime limit), but about proper documentation. The IRS needs an official record that we've used that portion of our lifetime exemption, even when no actual tax is due. I ended up filing the late Form 709 about two months ago. The process wasn't as scary as I thought it would be - I included a reasonable cause statement explaining the circumstances (CPA unavailable, first-time large gift situation), and I haven't heard anything back from the IRS yet. From what I understand, when there's no actual tax owed, they're typically pretty reasonable about late filings, especially with documented reasonable cause. The peace of mind has been worth it. Better to be proactive and get it properly documented than worry about the IRS discovering that large wire transfer later and having to explain why it was never reported. Your situation with the accountant being on medical leave sounds like solid reasonable cause to me.

Just to add a small detail from my experience as a freelance writer in Ireland working with US publications - don't forget to include your foreign address in the format expected in the US! This means: - House/flat number first, then street name - City, region/province - Postal code (they sometimes call this ZIP code) - Country written in full (United Kingdom, not UK) I had my form rejected the first time because I wrote the address in the standard UK format and abbreviated United Kingdom as UK. Seems minor but some companies are really strict about this!

As someone who's been through this process multiple times as a UK-based freelancer working with US clients, I can confirm that the advice here is spot on! Just wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me: 1. When filling out Part I (your identification), make sure your name matches exactly what's on your passport or other official ID. Some US companies will cross-reference this. 2. For Part II (claim of tax treaty benefits), be very specific. Write "United Kingdom" in line 9a, cite "Article 12" in line 9b, and specify "0%" as the rate of withholding in line 9c for illustration/royalty work. 3. Don't panic if the magazine's accounting department asks follow-up questions - it's actually a good sign that they're being thorough. I've had clients ask for clarification on treaty benefits, and it's totally normal. 4. Keep digital copies of everything. I save my completed W-8BEN forms in a dedicated folder because different clients sometimes need them at different times, and it's much easier than filling out the form from scratch each time. The UK-US tax treaty is quite favorable for creative work, so once you get this sorted, you should be able to work with other US clients much more easily in the future. Good luck with your commission - it sounds like an exciting opportunity!

One thing to keep in mind with vacant land investments is the concept of "holding period" for tax purposes. Since you mentioned you're considering building on it eventually for personal use, you'll want to be very clear about when that transition happens. The IRS looks at your primary intent at the time of purchase and your ongoing actions. If you originally bought it as an investment (which sounds like your case), you can generally continue treating it that way until you take concrete steps toward personal use - like applying for building permits, hiring contractors, or starting construction. Also, don't forget that if you do any improvements to the land while it's still an investment property (like clearing, grading, utilities hookups), those costs can be added to your basis, which will help reduce any taxable gain when you eventually sell or convert it. Keep detailed records of all expenses related to the property during its investment phase.

I've been in a similar situation with vacant land, and one thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed investment journal from day one. I document everything - market research I do on the area, comparable sales I look up, any inquiries about potential uses, and even notes from conversations with real estate agents about appreciation potential. This documentation has been invaluable not just for tax purposes, but also for my own decision-making. When I eventually do convert to personal use, I'll have a clear paper trail showing my investment intent and activities throughout the holding period. Also, something I learned the hard way - if you're planning to eventually build on the property, consider having a survey done while it's still in investment status. Survey costs are deductible as investment expenses, and you'll need one anyway for construction. Better to get that deduction while you can rather than treating it as a personal expense later.