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Has anyone looked into oil and gas investments? I've heard they can create passive income that can be offset by real estate losses, plus they have their own tax advantages like depletion allowances. Thinking about diversifying into that area.
Be careful with oil and gas. Some investments are structured as working interests which are actually active income, not passive. Only limited partnerships where you don't materially participate would count as passive. I learned this the hard way last year when my "passive" oil investment couldn't offset my RE losses.
This is a really complex area of tax law that trips up a lot of investors. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given is to be very careful about the "material participation" rules. The IRS has seven different tests to determine if you're materially participating in an activity, and if you accidentally meet one of them, your "passive" activity becomes active. For example, if you spend more than 500 hours per year on real estate activities (including research, property visits, reviewing reports from your syndication sponsors), you might inadvertently qualify as a real estate professional. This could actually be beneficial in some cases since it would allow you to deduct losses against ordinary income, but it requires careful documentation and planning. Also, keep detailed records of all your passive investments and their income/loss characteristics. The IRS can be very particular about proper classification, and having good documentation will save you headaches if you ever get audited. I learned this lesson when I had to reconstruct three years of passive activity records during an audit - not fun!
This is such an important point about the material participation rules! I'm curious - when you mention spending 500+ hours on real estate activities, does that include time spent on due diligence for new syndication investments? I probably spend 20-30 hours researching each deal before investing, and with multiple deals per year that could add up quickly. Would hate to accidentally trigger real estate professional status when I'm planning my tax strategy around passive losses. Also, regarding the documentation during your audit - what specific records did the IRS want to see? I'm trying to get better organized with my record keeping and want to make sure I'm tracking the right things from the start.
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Try this workaround: 1. Go to the "Get Transcript" page instead of the direct verification page 2. Choose "mail" option instead of online 3. Wait for the letter with the verification code (takes ~5-10 days) 4. Once you have the code, you can complete verification online This bypasses the ID.me system that's giving everyone headaches. Worked for me and 3 other ppl in my tax group. Not as fast as getting thru by phone but def more reliable rn.
PLEASE be careful with verification issues! My sister ignored her verification notices thinking she could just handle it "later" and it turned into a NIGHTMARE! 😫 The IRS froze her refund, then sent it to the fraud department, and it took 11 months to resolve. She had to submit paper copies of everything, get documents notarized, and even then they kept asking for more proof. If you absolutely can't verify online or by phone, send a certified letter to the address on your notice explaining your situation. It's slow but creates a paper trail they can't ignore.
This is such an important warning! I've been putting off dealing with my verification notice for two weeks thinking I had plenty of time. Reading about your sister's 11-month ordeal is terrifying. Can you clarify what specific information should be included in the certified letter? Should I reference the original notice number or include copies of supporting documents? I want to make sure I'm covering all my bases if the phone/online routes don't work out.
California Tax Rebate: Has Anyone Received the Middle Class Tax Refund Yet?
According to the California Franchise Tax Board website (https://www.ftb.ca.gov/), they've begun distributing the Middle Class Tax Refund payments this month. Has anyone in this forum received theirs yet? My wife and I filed jointly for the first time this year, and I'm tracking all expected payments in our financial planning spreadsheet. Just seeking data points on distribution timeline. ☺️
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I'm also new to this community and experiencing the exact same delay pattern as everyone else here. Filed jointly in early February, AGI $77k, last name starts with A - so according to the original alphabetical schedule, I should have been literally first in line to receive the MCTR payment. But like so many others in this thread, I'm still waiting despite being well within that A-M timeframe that was supposed to wrap up by October 21st. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful in understanding what's happening. The pattern is crystal clear: joint filers in the $75-85k income bracket are systematically delayed regardless of alphabetical placement. @Amara Nwosu's explanation about additional verification requirements for joint filers really seems to be the key insight here - it explains why virtually everyone sharing their delay story fits this exact profile. I've been checking my FTB online account daily since October 1st, but like everyone else, it only shows my standard 2023 return information with no MCTR status updates. What's particularly frustrating is that FTB hasn't provided any official communication about these delays affecting what appears to be a significant population of joint filers. Has anyone tried calling FTB recently to get an updated timeline specifically for joint filers going through this verification process? It would be helpful to know if there's at least an estimated completion date for whatever additional review they're conducting. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - it's really reassuring to know this is a widespread processing issue rather than individual problems with our returns.
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and dealing with the exact same frustrating situation. Filed jointly in March, AGI $79k, last name starts with M. Like you and literally everyone else in this thread with similar profiles, I'm still waiting despite being well within that original A-M alphabetical timeframe. It's honestly both reassuring and concerning to see such a clear pattern - virtually every person reporting delays is a joint filer in our income bracket, regardless of last name. @Amara Nwosu s'insight about additional verification requirements really does seem to be the smoking gun here. I called FTB yesterday and got a similar response about joint filers potentially needing extra processing time, though they couldn t'give me any specific timeline. The rep did mention that the verification process for joint filers involves cross-referencing both spouses information' which can take additional time. I ve'been checking my FTB account religiously but like everyone else, no status updates. I agree that FTB s'lack of transparent communication about these systematic delays is really frustrating - they should at least acknowledge this is happening and provide an estimated timeline for our batch. Thanks for starting another data point in this thread - the more we document this pattern, the clearer it becomes that this is a widespread processing issue affecting thousands of joint filers in our situation.
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and experiencing the exact same delay. Filed jointly in February, AGI $78k, last name starts with H. Like you and everyone else in this thread, I should have received my payment weeks ago based on the original alphabetical schedule, but I'm still waiting. The pattern documented in this thread is incredibly clear - joint filers in the $75-85k range are all experiencing systematic delays regardless of last name placement. @Amara Nwosu s'explanation about additional verification requirements for joint filers really seems to be the most logical explanation we ve'gotten. I called FTB two days ago and the representative confirmed that joint filers do require additional processing steps, including verification of both spouses information' and cross-referencing with prior year filings. She estimated it could take an additional 2-3 weeks beyond the original alphabetical timeline, but couldn t'provide a firm date. I ve'been checking my FTB account daily with no status changes like everyone else. I completely agree about FTB s'poor communication - they should have proactively notified affected taxpayers about these delays rather than leaving us to figure it out ourselves. Thanks for adding your experience to help document this widespread issue affecting our specific demographic!
I'm also new to this community and experiencing the exact same delay pattern that so many others have documented here. Filed jointly in early March, AGI $81k, last name starts with N. According to the original schedule, N-Z surnames were supposed to receive payments between October 28-November 14, but given all the delays reported by joint filers in the A-M range, I'm not optimistic about that timeline. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly enlightening - the pattern is unmistakable. Virtually everyone reporting delays is a joint filer with AGI in the $75-85k range, regardless of alphabetical placement. @Amara Nwosu's insight about additional verification requirements for joint filers seems to be the key explanation here. I've been checking my FTB online account daily since late September, but like everyone else, it only shows my standard 2023 return with no MCTR status information. What's particularly concerning is that if joint filers in the A-M range who should have been processed weeks ago are still waiting, those of us in the N-Z range might be looking at delays well into November or December. Has anyone received any updated communication from FTB specifically addressing these systematic delays for joint filers? It seems like they should at least acknowledge this issue publicly and provide realistic timelines rather than sticking to the original alphabetical schedule that clearly isn't accounting for the additional verification processes. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this thread has been more informative than any official FTB communication!
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and in a very similar situation. Filed jointly in April, AGI $84k, last name starts with P. Like you, I'm in that N-Z range that was supposed to start receiving payments this week, but after reading this entire thread, I'm realizing we're probably looking at the same systematic delays that all the A-M joint filers are experiencing. The pattern documented here is really striking - it's clearly not about alphabetical order at all, but rather about additional processing requirements for joint filers in our income bracket. @Amara Nwosu s'explanation about verification steps makes so much sense given what everyone is reporting. I ve'also been checking my FTB account daily with no updates. You re'absolutely right that FTB should be providing transparent communication about these delays rather than leaving thousands of taxpayers in the dark. If the A-M joint filers are still waiting after being weeks past their supposed deadline, we N-Z folks might not see our payments until late November or even December. Thanks for sharing your timeline - it helps confirm that this issue extends beyond just the early alphabetical groups!
Welcome to the community! I'm also new here and dealing with the exact same delay situation. Filed jointly in February, AGI $83k, last name starts with R. Like you, I'm in that N-Z alphabetical range that was supposed to start receiving payments this week, but after reading through all these detailed experiences, it's clear that the original alphabetical timeline doesn't apply to joint filers in our income bracket. The systematic delays affecting everyone in the A-M range who should have been processed weeks ago really puts our expected timeline into question. @Amara Nwosu s'insight about additional verification requirements for joint filers seems to be the most credible explanation we have for these widespread delays. I ve'been checking my FTB account obsessively since early October, but like everyone else, no MCTR status updates beyond my standard 2023 return information. You re'absolutely right that FTB should be providing proactive communication about these processing delays rather than leaving us to piece together the situation through forum discussions. If joint filers with early alphabet surnames are still waiting weeks past their supposed deadline, we re'probably looking at payments pushed well into late November or December. Thanks for sharing your experience - it s'really helpful to see the pattern extends across the entire alphabet for our demographic!
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As a small business owner who's operated as both a sole prop and an LLC, here's a practical breakdown: Things an LLC DOESN'T do: - Give you special tax deductions - Automatically lower your taxes - Change how you file (unless you elect different tax treatment) Things an LLC DOES do: - Protect personal assets from business liabilities - Add credibility with some clients/vendors - Cost money to form and maintain ($50-$500 depending on state) - Require additional paperwork/compliance The tax benefits people associate with LLCs usually come from making an S-Corp election, which lets you pay yourself partly as salary (subject to self-employment tax) and partly as distributions (not subject to SE tax). But that's a tax election, not an LLC feature.
What about writing off health insurance? Someone told me LLC owners can deduct health insurance but sole props can't. Is that true?
That's actually not correct. Both sole proprietors and LLC owners can deduct health insurance premiums on their personal tax returns. This is called the self-employed health insurance deduction, and it's available to anyone with self-employment income, regardless of business structure. The rules for deducting health insurance are the same whether you're a sole prop or an LLC taxed as a sole prop. It's an "above-the-line" deduction on your personal return, not a business expense on Schedule C. The business structure doesn't change your eligibility for this deduction.
My accountant explained it to me like this: "An LLC is like a box. The box itself doesn't change what's inside or how it's taxed. It just separates it from your personal stuff." I thought that was a really helpful way to think about it. The LLC is just a container that provides legal protection. What's inside (your business activities) and how it's taxed depends on what tax classification you choose (sole prop by default, or elect S-Corp/C-Corp).
That's a great analogy! So if I'm already a sole proprietor with a small woodworking business and I form an LLC but don't elect any special tax status, literally nothing changes about my taxes? I'd still file Schedule C?
Exactly right! If you form a single-member LLC and don't make any tax elections, you'll still file Schedule C just like you do now as a sole proprietor. The IRS calls this a "disregarded entity" - meaning they disregard the LLC for tax purposes and treat you the same as before. Your woodworking business expenses, income, and deductions would all be reported exactly the same way. The only difference would be that you'd now have liability protection separating your personal assets from your business, but your tax filing process stays identical. The "box" analogy really is perfect - you've just put your existing business inside a protective legal container, but the contents and how they're taxed remain unchanged unless you specifically elect a different tax treatment.
Ahooker-Equator
This whole system makes me so mad! I sold a truck last year for $12k less than I paid for it just 3 years earlier, and I get zero tax benefit. But my friend sold her vintage Mustang for a $9k profit and immediately got a tax bill. How is this fair??
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Anderson Prospero
•It's not fair, it's taxes. My accountant says the tax code is designed to maximize revenue, not fairness. Personally I think cars should just be exempt from capital gains entirely - nobody buys a regular car expecting it to increase in value.
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Fatima Al-Hashimi
I completely understand your frustration! This asymmetric treatment has bothered me for years too. What makes it even more maddening is that the IRS essentially treats your car purchase as "consumption" rather than an investment, so any decline in value is just considered normal wear and tear that you "consumed" through use. But here's something that might help: if you're planning to replace that car, consider whether you might use the new vehicle for any business purposes at all. Even small amounts of documented business use (like driving to meet clients, picking up supplies, etc.) can allow you to deduct the business portion of depreciation and eventual losses. You'd need to keep detailed mileage logs, but it's one of the few ways around this unfair rule. The key is establishing that business use pattern BEFORE you sell, not after. I learned this the hard way when I couldn't deduct a loss on a car I occasionally used for work but never properly documented.
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Jessica Suarez
•This is really helpful advice about establishing business use patterns ahead of time! I'm curious though - what counts as "detailed enough" mileage logs for the IRS? I drive to client meetings maybe once or twice a month, but I've never kept formal records. Would a simple spreadsheet with dates, destinations, and business purposes be sufficient, or do they require something more elaborate? Also, do you know if there's a minimum percentage of business use required to claim any deduction at all? I'm probably looking at maybe 15-20% business use at most.
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