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I'm in a somewhat similar situation and wanted to share what I learned after consulting with a tax professional. The key issue you're dealing with is the difference between your "tax domicile" (Arizona, where your legal ties are) and where you're physically earning income (Colorado). Here's what you'll likely need to do: **Arizona**: File as a resident since your driver's license, voter registration, and permanent address are all there. You'll report ALL your income, including what you earned in Colorado. **Colorado**: File as a nonresident since you're just there temporarily for work. You'll report only the income earned while physically working in Colorado. The Arizona return will give you a credit for taxes paid to Colorado, so you won't be double-taxed. Just make sure to save all your Colorado tax documents. One thing that caught me off guard - make sure your employer is withholding enough Colorado state tax. Colorado has a flat 4.55% rate, so you can roughly estimate if they're taking out enough. If not, you might want to adjust your W-4 or make estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties. Also, keep track of exactly when you started working in Colorado and any days you might work remotely from Arizona, as this can affect your filing requirements. The situation is definitely manageable once you understand the basic rules!
This is really helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation right now - working remotely from Florida temporarily while my permanent residence is still in New York. The domicile vs. physical location distinction is something I've been struggling to understand. One question about the withholding - if your employer is based in Colorado but you're an Arizona resident, how do they know to withhold Colorado taxes vs. Arizona taxes? Did you have to specifically request Colorado withholding when you started the job, or do they automatically withhold for the state where you're physically working? Also, I'm curious about the estimated payments option you mentioned. If you realize partway through the year that not enough is being withheld, is there a penalty for making estimated payments late, or can you just catch up with larger payments in the remaining quarters?
Great question! You're dealing with a classic multi-state tax situation that's more common than you think, especially for contractors and temporary workers. Since your permanent ties (driver's license, voter registration, mail forwarding) are all in Arizona, you're still considered an Arizona resident for tax purposes. The fact that you're staying in temporary accommodations in Colorado for work doesn't change your legal domicile. Here's what you'll need to do: **Arizona**: File as a resident and report ALL your income, including what you earned in Colorado. Arizona taxes residents on their worldwide income. **Colorado**: File as a nonresident and report ONLY the income you earned while physically working in Colorado. The good news is Arizona will give you a credit for taxes paid to Colorado, so you won't be double-taxed on the same income. You'll essentially pay the higher of the two states' tax rates on that Colorado income. A few important tips: - Double-check that your employer is withholding enough Colorado tax (they have a flat 4.55% rate) - Keep records of your work dates in Colorado - Consider adjusting your W-4 or making estimated payments if withholding seems insufficient Most tax software handles multi-state returns well, but given the temporary nature of your situation and the fact that you've been traveling, you might want to consult with a tax professional to make sure everything is handled correctly. Better to get it right the first time than deal with notices later!
This is really comprehensive advice! I'm curious about one specific detail - you mentioned that Arizona will give a credit for taxes paid to Colorado, but how does that actually work in practice? Like, do you just enter the amount from your Colorado tax return on a specific line of the Arizona return, or is there a separate form you need to fill out? I'm asking because I might be in a similar situation next year (potentially working temporarily in Nevada while keeping my Arizona residency), and I want to understand the mechanics of avoiding double taxation. Also, is there ever a scenario where the credit doesn't fully cover the tax owed to both states, or does it always work out to paying just the higher rate between the two?
Dont listen to ppl saying "you wont go to jail"... my cousin didn't file for 3 yrs and got charged with tax evasion!!! The IRS doesnt mess around!!!
There's almost certainly more to your cousin's story than just not filing. The IRS distinguishes between non-filing and actual tax evasion, which involves deliberate fraud or concealment of income. Criminal charges typically only come into play when someone is actively hiding income or assets, filing false returns, or engaging in other deliberate deception - not merely failing to file while having taxes withheld from regular employment. OP mentioned they had taxes withheld from their W-2 jobs, which means the IRS already knows about their income. This is very different from deliberately hiding income to evade taxes, which is what leads to criminal charges.
I was in a very similar situation - hadn't filed for 3 years and was absolutely terrified about what would happen. The good news is that if you had taxes withheld from your paychecks, you're in a much better position than you think! Here's what I learned when I finally dealt with it: The IRS isn't going to come after you criminally for this. They reserve criminal prosecution for people who are actively trying to defraud the government, not people who just procrastinated on filing. Since you had regular W-2 jobs with withholding, the IRS already knows about your income anyway. My advice: Start gathering your tax documents now (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) for all four years. If you're missing any, you can request transcripts directly from the IRS. Focus on getting the most recent 3 years filed first since those are the ones where you can still claim refunds if you're owed them. I ended up owing a small amount for one year but got refunds for the other two. The penalties weren't nearly as scary as I'd imagined, and the IRS was actually pretty reasonable to work with once I voluntarily came forward. The relief of finally having it handled was incredible - I wish I hadn't stressed about it for so long!
This is really reassuring to hear from someone who actually went through it! I'm curious - when you say you "requested transcripts directly from the IRS," how exactly did you do that? Did you have to call them or can you do it online? I'm missing a couple of W-2s from employers that have since gone out of business, so getting those transcripts might be my only option for getting the complete tax info I need.
You can request transcripts online through the IRS website (irs.gov) - just create an account and go to "Get Transcript Online." You'll need to verify your identity, but once you're set up, you can download your wage and income transcripts for any year you need. This will show all the W-2s and 1099s that were filed with your SSN, even from companies that no longer exist. If you can't get through the online verification (it can be picky about matching your info), you can also request them by mail using Form 4506-T, but that takes much longer. The online method is definitely the way to go if possible - I had all my missing documents within minutes of getting verified.
Has anyone tried filing a complaint with the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) about SBTPG? I just submitted one yesterday after getting nowhere with SBTPG for 9 weeks. They're legally required to respond to CFPB complaints within 15 days.
That's awesome to hear! Did you have to provide any specific documentation with your CFPB complaint? I included screenshots of my IRS transcript showing the refund was issued, but wasn't sure if I needed anything else.
I included my IRS transcript, screenshots of SBTPG's website showing my refund status, and a timeline of all my phone calls with both SBTPG and the IRS. The more documentation you have showing the contradiction between what SBTPG claims and what actually happened, the better. Also include any reference numbers or case numbers you've been given. The CFPB complaint form has sections for uploading multiple documents, so don't hold back on the evidence!
This is exactly what happened to me! I've been dealing with SBTPG holding my $2,400 refund since March. They keep saying they returned it to the IRS, but when I finally got through to an IRS agent (after waiting 3 hours on hold), they confirmed there's no record of SBTPG returning anything. What really got me was when I asked SBTPG for proof they returned my refund - like a transaction ID or confirmation number - they couldn't provide any documentation. Just kept repeating the same script about "processing delays" and "10-12 weeks." I'm definitely going to try filing that CFPB complaint and the Form 3911 refund trace. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through all these hoops when they're clearly just sitting on our money. Thanks for posting this - at least now I know I'm not going crazy and this is happening to tons of people!
Carmen, you're definitely not going crazy! The fact that they can't provide any proof of returning your refund is a huge red flag. When legitimate returns happen, there are always transaction records and confirmation numbers - the fact that SBTPG can't produce any documentation suggests they never actually returned it. I'd also recommend documenting everything - dates of calls, representative names if you got them, reference numbers, etc. When you file that CFPB complaint, having a detailed timeline really strengthens your case. Also, if you have any written communication from SBTPG (emails, letters, etc.) claiming they returned your refund, definitely include those as evidence of their false statements. It's infuriating that we have to become amateur investigators just to get our own tax refunds, but unfortunately that seems to be what it takes with SBTPG. Keep fighting for your money - you shouldn't have to wait indefinitely for what's rightfully yours!
My small business return was accepted on January 29th, 2024. Transcript updated with 570 code on February 12th. Then showed 571 code on February 19th. Got 846 code on February 23rd with February 28th deposit date. But the money hit my account on February 23rd - same day as the transcript update! Just like yours! My WMR still shows processing even though I already have the money. This is definitely a new pattern for 2024 filing season.
This is really encouraging to hear! I filed my LLC return on 2/3 and have been anxiously waiting since my transcript still shows "N/A" for 2024. Based on your timeline and what others are sharing, it sounds like the IRS might actually be processing business returns much more efficiently this year. The fact that your deposit hit the same day as the transcript update is incredible - that never happened in previous years. I'm going to stop obsessing over WMR and just wait for my transcript to update. Thanks for sharing the detailed timeline, it really helps set expectations for those of us still waiting!
Jamal Carter
Has anyone here actually completed a reorganization from a single C-corp to an opco/holdco structure while maintaining QSBS eligibility? What software or services did you use to track the reorganization?
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AstroAdventurer
ā¢We did this last year. Used a combination of Carta for equity management (though it was a bit clunky for the reorganization) and worked directly with a law firm that specializes in tech company restructuring. The QSBS eligibility was the trickiest part. We had to be careful about asset transfers and timing. The key was doing a straight stock exchange under 368(a)(1)(B) which allowed for tacking of the holding period. Our legal fees were about $25k all-in, but worth it given the potential tax savings down the road. Make sure both entities meet the active business requirements, and watch out for the assets test - no more than 10% of assets can be portfolio stocks, real estate, etc. We had to adjust some investments to stay compliant.
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Edison Estevez
This is a great question and one I've been exploring for my own business. From my research, the opco/holdco structure is definitely used in the US, though as others mentioned, it's often called "parent-subsidiary" or "multi-entity" structure here. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - consider the timing carefully if you have any plans for future fundraising. Some VCs prefer cleaner cap tables and might view the holdco structure as adding unnecessary complexity during due diligence. However, if you're planning to bootstrap or are past the fundraising stage, the asset protection benefits can be significant. Also, don't forget about potential franchise tax implications in your state of incorporation. Delaware, for example, charges franchise taxes for each entity, so you'll want to factor those ongoing costs into your analysis. The QSBS preservation is definitely the most critical piece - losing that eligibility could cost you millions in tax savings if you have a successful exit. I'd strongly recommend getting multiple opinions from tax professionals who specifically understand Section 1202 before proceeding.
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PrinceJoe
ā¢Great point about the franchise tax implications! I hadn't considered that Delaware would charge separately for each entity. Do you know if other states like Nevada or Wyoming have similar structures, or are their fees typically lower? Also, regarding the VC perspective on complexity - have you seen situations where companies successfully simplified their structure before fundraising, or do most just accept the additional due diligence burden? I'm trying to weigh the asset protection benefits against potentially making future fundraising more difficult.
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