Just wanted to add a practical tip for tracking expenses throughout the year - I use a simple spreadsheet to log every business-related purchase as it happens. Categories like equipment, software subscriptions, office supplies, travel/mileage, etc. Makes tax time SO much easier than trying to dig through bank statements later. Also, if you're using your phone or computer for content creation, you can deduct the business percentage of those costs too. Just make sure you can justify the percentage if the IRS ever asks. For example, if you use your phone 40% for business, you can deduct 40% of your monthly bill. The key is being able to document that these expenses are "ordinary and necessary" for your content creation business. Keep receipts and notes about how each expense relates to your work!

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you might also want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments for this year if you plan to continue your content creation work. Since you'll likely earn more than $1,000 in self-employment tax again, the IRS expects you to pay as you go rather than waiting until next April. You can calculate your estimated payments using Form 1040ES. Generally, you'll want to pay either 100% of last year's total tax liability or 90% of this year's expected tax - whichever is smaller. This helps you avoid underpayment penalties and also makes the tax burden more manageable by spreading it across the year. Also, don't forget to keep track of any business miles you drive for content creation purposes (going to filming locations, meeting clients, picking up supplies, etc.). The standard mileage rate for 2024 is 67 cents per mile, which can add up to significant deductions if you do much driving for your business!

Has anyone actually tried filing the revocation themselves? I'm worried I'll mess something up and make my situation worse.

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago - hired a tax attorney who did absolutely nothing for almost 2 years while my problems got worse. The revocation process is actually pretty straightforward once you know what to do. Like others mentioned, you'll need to file a new Form 2848 with the revocation box checked in Part 6. The key thing is to make sure you include ALL the same tax years and form types that were on your original power of attorney. If you're not sure what was included originally, you can call the IRS and ask them to read back what's currently on file. One thing I learned the hard way - don't wait to revoke it even if you haven't found a replacement yet. Having an inactive representative is actually worse than having no representative at all because the IRS will still try to communicate through them instead of directly with you. Once I revoked mine, I was finally able to get direct access to my account and start making progress on my own. Also, definitely send a certified letter to your current attorney letting them know you're revoking their authorization. Even though it's not legally required, it protects you if they try to take any action on your behalf after the revocation date.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been wrestling with this exact issue for a client's C Corp acquisition and was second-guessing my approach. Based on everyone's input here, I'm now confident that keeping the full balance sheet intact with a detailed footnote is the right approach for the C Corp situation. I was initially tempted to zero it out thinking it would be "cleaner" since the entity was being absorbed, but I can see now that would have been incorrect. For those who mentioned getting IRS confirmation directly - that's really smart. I might try the Claimyr approach for a different complex issue I'm dealing with. The idea of actually talking to someone who knows corporate tax rather than spending hours researching conflicting guidance is really appealing. One thing I'd add based on my experience: make sure your footnote disclosure is really detailed about the acquisition mechanics. I've found that vague language like "entity was acquired" isn't sufficient. The IRS wants to understand the specific transaction structure, whether it was a stock purchase, asset purchase, merger, etc., and how that affects the tax treatment. The more specific you can be about the transaction type and timing, the better. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that's hard to find in the official publications!

Great discussion everyone! I just want to add a practical tip that's helped me with both scenarios mentioned here. For C Corp acquisitions, beyond keeping the balance sheet intact with detailed footnotes, I've found it helpful to coordinate with the acquiring company's tax team before filing. They often have specific information about how they're treating the acquisition for consolidated return purposes that can inform your footnote language. This coordination has prevented issues where our final return disclosure didn't align with their initial consolidated return treatment. For LLC technical terminations, one thing I learned from experience is to be extra careful about the timing of when you file the final return versus when the new entity files its initial return. I had a case where we filed the terminated LLC's final return (with zeroed balance sheet) before the new partnership had filed its initial return showing the carryover assets. This created a temporary "gap" in the IRS system where assets appeared to disappear, which triggered an automated inquiry. Now I try to coordinate the filing timing or at least include language in the footnote explaining when the successor entity will be filing its initial return. Small detail, but it can save you from unnecessary correspondence later. The key takeaway from all these responses seems to be: proper disclosure through detailed footnotes is crucial, and when in doubt, provide more detail rather than less. The IRS appreciates transparency about complex transactions.

This thread has been a real eye-opener for me! I've been relying on the online account for the past two years thinking it was comprehensive, and now I'm realizing I may have been flying blind. The fact that critical notices like CP2000s and audit letters don't show up online seems like a major design flaw - or at least something that should be prominently disclosed when you set up your account. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about requesting account transcripts and filing Form 8822. One question I have: if I find transcript codes indicating notices were sent that I never received, what's the best way to request copies of those specific letters? Can the IRS resend them, or do I need to call and ask for duplicates? This whole situation makes me appreciate how helpful this community is - the IRS website certainly doesn't explain these limitations clearly!

As a new community member, I'm finding this discussion incredibly valuable! I had been wondering about this exact issue after noticing discrepancies between what I received in the mail versus what showed up in my online account. Reading everyone's experiences has made me realize I need to be much more systematic about tracking IRS correspondence. The advice about requesting account transcripts and looking for 971 codes is particularly helpful - I had no idea those codes existed or what they meant. I'm also grateful for the clarification about Form 8822, as I recently moved and only updated my address with the post office. It sounds like I need to file that form separately with the IRS to ensure proper mail delivery. This community's knowledge-sharing really highlights how the IRS could do a better job explaining these limitations upfront. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and practical solutions!

Don't forget about state tax returns! Depending on your state, you may need to file a state tax return for the trust as well. Some states have different filing thresholds than the federal $600 income requirement. Also, if the property has appreciated significantly since your mother purchased it, the stepped-up basis provision is HUGELY beneficial. The basis becomes the fair market value at date of death, which could save tens of thousands in capital gains taxes.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Lucy. Being an executor for the first time is overwhelming, especially when dealing with trust taxation. A few additional points that might help you: 1. **Get organized early** - Start gathering all necessary documents now: the trust document, your mother's death certificate, property appraisals, and any financial statements. You'll need these for multiple filings. 2. **Consider quarterly estimated taxes** - If the house sale generates significant capital gains and you're distributing the proceeds to yourself, you might need to make estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties. 3. **Document everything** - Keep detailed records of all expenses related to maintaining and selling the property. Many of these costs can be deducted against the gain, including realtor commissions, staging costs, repairs, and legal fees. 4. **Timeline planning** - Since you're selling in 2023, you have until April 15, 2024 to file the trust's Form 1041. However, if you expect a large tax liability, consider making quarterly payments throughout 2023. The stepped-up basis is indeed a huge advantage here - your $30,000 potential gain is much better than what it could have been if calculated from your mother's original purchase price. Make sure to get a formal appraisal dated as close to her date of death as possible to support that basis.