I went through almost the exact same situation last year! My company's payroll system automatically switched my state tax withholding when they temporarily moved me to a different cost center, even though I never actually relocated. Here's what I learned from my experience: Don't wait for your payroll department to fix this - they probably won't, especially if it's outsourced. The fastest path is to handle it yourself through tax filings. You'll definitely want to file in both states. In your home state, report all income as earned there. For the state where taxes were incorrectly withheld, file a non-resident return showing zero income actually earned in that state. Most tax software can handle this multi-state situation pretty easily. The key is having good documentation. Save any emails about the reassignment error, your actual work schedules showing you were at your home location, and anything that proves this was a payroll mistake. I attached a simple one-page letter with my non-resident return explaining the error, and it made the process much smoother. It took about 8 weeks to get my refund, but I recovered every dollar that was incorrectly withheld. The states deal with these payroll errors all the time, so don't stress too much about it. Just be thorough with your documentation and clear in your explanation of what happened.

I work for a CPA firm and we see this exact situation several times a year. The good news is that it's completely fixable, and you have multiple options depending on how cooperative your payroll company is. First option (cleanest): Push harder for a W-2C from your payroll company. The person telling you they "can't make changes after W-2s are issued" is either misinformed or trying to avoid the work. W-2C forms exist specifically for this purpose. Ask to speak with a supervisor and reference IRS Publication 15-A, which clearly states that employers must correct W-2s when there are errors in state tax allocation. Second option (if W-2C isn't possible): File in both states as others have mentioned. Your home state gets all the income reported, and you file a non-resident return in the wrong state claiming zero income earned there. Include a brief explanation letter with documentation of the payroll error. Pro tip: If you're using tax software, most major programs (TurboTax, H&R Block, etc.) have specific workflows for handling incorrect state tax withholding due to payroll errors. Look for "multi-state filing" or "payroll error correction" in the help sections. The key is acting quickly since you're approaching filing deadlines. Don't let the payroll company drag this out past April 15th, as that could complicate things unnecessarily.

@Mateo, you're in great shape for qualifying! At $46k, you're well within the Premium Tax Credit range. Since you're a chef, I'd definitely recommend taking the advance payments option - it'll help your monthly budget tremendously while you're waiting for employer benefits to kick in. One thing to keep in mind is that your 6-month waiting period for employer insurance actually works in your favor here. You'll qualify for the full Premium Tax Credit during those months since you won't have access to affordable employer coverage. Just make sure to cancel your Marketplace plan and transition to your employer plan once it becomes available - the PTC stops once you have access to employer insurance. The income calculations can definitely be confusing, but Healthcare.gov's application process will walk you through it step by step. They'll ask for your expected 2025 income, and based on that $46k estimate, you should get a decent credit amount. Just remember to update them if your income changes significantly throughout the year - especially important in restaurant work where you might pick up extra shifts or catering gigs. Don't stress too much about the exact calculations - focus on getting enrolled during the open enrollment period and you'll be set!

@Mateo, you're absolutely going to qualify for the Premium Tax Credit with that income! At $46k for a single person, you're well within the eligibility range (which goes up to around $58k for 2025). Since you're coming from restaurant work myself, I totally get the income uncertainty. Here's what I learned when I was in your exact situation: definitely take the advance payments (APTC) - it'll reduce your monthly premiums right away instead of waiting until tax time. This was a lifesaver for my budget during the gap period. One practical tip: when you're estimating your 2025 income on the application, consider potential variables like overtime during busy seasons, holiday bonuses, or if you might pick up catering gigs on the side. Restaurant income can fluctuate more than you expect. I'd suggest maybe estimating around $48k instead of exactly $46k to give yourself a small buffer. Also, mark your calendar for when your employer insurance kicks in (6 months from your start date). You'll need to cancel your Marketplace plan at that point since the PTC only applies when you don't have access to affordable employer coverage. The transition is pretty straightforward - Healthcare.gov will guide you through it. Don't overthink the application process - it's actually more user-friendly than the IRS website makes it seem! You've got this.

Just wanted to chime in as another person stuck in this nightmare 😤 Filed my NYS return in early February and still showing "processing" with no updates whatsoever. This is honestly the longest I've ever had to wait for a state refund - usually get it within 4-6 weeks max. Reading through all your experiences here makes me feel less alone but also more frustrated that this seems to be such a widespread issue. The lack of communication from NYS is really what's getting to me the most. Like, if there are fraud prevention delays or backlogs, just tell us upfront instead of leaving everyone hanging! I'm seriously considering that taxr.ai tool that @Giovanni mentioned since it sounds like it actually gives you real information about what's happening. Has anyone else tried it recently? Really need to know if there's something wrong with my return or if I'm just stuck in the endless processing queue 🤞

This thread is a lifesaver! Filed my NYS return in February and have been going absolutely crazy checking that tracker every single day 😅 It's somewhat comforting to know this isn't just happening to me, but also terrifying to see how widespread these delays are. The 12-16 weeks timeline is honestly shocking - I've never experienced anything like this with NYS before. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. Based on what I'm reading, it sounds like calling might not be worth the 3+ hour wait, but that taxr.ai tool keeps coming up in the comments. Might have to give it a shot since I'm desperate for any actual information about what's going on with my return. Anyone know if there are any other resources or tricks for getting updates besides the useless online tracker? 🤞

I'm in week 11 of waiting for my S-Corp election approval and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Just wanted to add another data point for everyone - I finally got through to the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line yesterday (called at 7:05am Eastern, only waited 38 minutes) and the agent confirmed my Form 2553 is "in final review" which apparently means it's moved beyond initial processing. She couldn't give me an exact timeline but said "final review" typically takes 2-4 weeks, so I'm cautiously optimistic I might see my acceptance letter soon. For anyone keeping track of processing patterns, I mailed mine to Ogden, UT on December 15th for a January 1st, 2025 effective date. I've been using that dual-scenario spreadsheet approach everyone recommended and it's been a lifesaver for quarterly planning. Also wanted to mention that I sent my certified mail duplicate at week 8 with the "DUPLICATE - DO NOT PROCESS IF ORIGINAL ALREADY PROCESSED" marking, and the agent confirmed they have both copies but noted correctly that they won't double-process. The waiting is absolutely brutal, but seeing success stories like Evelyn's gives me hope. For newcomers to this thread - definitely start operating as if your election will be approved (with good documentation) rather than putting your business operations on hold. This community has been more helpful than any official IRS resource!

I'm about 6 weeks into this same waiting game and honestly, this entire thread has been more helpful than anything I could find on the IRS website! Filed my Form 2553 in mid-January for a 2025 effective date and the silence has been deafening. What's particularly stressful is that I'm trying to transition from freelance work to a more structured business, and not knowing my tax classification is making it impossible to properly plan my financial setup. I've been hesitant to start payroll for myself or make other S-Corp specific moves without that official confirmation. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm definitely going to start that dual-scenario spreadsheet approach and begin operating as if the election will be approved (with detailed documentation). The success stories from Evelyn and the progress update from Zadie are giving me hope that this process does eventually work out. I'm also planning to try calling the Business & Specialty Tax Line using that 7am Eastern strategy - seems like early morning is the key to actually getting through. Will definitely send a certified mail duplicate at the 8-week mark too. It's frustrating that we have to create our own workarounds for such a basic business process, but at least this community exists to share strategies and keep each other sane during the wait!

Another important consideration that hasn't been mentioned is the alternate valuation date option. The IRS allows estates to elect to use the fair market value six months after the date of death instead of the date of death value, but only if it would result in a lower total estate value. This typically only applies to larger estates that might owe federal estate tax, but it's worth knowing about. Also, make sure you understand the difference between probate value and tax basis value. Sometimes the probate court might accept a different valuation than what you'll ultimately use for tax purposes. The stepped-up basis for capital gains is specifically tied to fair market value at date of death (or alternate valuation date if elected), regardless of what value is used in probate proceedings. One more practical tip - when you do get that appraisal, ask the appraiser to specifically state in their report that they're determining the value "as of [date of death]" for estate tax purposes. This makes it crystal clear what the appraisal is for and helps avoid any confusion later if the IRS reviews your tax return.

I'm sorry for your loss, and I understand how overwhelming all the tax implications can feel during an already difficult time. You're absolutely on the right track getting a new appraisal - this is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given is to consider getting quotes from multiple appraisers before choosing one. Since this appraisal will be crucial for your stepped-up basis documentation, you want someone who really understands estate valuations and can clearly explain their methodology. When you call them, specifically mention that you need an estate appraisal to establish fair market value as of the date of death for tax purposes. Also, don't stress too much about the 12-year gap since the last appraisal. Property values have indeed changed significantly in most areas, and that's actually going to work in your favor with stepped-up basis. The whole point of this tax provision is to prevent heirs from being penalized for appreciation that happened during the original owner's lifetime. Keep all your documentation organized - the appraisal, any receipts for improvements your father made, property tax records, and notes about the property's condition. This will make everything much smoother when you eventually file your taxes after selling the property.