As a newcomer who's been lurking and learning from this amazing discussion, I wanted to add my perspective on getting professional help with these partnership/rental property issues. After reading through all these responses, it's clear that partnership taxation with rental properties has so many nuances that it's really worth investing in proper guidance. The distinction between Form 8825 vs Form 1065 expenses, multi-state considerations, Section 754 elections, repair vs improvement classifications - there are just so many ways to make costly mistakes. What I found particularly eye-opening was learning about the AI tax service (taxr.ai) and the IRS callback service (Claimyr) that several of you mentioned. As someone who's spent countless hours trying to research these issues and getting nowhere with traditional resources, having tools that can provide specific guidance for your actual situation sounds like a game-changer. I'm curious - for those of you who have used these services, do they handle the more complex scenarios discussed here like multi-state filings and Section 754 elections? Or are they better suited for more straightforward partnership/rental situations? Either way, this thread has convinced me that trying to figure this out entirely on my own isn't the best approach. The potential for errors is too high, and the consequences of getting it wrong seem significant. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences so openly - this is exactly the kind of community I was hoping to find!

As a newcomer to this community and partnership taxation, I want to echo everyone's gratitude for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation where our multi-member LLC owns rental properties, and I've been completely lost on the Form 8825 vs Form 1065 distinction. Reading through all these responses has been enlightening - especially the mental framework of thinking about Form 8825 as essentially a "rental property Schedule E" that attaches to the partnership return. That really helps clarify which expenses belong where. Our accountant last year also put property depreciation directly on the 1065, so it sounds like this is a more common error than I realized. I'm particularly interested in the various resources mentioned here for getting guidance. The AI tax service (taxr.ai) sounds promising for analyzing our specific returns and catching errors, while the IRS callback service (Claimyr) could be valuable for getting official interpretations on some of the trickier questions that have come up in this thread. One question I have that builds on the excellent discussion here: if our partnership is claiming the safe harbor for small taxpayers (to expense rather than capitalize certain improvements), does that change how we report those expenses on Form 8825? I assume expensed improvements would still go on 8825 since they relate to the rental property, but I want to make sure I understand the interaction between these rules. Thanks to everyone for creating such a helpful and welcoming community - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance that's impossible to find in generic tax resources!

Another option nobody mentioned is checking if your address was updated by looking at your Business tax transcripts. You can request these online through the IRS website and they'll show your current address of record. If your old address is still showing up, then your 8822b hasn't been processed yet.

I went through this exact same frustration last year with my 8822b. After 12 weeks of waiting and multiple failed phone attempts, I finally got through to someone who explained that business address changes often get stuck in a secondary review process, especially if there are any discrepancies with previous filings. What finally worked for me was filing Form 8822 (individual) AND 8822b (business) together, even though technically I only needed the business one. The agent said sometimes the system flags lone 8822b forms for additional verification. Also, make sure your EIN and business name exactly match what's on your most recent tax return - any tiny differences can cause delays. One more tip: if you have a tax professional or CPA, they can often get through to the Practitioner Priority Service line much faster than the general business line. Worth asking if they can make the call for you.

This is such a timely discussion! I've been dealing with the same Form 2553 signature headaches for years. What I've learned through trial and error is that the IRS has quietly become more flexible with signatures, but their official guidance hasn't kept pace with reality. Here's what's been working consistently for me: I tell clients to use any method that produces a signature that looks like it was made by hand - whether that's an iPad with Apple Pencil, a phone with their finger, or even a mouse if they take their time to make it look natural. The key is avoiding anything that looks obviously computer-generated or typed. I also always include a brief cover letter explaining that electronic signatures were used due to remote business operations. While not required, it seems to preemptively address any questions and I haven't had any rejections since I started doing this. The workflow suggestions here are gold - especially the highlighting and instruction PDF idea. I'm definitely implementing that systematic approach because even with acceptable signatures, clients still manage to sign in the wrong places half the time!

As someone who's been lurking here for a while but finally decided to jump in - this entire thread has been a goldmine! I've been hesitant to take on S Corp election work specifically because of all the signature horror stories, but reading everyone's real experiences gives me so much more confidence. What really stands out is how much the practical acceptance has evolved beyond the written guidance. The fact that multiple people are successfully using drawn signatures from DocuSign, iPad signatures, and even careful mouse signatures is reassuring. It seems like the IRS cares more about the visual authenticity than the technical method. I'm definitely stealing several ideas from this discussion: - The highlighted signature areas and instruction PDF approach from William - Oliver's cover letter template acknowledging electronic signatures upfront - The systematic verification process before submission - Saving the exact submitted PDF for documentation One question for the group - has anyone noticed if the IRS has become more or less strict about Form 2553 signatures in 2024 compared to previous years? I'm trying to gauge whether this flexibility is here to stay or if we might see them tightening up again. Also, for those using the taxr.ai verification mentioned earlier - do you find it catches issues that you might miss manually, or is it more of a confirmation tool for what you already know? Always curious about new tech that might streamline the process! Thanks everyone for sharing your hard-won wisdom. This is exactly why I love this community - real practitioners sharing what actually works in practice, not just theory.

I've been in your exact situation before and it's so frustrating! The "information not available" message is unfortunately very common after setting up a payment plan - the IRS systems just don't communicate well with each other. Here's what I'd strongly recommend: Don't make any payments until you know your exact balance. I made that mistake and it created more headaches later when trying to track what I still owed. Your best bet is to request an Account Transcript through the same ID.me portal you're already using. Go to "Get Transcript" and select "Account Transcript" for the tax year in question. This transcript typically shows your current balance including accrued interest and penalties, even when the main account page is broken. If the transcript still doesn't help, you'll need to call the IRS using the specific phone number on your payment plan agreement (not the general customer service line). Have your payment plan agreement number ready along with the usual identity verification info. One important thing to remember: interest is still accruing daily on your $2,800 balance at the current federal rate (around 8% annually). So on a 180-day plan, you're looking at roughly $110-120 in additional interest if you spread payments evenly. The sooner you start paying, the less total interest you'll pay. Also keep in mind that the IRS applies payments to interest first, then penalties, then principal - so you want to make sure you're paying enough to make meaningful progress on the actual tax debt. The account transcript method worked for me when nothing else would - hopefully it helps you too!

I completely understand your frustration - I went through this exact same issue about 6 months ago! The "information not available" message after setting up a payment plan is incredibly common and so stressful when you're trying to be responsible. Here's what worked for me: First, try getting your Account Transcript through the same ID.me portal (under "Get Transcript" then "Account Transcript"). The transcript usually updates much faster than the main account page and will show your current balance breakdown including interest and penalties. If that doesn't work or you want to double-check the numbers, definitely call the specific phone number listed on your payment plan agreement letter - NOT the general IRS customer service line. The payment plan specialists typically have shorter wait times and can give you your exact current balance over the phone. Whatever you do, don't start making payments without knowing the exact amount. Interest is still accruing daily (currently around 8% annually), and the IRS applies payments to interest first, then penalties, then principal. On your $2,800 balance over 180 days, you're looking at roughly $110-120 in additional interest if payments are spread evenly. The good news is that once you get the balance figured out, you have plenty of time with the 180-day plan to pay it off early and save on interest. The uncertainty is definitely the worst part - once you have the numbers, it becomes much more manageable!

Does anyone know what software is best for filing two HOH returns from the same address? I tried TurboTax last year and it kept giving me warnings about potential conflicts.

I'm in a very similar situation and have been researching this extensively! Just wanted to confirm what others have said - yes, you can absolutely both file as Head of Household from the same address. The IRS doesn't have any rule limiting HOH status by address. The key is that you each need to independently meet the three main requirements: 1. Be unmarried (or considered unmarried) at the end of the tax year ✓ 2. Pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home ✓ 3. Have a qualifying person (your children) live with you for more than half the year ✓ Since you're splitting household expenses and each claiming a different child, you should be fine. Just make sure to keep good records of how you divide expenses in case you ever need to justify your filing status. One tip: consider documenting your expense split in writing (even just a simple spreadsheet) showing who pays what percentage of rent, utilities, groceries, etc. This way if there are ever questions, you can clearly show that you each pay more than 50% of the household maintenance costs. Good luck with your filing! The HOH status will definitely save you both money compared to filing as single.