Has anyone tried using the IRS Transcript service instead? You can request a Wage and Income Transcript as the executor which would show all info reported to the IRS including the SSA benefits. Might be easier than going through SSA directly.

I went through this exact situation with my grandmother's estate two years ago. The IRS Transcript route that Ana mentioned is actually one of the most reliable options - Form 4506-T as the executor will get you a Wage and Income Transcript that includes all the SSA benefit information reported to the IRS. But if you need something faster, I'd recommend the in-person SSA office visit that Victoria suggested. Call ahead to make an appointment and bring your death certificate, letters testamentary, and your ID. They can often print the benefit verification letter on the spot. One thing to keep in mind - if your father received both Social Security retirement benefits AND Medicare premium deductions, make sure whatever document you get shows the net amount actually received, not just the gross benefit amount. The Medicare premiums are deducted before the check is issued, so you want to make sure you're reporting the right taxable amount. Also, don't stress too much about getting the exact form. The IRS is generally understanding about estate situations where original documents aren't available, as long as you can document your efforts to obtain them and use reasonable estimates based on available records.

I'm really sorry this happened to you! Identity theft for gig work is unfortunately becoming more common. Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared: First, definitely contact Walmart's tax/payroll department using the number on the 1099-NEC form - don't use their general customer service line. Ask them to investigate and provide documentation that you never worked for them or submitted a W-9. Second, file a police report for identity theft even if they say it's "not local" - you need that report number for everything else. Also file with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. Third, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 800-908-4490 and consider filing Form 14039. This gets your account flagged before you even file your return. Most importantly - when you file your taxes, DO NOT report that $4,800 income. Instead, file normally and attach a statement explaining the fraudulent 1099-NEC with copies of your police report and Walmart correspondence. Also check your wage and income transcript through your IRS online account to see if there are other fraudulent tax documents you haven't received yet. Sometimes identity thieves hit multiple gig platforms at once. Document everything - dates, times, names, reference numbers. You'll be dealing with multiple agencies and good records will save you tons of headaches. This is definitely resolvable with proper documentation!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - identity theft is incredibly stressful! Based on everything shared in this thread, it sounds like you have a solid action plan now. I just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I dealt with a similar situation last year. Make sure to also notify your bank and any financial institutions where you have accounts. Even though this fraud was employment-related rather than direct financial fraud, identity thieves sometimes use the information they gathered to attempt other types of fraud later. My bank was able to put additional monitoring on my accounts and flag any unusual activity. They also provided me with documentation of my account security measures that I was able to include in my identity theft file - it helped show the IRS and police that I was taking comprehensive steps to protect myself. Also, consider signing up for credit monitoring if you haven't already. Many services offer free monitoring for identity theft victims, and it gives you peace of mind knowing you'll be alerted quickly if someone tries to open new accounts in your name. You're handling this really well by acting quickly and documenting everything. The good news is that the IRS deals with these cases regularly and they have established procedures to help legitimate taxpayers when this happens. Keep pushing forward with your documentation and you should be able to get this resolved without too much hassle!

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I work with disability benefits and see this situation frequently. A few key points that might help: 1. **SSI vs. SSDI distinction**: Make sure it's actually SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and not SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). SSI is needs-based and tax-exempt, while SSDI could be partially taxable if her total income exceeds certain thresholds. 2. **Support calculation tip**: When calculating the 50% support test, include the fair rental value of her share of your home. If you're paying $2,000/month rent and she occupies 1/3 of the space, that's $8,000/year in housing support you're providing. 3. **Medical expenses**: The $3,200 in uncovered medical costs you mentioned definitely counts as support you provided. Keep all those receipts! 4. **Timing matters**: Since you mentioned needing the refund for your HVAC replacement, file early. Dependency claims with disability income sometimes get flagged for additional review, which can delay processing. Given her SSI amount ($10,968) is well above the income limit if it weren't tax-exempt, definitely double-check your tax software handles this correctly. Many people miss out on legitimate dependent claims because their software doesn't properly exclude SSI from the income test.

Based on your situation, you should definitely be able to claim your sister as a dependent! Here's my breakdown: **Income Test**: ✅ PASSED - SSI is tax-exempt, so her $10,968 SSI doesn't count toward the $4,700 gross income limit for 2023. **Support Test**: ✅ LIKELY PASSED - You're covering 73% of household expenses plus her medical costs. Here's how to calculate this properly: - Her total support = SSI payments ($10,968) + your contributions (housing, food, medical, etc.) - You need to provide >50% of this total - Include fair rental value of her living space (major component often overlooked) **Relationship Test**: ✅ PASSED - Sister qualifies as a relative **Residence Test**: ✅ PASSED - She's lived with you all year **Pro tip**: When you file, make sure your tax software correctly excludes her SSI from gross income. Some programs struggle with this and will incorrectly flag her as having too much income. **Documentation to keep**: Receipts for medical expenses, utility bills, grocery receipts, proof of housing costs, and anything showing you provided her support. The IRS may request verification. Given your HVAC situation, file early since dependency claims with disability income sometimes get additional review. You should be able to claim both the dependent exemption and potentially qualify for Head of Household status if you meet those requirements too.

I think everyone's missing something important here - the interest on shareholder loans can actually be beneficial in the right situation. If your business is profitable and you're in a high personal tax bracket, having the business pay you interest (which is deductible for the business) can be an effective way to extract money from the company without triggering employment taxes. The business gets a deduction for the interest payments, reducing its taxable income. You'll pay ordinary income tax on the interest received, but no self-employment or payroll taxes. Just make sure the interest rate is reasonable (at least the AFR) and that everything is documented properly.

Great question about the tax implications! You're right that this decision can have significant long-term consequences. One additional consideration I haven't seen mentioned is the timing flexibility. With shareholder loans, you have much more control over when you take the money back out. You can repay yourself when it's most tax-advantageous - perhaps in a year when your personal income is lower or when the business has better cash flow. With equity contributions, you're essentially locked into taking distributions when the company declares them (if it's profitable enough to do so), or you'd need to find a buyer for your shares to get your money back. Also, if your business ever faces financial difficulties, shareholder loans typically have priority over equity in terms of repayment. So from a risk perspective, the loan structure offers some protection. That said, make sure you're not creating a situation where the loan balance becomes so large that it affects your ability to take advantage of other tax benefits. For S-Corps especially, your stock basis and debt basis calculations can get complex when you have large outstanding shareholder loans. I'd recommend running the numbers both ways with your tax professional to see which approach minimizes your overall tax burden based on your specific situation and timeline for getting the money back.

Just wanted to mention - don't forget to look at the hidden costs of moving states. I moved my LLC from California to Nevada thinking I'd save on taxes. But then I had to register as a "foreign entity" doing business in California anyway, AND pay the Nevada fees. Ended up paying MORE overall plus had the headache of maintaining registrations in two states. Sometimes the "tax-saving" strategies end up costing more than they save. Make sure you account for ALL costs before making big changes.

As someone who's dealt with franchise tax issues across multiple states, I'd strongly recommend getting professional advice before making any major structural changes. Your $320k revenue puts you in a tricky spot where small changes can have big impacts. A few things to consider: First, make sure you're calculating your franchise tax correctly. In Texas, you can deduct cost of goods sold OR compensation - whichever is greater - from your total revenue before calculating the tax. Many small businesses miss this and overpay. Second, timing matters. If you're close to a threshold, sometimes you can defer revenue or accelerate expenses to stay below certain levels, but this needs to be done carefully and legitimately. Third, consider whether you actually need the LLC structure. If you don't have significant liability concerns and can handle the self-employment tax implications, a sole proprietorship avoids franchise tax entirely in Texas. Before relocating or restructuring, run the numbers on ALL costs - not just the franchise tax. Include registered agent fees, additional accounting costs, potential loss of business relationships, and the time value of managing multi-state compliance. Sometimes paying the franchise tax is actually the most cost-effective option.