I switched from TaxAct to FreeTaxUSA this year after having similar login problems. Their interface is way more reliable and honestly easier to use. Plus it's cheaper for most filing situations. Might be worth looking into for next year if you keep having issues.

I had the exact same issue with TaxAct last week! The login loop is so frustrating. What finally worked for me was completely logging out of all Google/Microsoft accounts in my browser first, then clearing all site data for TaxAct specifically (not just cookies), and then trying again. If you're still stuck, you can also try accessing TaxAct through their mobile app instead of the website - sometimes that bypasses whatever browser-specific issues they're having. The mobile app saved my progress when the website wouldn't let me back in. Really hoping they fix these server issues soon. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to file our taxes!

I deal with university reimbursements all the time as a graduate student, and everyone here is spot on about the W9 being standard procedure. What I'd add is that you should also ask the university for a receipt or confirmation email once they process your reimbursement - not just for your records, but because it usually states clearly that this was an "expense reimbursement" rather than "payment for services." This documentation can be super helpful if you ever need to prove to the IRS (unlikely, but just in case) that this wasn't taxable income. I keep a folder with all my reimbursement confirmations, and my accountant always appreciates having that clear paper trail showing the difference between actual income and expense reimbursements. Also, don't be surprised if it takes 2-4 weeks for them to cut the check - university accounting departments move at their own pace, but the W9 requirement usually means they're taking it seriously and following proper procedures.

I'm a financial aid officer at a mid-size university, and I can confirm everything everyone has said here is correct. The W9 requirement for ANY individual payment is standard across most institutions, regardless of amount. It's really just about having proper taxpayer identification on file for our accounting systems. What you're describing - buying supplies for a university event and getting reimbursed - falls under what we call an "accountable plan" reimbursement. Since you have receipts, the expenses were for legitimate university business, and you're only getting back exactly what you spent, this is definitely not taxable income to you. The $600 threshold people mention is for when we're required to issue 1099 forms for payments to contractors or vendors, but that doesn't apply to expense reimbursements like yours. Even if we did issue a 1099 by mistake (which happens occasionally), having your receipts proving it was a reimbursement would protect you. Just fill out the W9, attach your receipts, and you should have your $75 back within a few weeks. And definitely keep copies of everything for your records - it's always good practice with university financial transactions!

This thread has been incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice! As someone new to dealing with IRS entity classification issues, I'm amazed at how common these S-Corp election problems seem to be. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed explanations about protective filing with Form 1120 and the importance of creating a clear paper trail. The Revenue Procedure 2013-30 reference and first-time penalty abatement options are things I never would have known to look into on my own. One question that occurred to me while reading through all this - for those who successfully resolved similar situations, how long did the entire process typically take from start to finish? I know everyone's case is different, but it would be helpful to have some realistic expectations about timeframes, especially for planning purposes with other business compliance matters. Also, has anyone dealt with this type of issue where there were multiple years involved? I'm wondering if having filed 1120-S returns for both 2019 and 2020 before the problem was discovered makes the case stronger or more complicated for backdating approval. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex tax situations. The practical, real-world advice here is worth its weight in gold compared to trying to decipher IRS publications on your own!

What a nightmare situation, but I'm impressed by how methodically you're handling it! I went through something very similar with my consulting LLC a few years ago where the IRS had no record of our S-Corp election despite us filing 1120-S returns that were accepted. One thing I'd strongly recommend is requesting a complete Entity & Account Information Letter (Form 8940) from the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line. This will show you exactly what entity type they have on file and what elections (if any) they've processed. It's much more comprehensive than just calling and asking - you'll get an official document showing their records. Also, when you do your protective 1120 filing, consider including Form 8832 (Entity Classification Election) as well, electing to be treated as a corporation. This creates a clear record that you're acknowledging the corporate status while your S-Corp election is pending. Some practitioners recommend this approach to show you're being completely transparent about the classification uncertainty. The good news is that with losses in both years and consistent S-Corp filings, you have a very strong case for reasonable cause relief. The IRS really doesn't want to create a mess by denying backdating when there's no tax avoidance motive and clear good faith compliance. Document everything, stay patient, and remember that these administrative tangles do get resolved - it just takes persistence!

As someone completely new to this community and tax lien investing, I have to say this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening! I came here with a question very similar to Chloe's original post, thinking this might be a straightforward investment opportunity, but wow - I had no idea how much I didn't know. What really stands out to me is how this conversation revealed so many layers of complexity I never would have considered. The state-specific legal requirements, federal tax implications that could create massive unexpected bills, and especially the human element that Lucas highlighted - realizing that these aren't just investment opportunities but real people's homes, often involving families going through medical emergencies, job loss, or elderly residents who might not even be aware their taxes are delinquent. The real-world experiences shared here have been incredibly valuable. Learning that Yuki only acquired 3 properties out of 45 liens over 8 years really puts the reality in perspective - this clearly isn't the quick path to property ownership that some investment guides might suggest. And those cautionary stories about procedural mistakes costing people their investments, combined with Oliver's warnings about owing taxes on imputed income from foreclosure acquisitions, make it clear this requires serious professional expertise. I think the consensus here is spot-on: if you want to help your community, focus on connecting property owners with available assistance programs rather than viewing their distress as an investment opportunity. And if you're looking to invest, there are definitely much simpler options that don't involve these ethical complexities and legal pitfalls. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share such detailed, thoughtful insights - this thread has been an invaluable education for newcomers like me and probably saved many of us from making costly mistakes!

As someone completely new to this community and the concept of tax lien investing, I have to say this entire discussion has been absolutely incredible! I came here with a question very similar to Chloe's original post, thinking this might be a straightforward way to earn some extra income, but reading through everyone's experiences has completely changed my perspective. What really struck me was how the conversation evolved from discussing basic financial mechanics to revealing all these layers of complexity - legal procedures that vary by state and county, federal tax implications that could create massive unexpected bills, and most importantly, the human element that Lucas brought up. Learning that these situations often involve elderly residents, families facing medical crises, or people who simply aren't aware of available assistance programs really puts everything in a different light. The practical experiences shared here were particularly eye-opening. Yuki's reality that only 3 out of 45 liens over 8 years resulted in property acquisition really dispels any notion that this is a quick path to real estate ownership. And those stories about procedural mistakes costing people their investments, combined with Oliver's warnings about owing taxes on imputed income from foreclosure acquisitions - honestly, it sounds like you could easily face unexpected tax bills that dwarf your initial investment. I think the consensus that's emerged makes perfect sense: if you want to help your community, start by learning about and sharing information on assistance programs for property owners in distress rather than viewing their situations as investment opportunities. And if you're looking to invest, there are certainly much simpler options that don't carry these ethical complexities and legal pitfalls. Thanks to everyone who shared such detailed, honest insights - this thread has been an invaluable education and probably saved many of us newcomers from making very costly mistakes!

Another thing to check is whether your employer made any actual employer contributions (like an HSA match) in addition to your payroll deductions. Both would show up with code W, but you'd want to make sure the total amount looks right. For example, my company contributes $500 annually to my HSA plus my own payroll deductions. So my W-2 shows the combined total with code W.

This is really helpful information! I had the exact same confusion when I first saw code W on my W-2. What threw me off initially was that I expected to see some kind of separate reporting for my own contributions versus what I thought were "employer" contributions. One additional tip for anyone in this situation - make sure to keep your final paystub from December. It will show your year-to-date HSA contributions, which should match the code W amount on your W-2. This gives you a good way to double-check that everything was reported correctly. Also, if you're like me and switched jobs mid-year, you might have HSA contributions from multiple employers. Each W-2 will show their respective code W amounts, but you'll want to make sure the combined total doesn't exceed the annual contribution limit for your coverage type (individual vs family).