Lot of good advice here but nobody has mentioned the importance of the LLC Operating Agreement! That document should specify your actual status in the company and might clarify if you're supposed to be treated as a member, manager, employee or some combination. Request a copy ASAP if you don't already have one. Also, if they're paying you from a different entity than the one you work for, that could indicate they're using a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) or some kind of employee leasing arrangement, which is actually pretty common and not necessarily shady. But if that's the case, they DEFINITELY should be withholding taxes!

This situation has several red flags that suggest potential tax fraud or worker misclassification. The fact that they're claiming you as an employee for COVID relief purposes while simultaneously refusing to withhold taxes is particularly concerning - that's essentially having it both ways for their financial benefit. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. **Document everything** - Save all contracts, pay stubs, emails about your status, and any communications regarding the COVID relief claims. Screenshot or print anything that might disappear. 2. **Request your LLC documentation** - Get copies of the Operating Agreement, any amendments, and confirmation of the LLC's tax election (partnership vs. corporation). You have a right to this information as a purported member. 3. **Calculate your potential tax liability** - Since no taxes have been withheld, you're likely on the hook for both income taxes AND self-employment taxes (15.3%) if you're truly classified as a self-employed LLC member. This could be a substantial amount. 4. **Consider professional help** - This situation is complex enough that you might want to consult with both a tax professional and an employment attorney. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand your rights and obligations. The discrepancy between your "employment contract" language and their current claims about your status, combined with the different payment entity and COVID relief issues, suggests this company may not be handling worker classification properly across the board.

Oof this sounds super frustrating! The fact that you have a refund freeze code 810 but it says "no return filed" is definitely weird. Code 810 usually means they're holding your refund for review, but if there's no return on file, that doesn't make sense. I'd suggest calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 and asking them to explain the disconnect between the transcript showing no return but having transaction codes. Also might be worth checking if your SSN or other info got mixed up somehow during filing. Keep all those papers they sent you - you'll probably need them when you call!

This is definitely a confusing situation! The combination of "no return filed" with a refund freeze code 810 is contradictory - you can't have a refund freeze if there's supposedly no return on file. This sounds like either a system glitch or your return got stuck somewhere in processing. A few things to try: 1) Call the IRS early morning (7-8am) on Tuesday-Thursday for shorter wait times, 2) Ask specifically about the code 810 and why it shows up with no return filed, 3) Request they check if your return is stuck in errors/review departments. Also double-check that your SSN and personal info match exactly what you filed with. Keep those papers handy when you call - they might have clues about what's really going on behind the scenes!

Something else to consider that I learned the hard way - make sure you're prepared for potential state-level implications too. While everyone's focused on federal IRS requirements (which are definitely important), some states have their own rules about related-party transactions that can affect your state tax filings. In my state, rental income between related entities gets scrutinized during state audits, and they want to see the same arm's length documentation that the IRS requires. I had to go back and recreate some of my market research documentation when the state questioned my rental arrangement during a routine audit. Also, if either of your LLCs ever decides to elect S-Corp tax treatment in the future, the rental arrangement could have different implications. It's worth discussing this possibility with a tax professional now, even if you're not considering it currently, just so your lease agreement doesn't create unnecessary complications down the road. The formal lease agreement that others mentioned is absolutely critical - I can't stress this enough. Make sure it includes standard commercial lease provisions like maintenance responsibilities, permitted uses, and termination clauses. The more it looks like a real commercial lease between unrelated parties, the better protected you'll be if questions arise later.

One aspect that hasn't been fully covered is how depreciation works when you have this type of related-party rental arrangement. The Property LLC can typically depreciate the commercial portion of the building over 39 years (for nonresidential real property), but you need to be careful about how you allocate the building's basis between different uses if it's a mixed-use property. Make sure you're documenting the square footage that your marketing agency will occupy versus any other uses of the building. This allocation affects how much of the building's depreciation the Property LLC can claim against the rental income from your marketing agency. Also, keep in mind that if the Property LLC ever sells the building in the future, there could be depreciation recapture implications. The rental arrangement and depreciation claimed will factor into those calculations, so maintaining good records now will be important for any future transactions. I'd recommend working with a CPA who has experience with related-party real estate transactions to make sure you're optimizing the tax benefits while staying compliant. The depreciation deductions alone can provide significant tax advantages that help justify the rental arrangement from a business perspective.

Hey Ravi! As a fellow newcomer to this community, I completely understand your stress about filing taxes for the first time - it's such an overwhelming process when you're not sure what's expected! I went through this exact same question last year and here's what I learned: for most standard office jobs, you can safely estimate around 250-260 work days if you worked the full year (basically 52 weeks × 5 workdays). The IRS isn't looking for perfection here - they want a reasonable estimate. Here's my simple approach: count any day you were officially employed and receiving pay. This includes paid vacation days, sick days, and holidays since you were still technically "working" (employed) those days. Don't worry about those occasional weekend emails or work-from-home flexibility - that's not what they're asking about. If you started mid-year, just count the business days from your start date through December 31st. And honestly, if you're off by a few days either direction, it's not going to trigger any red flags. One thing that really helped me was calling my company's payroll department - they were able to give me the exact number of days I was on payroll, which took all the guesswork out of it. Might be worth a quick call if you want that peace of mind! You're doing great by asking questions and being thorough. The first year is always the hardest, but you've got this!

Hey Ravi! Welcome to the community and don't worry - you're definitely not alone in feeling stressed about this! I just went through my first tax filing experience last month and had the exact same question. After reading through all these helpful responses and doing my own research, here's what worked for me: I ended up using the 260-day estimate (52 weeks × 5 days) since I worked full-time all year at a standard office job. I included paid holidays, vacation days, and sick leave since those are days I was technically employed and receiving compensation. What really helped calm my nerves was realizing that the IRS expects reasonable estimates for this type of calculation - they're not looking to audit people over a few days' difference in a genuine estimate. The key is being consistent with whatever method you choose and keeping your W-2 as documentation. If you want to be extra sure, definitely try reaching out to your HR or payroll department like others have suggested. Mine was super helpful and actually had the exact number readily available, which took all the guesswork out of it. The first time filing is always intimidating, but you're asking the right questions and being thoughtful about it. That already puts you in good shape! This community has been incredibly helpful for navigating these kinds of first-timer questions.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and wanted to share what my tax preparer told me. Since you haven't lived in the house for 5+ years, you won't qualify for the primary residence exclusion, but don't panic about the documentation issue. The IRS has specific guidelines for "adequate records" and they recognize that homeowners don't always keep perfect documentation. Here's what my CPA suggested as a systematic approach: **Start with what you definitely have:** - Any financing records (mortgages, home equity loans, credit lines used for improvements) - Photos with timestamps from your phone or social media - Any permits you can find through your city/county records **Then reconstruct methodically:** - Create a timeline of all improvements by year - Search all email accounts for contractor communications - Check bank/credit statements for large purchases at home improvement stores - Look for any insurance claims or policy updates related to the improvements **For valuation:** - Use cost estimation tools like RSMeans or local contractor websites to establish reasonable market rates for the work done in those specific years - Your sister might have better records since she stayed in the house - definitely coordinate with her The key is showing good faith effort to reconstruct accurate records. The IRS allows reasonable estimates when original documentation is lost, as long as you can support your numbers with some form of evidence. Don't let the fear of imperfect records stop you from claiming legitimate improvements that significantly increase your basis.

As someone who went through a similar situation with capital gains and missing receipts, I want to emphasize that you're not stuck with a massive tax bill! The key is being thorough and systematic in reconstructing your records. Here's my recommended action plan based on what worked for me: **Immediate steps:** - Contact your sister ASAP to coordinate - she may have kept records you forgot about since she handled the house after you moved - Pull all bank and credit card statements from 2013-2018 and highlight every home improvement expense - Search ALL your email accounts using keywords like "contractor," "renovation," "quote," "invoice," "Home Depot," etc. **Documentation goldmines people often overlook:** - Your county's permit database (usually searchable online by address) - Property tax assessment records showing value increases after improvements - Homeowner's insurance policy updates reflecting increased coverage - Social media posts with dated photos of renovation progress - Text message archives if you backed up your phone **For the major projects you mentioned:** - Kitchen renovation (2016): Check for any home improvement loans, appliance purchase records, or contractor communications - Roof replacement: This almost certainly required a permit - check county records - Windows: Energy efficiency rebates from utility companies sometimes have records - Bathroom renovations: Plumbing permits are common for full bathroom remodels The IRS accepts "reasonable reconstruction" when original records are unavailable. Create a detailed spreadsheet with your best estimates supported by whatever evidence you can gather. Even if you can only document 70-80% of your actual improvements, that could still save you thousands in capital gains taxes. Don't give up - you have more documentation than you think!