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This is a really common concern, and you're smart to be thinking about it proactively! The short answer is that true reimbursements for expenses you paid on behalf of the LLC generally aren't taxable income to you. Since you're getting paid back exactly what you spent (no markup or profit), keeping detailed records with receipts, and the payments are made within a reasonable timeframe, this fits the definition of an accountable plan arrangement. The LLC is essentially just returning your own money that you fronted for their business purposes. However, there are a couple of things to watch out for: 1. **Payment app reporting**: With the $600 reporting threshold for payment apps, you might receive a 1099-K from PayPal even though these transactions aren't taxable income. If this happens, don't panic - it's just a reporting requirement, not a determination of taxability. 2. **LLC's handling**: Make sure the LLC isn't issuing you a 1099 that includes these reimbursements. They shouldn't, since these aren't payments for services rendered. Your documentation sounds excellent - that spreadsheet tracking system and receipt collection will be crucial if there are ever any questions. The $38k total might seem high, but as long as you can match each reimbursement to a legitimate business expense with proper documentation, you should be fine. Keep doing what you're doing with the record-keeping, and consider having a brief conversation with the LLC about their reimbursement policies to make sure you're both on the same page!
This is really helpful, thank you! I'm new to dealing with this kind of situation and wasn't sure if the amount would trigger any automatic flags. One follow-up question - you mentioned having a conversation with the LLC about their reimbursement policies. What specific things should I ask them about to make sure we're handling this correctly? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that could cause problems later.
Great question! Here are the key things to discuss with the LLC to ensure you're both handling reimbursements correctly: 1. **Written reimbursement policy**: Ask if they have (or can create) a written policy outlining their reimbursement procedures, required documentation, and submission timeframes. Even a simple document helps establish this as an accountable plan. 2. **1099 reporting practices**: Confirm that they understand reimbursements shouldn't be included on any 1099s they might issue to you. If they're unsure, suggest they consult their accountant. 3. **Documentation requirements**: Make sure they're satisfied with your current receipt and tracking system. Ask what level of detail they need for their records. 4. **Submission timeframe**: Clarify their expectations for how quickly you should submit reimbursement requests after making purchases. 5. **Expense categories**: Discuss whether they need expenses categorized in a specific way for their bookkeeping (office supplies, equipment, event materials, etc.). 6. **Their record-keeping**: Ask how they're tracking these reimbursements on their end - they should be recording them as business expenses, not as payments to contractors. Having this conversation shows you're both taking the proper approach and helps prevent any misunderstandings that could complicate things later. Plus, if they ever get questions about these transactions, you'll both be prepared with consistent documentation and policies.
Another thing to consider - if you're fronting $38k annually for this LLC, you might want to ask them about setting up a corporate credit card or purchase account in your name instead. Many banks offer business credit cards where you could be an authorized user, which would eliminate the reimbursement issue entirely since the LLC would be directly responsible for the charges. This approach has several benefits: no more tracking reimbursements, no potential 1099-K issues from payment apps, and the LLC gets direct records of business expenses without the complexity of managing reimbursements. Plus, you wouldn't have to tie up your personal funds waiting for repayment. Just a thought - it might simplify things significantly for both you and the LLC's bookkeeping! Worth bringing up in that conversation about reimbursement policies that others mentioned.
Don't forget to get the property formally appraised before transferring! This establishes the fair market value at time of transfer, which is crucial for gift tax purposes. If the house really is in bad shape, an appraisal will document the lower value and could save you thousands in potential gift tax implications.
Is a formal appraisal absolutely necessary? Those cost like $500 where I live. Couldn't you just use comparable sales in the area or tax assessment values?
@Jessica Nolan While you *could* use comparable sales or tax assessments, a formal appraisal is really your best protection if the IRS ever questions the value you reported. Tax assessments are often outdated and don t'reflect current market conditions or property deterioration. Comparable sales can be tricky because you need to adjust for the specific condition issues your property has. Think of the $500 appraisal cost as insurance - if it documents a significantly lower value due to the property s'poor condition, it could potentially save you thousands in gift tax reporting. Plus, having professional documentation makes your Form 709 filing much more defensible if there are ever questions. Given that you re'already losing money on this property, the appraisal might actually help minimize your tax burden by establishing the lowest supportable fair market value.
Another important consideration - make sure you understand the cousin's tax situation too! When he receives the property through the quit claim deed, he'll inherit your "carried-over basis" rather than getting a stepped-up basis. This means if he ever sells the property later, he could face capital gains tax based on the original value when your wife inherited it. This might actually work in everyone's favor though - if the property has deteriorated significantly, his basis for future sales will be higher than the current fair market value, potentially giving him a tax loss if he sells later. Just something to keep in mind for family harmony - you don't want him to get surprised by unexpected tax implications down the road. Also, since you mentioned you've been paying property taxes and maintenance costs, make sure you're not entitled to any deductions for those expenses before you transfer the property. If it was being used as a rental property (even rent-free), there might be some deductions available.
This is really helpful information I hadn't considered! The carried-over basis issue could definitely affect family relationships if the cousin doesn't understand it. Should we have him speak with a tax professional too before we finalize this transfer? I'd hate for him to get blindsided years from now if he decides to sell. Also, regarding the rental deductions you mentioned - we never charged rent, but we did pay for repairs and property taxes while he lived there. Can we still claim those as deductions even though we weren't collecting rental income? We probably spent close to $8,000 in the past 10 months on various repairs and maintenance.
This happened to my sister and me both last year - it's apparently super common during tax season! The good news is yes, the IRS will automatically mail you a paper check, but the bad news is they don't tell you when this happens or give you a timeline. From what I've experienced and heard from others, it usually takes 4-6 weeks from when the bank rejects it. The most frustrating part is that you're just sitting there wondering if your refund disappeared into the void! If you want peace of mind, you can try calling the IRS (good luck getting through) or check your tax transcript online for those rejection codes people mentioned. For next year, definitely either add your spouse to the account or just request a paper check from the start - lesson learned the hard way! Hang in there, your money is coming! šø
@William Rivera This is so reassuring to hear! I m'going through this exact situation right now and was starting to panic that my refund just vanished. It s'crazy that this is such a common issue but the IRS doesn t'have any kind of automated notification system to let people know what s'happening. I m'definitely going to try checking my tax transcript like others mentioned to see if I can spot those rejection codes. Thanks for the realistic timeline - 4-6 weeks gives me something concrete to expect instead of just wondering forever! And yeah, lesson definitely learned for next year. Who knew something as simple as having both names on the bank account could cause such a headache? š¤¦āāļø
I just went through this nightmare scenario myself! Filed our joint return in February and my bank (Bank of America) rejected the direct deposit because my husband's name wasn't on my savings account. The worst part is that nobody tells you this is happening - the IRS website still showed "refund approved" status while I'm sitting here wondering where my money went! After calling around for days, I finally got through to an IRS agent who explained that when banks reject joint refunds, they automatically convert them to paper checks but there's zero notification. She told me to expect 4-5 weeks from the rejection date for the check to arrive. It's been 3 weeks now and I'm checking the mailbox daily like it's Christmas morning š¬ Pro tip: Call your bank first to confirm the rejection date - they can tell you exactly when it happened, which helps you calculate the timeline. The IRS agent also mentioned that this happens to thousands of people every tax season, so at least we're not alone in this mess! Next year I'm either adding my spouse to the account or just going straight to paper check filing. Live and learn, right? Your refund is definitely coming, just gotta be patient! š¤
@Hailey O'Leary Thanks for sharing this! I'm dealing with the exact same situation and it's so stressful not knowing what's happening with your refund. The fact that the IRS website still shows "refund approved" while the bank has already rejected it is so misleading! I had no idea this was even a possibility when I filed. Did Bank of America give you any kind of notification about the rejection, or did you have to call them to find out? I'm with a different bank but wondering if I should proactively call them to check. It's wild that thousands of people go through this every year but there's no clear communication about the process. Definitely learned my lesson for next tax season!
I went through something very similar with about $18k in back taxes from 2021-2022. The medical hardship angle that others mentioned is definitely worth pursuing - I got about $3,200 in penalties waived by documenting how my health issues prevented me from maintaining consistent income. A few practical tips from my experience: First, don't wait for the IRS letters to escalate further. Once they start mentioning liens or levies, your options become more limited and stressful. Second, when you do set up that installment agreement, ask about making slightly higher payments if you can manage it - even an extra $50/month will save you hundreds in interest over time. Also, keep detailed records of every interaction with the IRS. Get confirmation numbers for any agreements and save copies of all correspondence. I learned this the hard way when there was confusion about my payment plan terms six months later. The good news is once you have an active payment plan in place, the collection pressure stops completely. You'll still get monthly statements, but no more threatening letters or calls. It's honestly such a relief to have a clear path forward instead of just dreading opening the mail.
This is really encouraging to hear from someone who's been through it! I'm curious about the medical hardship documentation process - did you need to get specific statements from your doctors, or were existing medical records sufficient? Also, when you say the collection pressure stops with a payment plan, does that include phone calls too? I've been getting calls that are honestly causing me anxiety attacks.
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - about $11k in back taxes from 2022-2023 due to inconsistent freelance income and health issues. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful, especially learning about penalty abatement for medical hardship which I had no idea existed. One thing I wanted to add from my research - if you're still freelancing or have irregular income, make sure to factor that into your payment plan calculations. The IRS allows you to request modifications to installment agreements if your financial situation changes significantly. This was a relief for me to learn since my income can vary quite a bit month to month. Also, I've been putting off dealing with this for months because the whole process seemed overwhelming, but seeing that multiple people here have successfully navigated similar amounts of debt is giving me the push I need to finally take action. Going to try some of the resources mentioned here, especially for getting through to an actual IRS agent to set up a payment plan. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know I'm not alone in this mess and that there are actual solutions available.
Sophia Bennett
@Alfredo, based on your situation with $380K in S-Corp income, you'll definitely want to get this right! The K-1 will be issued to the QSST with the trust's EIN, but your son will report all the income on his personal return and pay the taxes. One thing I don't see mentioned yet - with that income level, your son may need to pay estimated taxes quarterly since there's no withholding from S-Corp distributions. The trust will still file Form 1041 but it's essentially just an informational return showing the pass-through to your son. Also, make sure your QSST election was filed properly with the IRS within the required timeframe (usually 2 months and 15 days after the stock transfer). If you missed that deadline, you could lose S-Corp status entirely. Your accountant should have handled this, but it's worth double-checking since the consequences are severe.
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Amara Adebayo
This is exactly the type of situation where getting professional guidance upfront can save you thousands in penalties and corrections later. With $380K in S-Corp income, the tax implications are significant. A few additional considerations for your QSST setup: 1. **Timing of the QSST election**: Make sure this was filed within 2 months and 15 days of the stock transfer. Missing this deadline can terminate your S-Corp election entirely. 2. **State tax implications**: Some states don't recognize QSSTs the same way the federal government does, so you may need separate state filings or elections. 3. **Future planning**: Consider whether your son will have other income sources that might push him into higher tax brackets when combined with the S-Corp pass-through income. 4. **Documentation**: Keep detailed records of all distributions vs. income allocations, as the IRS scrutinizes QSST arrangements more closely than regular S-Corp ownership. Given the complexity and the income level involved, I'd strongly recommend having your accountant walk you through the entire process again and provide written documentation of the reporting requirements. The interaction between S-Corp taxation and QSST rules has several nuances that can create compliance issues if not handled properly.
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Marcus Patterson
ā¢@Amara brings up excellent points about the complexity here. As someone new to this community but dealing with a similar situation, I'm wondering about the practical day-to-day management of a QSST arrangement. With $380K flowing through, are there any specific bookkeeping practices you'd recommend to keep the trust administration separate from the beneficiary's personal finances? I'm concerned about maintaining proper documentation for both the trust's informational return and ensuring the beneficiary has everything needed for their personal tax filing. Also, has anyone dealt with situations where the S-Corp needs to make distributions to cover the beneficiary's tax liability on the pass-through income? I assume this needs to be coordinated carefully to avoid any issues with the trust terms or QSST requirements.
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