Another option that hasn't been mentioned - if you can't get your W2 through any of the other methods, you can actually file your return using Form 4852 (Substitute for Form W-2). This lets you report your wages and withholdings based on your final paystub or other records you have. You'll need to include as much information as possible about your wages, federal income tax withheld, Social Security and Medicare taxes, etc. The IRS will match it against what your employer reported, and if there are discrepancies, they'll contact you. This should really be a last resort since it can delay processing and potentially trigger additional correspondence with the IRS. But if you're truly unable to get your W2 or wage transcripts before the filing deadline, it's better than not filing at all. Just make sure to keep detailed records of how you calculated the amounts you're reporting. Given that you have the automatic extension until June 15 as an expat, you probably have enough time to try the other methods first (contacting HR, getting IRS transcripts, etc.) before having to go this route.

Just wanted to add another resource that might help - the IRS has a specific publication (Pub 54) called "Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad" that covers a lot of these expat tax situations in detail. It's available as a free PDF download from IRS.gov. One thing I learned from experience is that if you're going to be living abroad long-term, it's worth setting up mail forwarding with the postal service before you leave (if you haven't already). I know that doesn't help your current situation, but for future years it can save a lot of headaches with tax documents and other important mail. Also, since you mentioned using TurboTax in the past, be aware that their international tax features are somewhat limited. You might want to consider tax software specifically designed for expats like FreeTaxUSA or even consulting with a tax professional who specializes in expat returns, especially if you end up qualifying for FEIE or need to deal with foreign tax credits in future years. The expat tax situation gets more complex each year you're abroad, so it's good to get familiar with all these options now!

This is a complex situation that requires careful handling! A few additional considerations beyond what others have mentioned: 1. **EIN requirement**: The partnership will need its own EIN if it doesn't have one already. This should be obtained before filing the 1065. 2. **Partnership agreement**: Even though not required by law, having a written partnership agreement is crucial for determining profit/loss allocations, especially if it's not 50/50. Without one, the IRS assumes equal partnership interests. 3. **State filings**: Don't forget about state-level amendments! Most states will require their own partnership return and individual amendments. 4. **Self-employment tax**: Make sure you understand how SE tax changes. Partners in a partnership are still subject to SE tax on their distributive share, but the calculation method differs from Schedule C. 5. **Books and records**: The partnership needs to maintain separate books and records going forward, which is different from sole proprietorship record-keeping. I'd strongly recommend getting professional help for this conversion given the complexity and potential penalties involved. The IRS tends to scrutinize these types of corrections more closely.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the potential impact on the client's QBI (Qualified Business Income) deduction under Section 199A. When you convert from Schedule C to partnership, the QBI calculation can change significantly. On Schedule C, the QBI deduction is calculated at the individual level based on the net profit. But with a partnership, each partner's QBI deduction is calculated based on their K-1 income, and there can be differences in how wages and capital investment are allocated between partners. If your client was claiming the QBI deduction on their original return, you'll need to recalculate this on the 1040X. Each partner will then claim their share of QBI on their individual returns based on their K-1. Also, make sure to check if the business qualifies as a "specified service trade or business" (SSTB) under Section 199A. Landscaping typically wouldn't be an SSTB, but the income limitations and calculations can still affect the deduction amount for each partner differently than it did for the sole proprietor. This is another reason why getting professional help or using a service like the ones mentioned above might be worth it - the QBI implications alone can be pretty complex when converting entity types.

I called exactly 15 days after being told to expect a verification letter. The agent said they can verify by phone after 14 days have passed. I had my 2022 and 2023 tax returns in front of me. They asked about my filing status, exact AGI amounts, current and previous addresses, and details about my mortgage and auto loan. The whole verification took 20 minutes. My refund was approved 6 days later. Don't wait longer than 14 days - call them back.

I went through this exact situation in February! Called after waiting 16 days with no letter. The phone verification was actually pretty straightforward once I got through to someone. They asked me to verify my AGI from last year's return, confirm my filing status, and provide details about my current address and one previous address. They also asked about any loans or major financial accounts associated with my SSN. The whole process took about 18 minutes and they were able to lift the verification hold immediately. My refund processed within a week after that call. Definitely recommend calling back after 14 days rather than waiting indefinitely for a letter that might never arrive. Just have your previous tax returns handy when you call!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Got an IRS notice about transferring my EV credit to the dealer when I specifically negotiated to claim it myself. The difference is my VIN actually matches, but I never signed any transfer authorization form either. Reading through all these responses, I'm definitely going to try the Taxpayer Advocate Service route. It sounds like they're much more equipped to handle these EV credit issues than the regular IRS customer service line. One thing I'd add - make sure you keep copies of everything when you call them. I learned the hard way with other IRS issues that they sometimes "lose" documentation, so having your own complete file is crucial. The fact that your VIN doesn't match should make this a slam dunk case. That's not a miscommunication or disagreement about terms - that's a clear administrative error that needs to be corrected. Good luck getting this sorted out!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm dealing with a similar EV credit issue and had no idea about the Taxpayer Advocate Service. I wanted to add one thing that might help others: if you're documenting everything for your IRS call, also include your financing paperwork if you financed the vehicle. In my case, the loan documents clearly showed I paid the full purchase price without any $7,500 credit being applied as a down payment or discount. This was additional proof that no transfer actually occurred. Also, for anyone else in this situation - check your state's DMV records online. Most states let you verify your vehicle registration and VIN information digitally now, which can be helpful backup documentation when you're proving the VIN mismatch to the IRS. The fact that so many people are experiencing similar issues really highlights how poorly this new transfer system was rolled out. It sounds like dealers received minimal training and the IRS systems weren't properly set up to catch these errors before sending out notices to customers. Good luck to everyone dealing with this - the advice about calling the Taxpayer Advocate Service seems like the way to go based on the success stories shared here.

Has anyone used QuickBooks Self-Employed for tracking expenses and calculating quarterly taxes? I just started using it this year but I'm not sure if it's calculating things correctly for my LLC.

Great question, Omar! As others have mentioned, you'll definitely pay taxes on your net income (profit after expenses), not your gross revenue. This is one of the key benefits of proper business expense tracking. With your numbers ($73k revenue, $26k expenses so far), you're looking at around $47k in net profit before any additional purchases. That equipment you're considering ($1,800 laptop + $2,500 specialized equipment) could potentially save you around $1,300-$1,700 in taxes depending on your tax bracket, assuming you can deduct the full amounts under Section 179. One thing to keep in mind that others touched on - don't forget about self-employment tax! As an LLC taxed as a sole prop, you'll owe 15.3% SE tax on your net profit plus your regular income tax. So if you're in the 22% tax bracket, you're really looking at about 37.3% total tax on that profit. My advice: make those equipment purchases if you genuinely need them for your business, but don't buy stuff just for the tax deduction. A $4,300 purchase to save $1,500 in taxes still costs you $2,800 out of pocket. But if you need the equipment anyway, definitely buy it before December 31st!