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Just wanted to add my experience - we handled a similar situation differently. Our foreign investor (30% shareholder) paid some corporate expenses directly, and our CPA advised us to treat these as capital contributions rather than loans. The key factors in our decision were: 1. There was no expectation of repayment 2. No loan agreement was created at the time 3. The payments were relatively small (under $5k total) We documented this with a corporate resolution acknowledging the payments as capital contributions, which increased the shareholder's basis in the company. This was reported on line 19 of Part IV ("Capital contributions") instead of line 9 or 22. The approach you take really depends on whether there's an expectation of repayment or not.
Wouldn't treating it as a capital contribution have different tax implications for the shareholder though? If they ever sell their shares, wouldn't this increase their basis and potentially reduce capital gains?
Yes, treating expenses as capital contributions does increase the shareholder's basis, which would reduce their capital gains taxes if they eventually sell their shares. This is actually beneficial for the shareholder in the long run. It's also cleaner from an accounting perspective since you don't have to track loans and potential interest implications. In our case, since the amounts were relatively small and the shareholder had no expectation of being repaid, the capital contribution treatment made more sense for everyone involved.
I think everyone is overlooking the simplest approach here. When a foreign shareholder pays expenses on behalf of the corporation, you can treat this as a reimbursable expense. The corporation should record an account payable to the shareholder, and then when funds are available, reimburse them. This wouldn't need to be reported on Form 5472 at all if the reimbursement is done within a reasonable timeframe and at the exact amount (with no interest or other compensation). It's only when the arrangement becomes a long-term financing solution that it should be treated as a loan or capital contribution requiring 5472 reporting.
This is incorrect and could get the OP in trouble. Any transaction between a reporting corporation and a 25% foreign shareholder must be reported on Form 5472, even if it's just an expense reimbursement. The IRS is very strict about this - the penalties for non-reporting are $25,000 and they're not lenient with this form.
8 Microsoft has a free online version of Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) that you can use through a web browser at office.com. It's not as full-featured as the desktop version but might be enough for basic work tasks without having to pay for a subscription.
Another alternative worth considering is LibreOffice, which is completely free and open-source. It's compatible with Microsoft Office file formats and includes Writer (Word equivalent), Calc (Excel equivalent), and Impress (PowerPoint equivalent). While it may have a slightly different interface, it handles most business tasks well and could be a good temporary solution while you work on getting your employer to provide or reimburse the Microsoft Office subscription. I've used it for basic document editing and spreadsheet work and found it quite capable for most standard office tasks.
That's a great suggestion! I actually used LibreOffice for a while when I was between jobs and couldn't afford Office. The compatibility with Microsoft formats is pretty good for most documents. Just be aware that if you're collaborating with colleagues who use Microsoft Office, you might run into some formatting issues occasionally, especially with complex spreadsheets or presentations. But for basic work tasks, it's definitely a solid free alternative while you're figuring out the reimbursement situation with your employer.
This is such a common question for remote workers! I went through the same confusion when I first started working from home full-time. One thing I'd add to what others have mentioned - even though you can't deduct internet as a W-2 employee at the federal level, some states still allow certain unreimbursed employee expenses. It's worth checking your specific state's tax rules since they can differ significantly from federal guidelines. Also, definitely document your work-from-home setup and expenses even if you can't deduct them right now. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions expire in 2025, so there's a chance the rules could change for future tax years. Having good records ready could be helpful if the deduction becomes available again. And like others said, definitely explore reimbursement options with your employer first - that's tax-free money in your pocket versus a deduction that reduces your taxable income.
Great point about state rules being different! I'm in New York and wasn't sure if we had any different provisions. Do you know of a good resource for checking state-specific deductions, or is it best to just look at each state's tax website directly? Also really smart advice about keeping records even if we can't use them now. I've been pretty loose about tracking my home office expenses since I figured they weren't deductible anyway. Sounds like I should start being more organized about it just in case things change after 2025.
For New York specifically, you'll want to check Publication 36 on the NY.gov tax site - they have a section on itemized deductions that might differ from federal rules. But honestly, each state's tax website can be pretty dense to navigate. I've found that tax software like TurboTax or FreeTaxUSA usually does a good job of catching state-specific deductions when you're filing, so that might be easier than trying to research every state rule manually. They'll ask the right questions and apply your state's specific rules automatically. And yes, definitely start tracking those expenses now! I keep a simple spreadsheet with dates, amounts, and what the expense was for (internet, office supplies, etc.). Even if it feels pointless right now, you'll be so glad to have that documentation if the rules change. Plus some expenses might become relevant if you ever do any freelance or consulting work on the side.
This thread has been really helpful! I'm also 100% remote and had no idea about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminating those deductions for W-2 employees. One question I haven't seen addressed - what about if you have a dedicated business line? I actually pay for two internet connections at my house: our regular family internet and a separate business-grade connection that I use exclusively for work calls and video conferences (my company requires high reliability for client meetings). Would that change anything about deductibility, or is it still the same rule regardless of how the internet is used? Also curious if anyone knows whether the "exclusively for business" rule applies differently to internet versus other home office expenses? Like I know with home office space you need exclusive business use, but internet seems like it would naturally be harder to separate that way.
That's a really interesting situation with having two separate connections! Unfortunately, even having a dedicated business line doesn't change the fundamental rule for W-2 employees - the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act still prohibits deducting unreimbursed employee business expenses regardless of how "exclusively" they're used for work. You're right that internet is trickier than physical office space when it comes to the "exclusive use" concept. Even with a dedicated business connection, the IRS would still classify it as an unreimbursed employee expense that's not deductible for W-2 workers. However, that separate business line could be a great thing to bring up with your employer for reimbursement! Since you're paying extra specifically for work reliability requirements, that seems like a very reasonable business expense for them to cover. Many companies are more willing to reimburse costs that are clearly above and beyond normal home internet. If you ever do any freelance work or consulting, then that dedicated business line would definitely be fully deductible as a business expense on Schedule C. But for your W-2 employment, same rules apply unfortunately.
I'm dealing with almost this exact situation - sold my small construction business last December and the new owners have been completely unresponsive about their obligations, including filing Form 8822-B. I've been getting IRS notices for their quarterly employment taxes and it's been incredibly stressful. What's been most helpful from reading through this entire thread is seeing how many people have successfully resolved this through direct communication with the IRS, even when the new owners won't cooperate. The consistent message seems to be that comprehensive documentation can solve this problem even without the 8822-B being properly filed. I'm planning to follow the approach that @StarSurfer and others outlined - sending a certified mail package with my Asset Purchase Agreement, final tax returns, state transfer documentation, and a detailed cover letter. The key insight from @GalacticGuardian about specifically requesting that future correspondence be redirected to the new owners' address is really smart. One additional thing I learned from my tax preparer: if you're still getting notices after sending your documentation package, you can reference the certified mail tracking number and date in follow-up calls to the IRS. This helps them locate your submission in their system and shows you've been proactive about resolving the issue. @Giovanni Martello - have you had any success yet with getting this resolved? Your original post really captured the anxiety I've been feeling about this whole situation. It's reassuring to know we're not alone in dealing with irresponsible buyers who don't handle their post-sale obligations properly.
@Liam McConnell I m'just starting to deal with this same issue myself - sold my small retail business in February and only recently started getting IRS notices for the new owners obligations.' Reading through everyone s'experiences here has been both terrifying and reassuring at the same time! What struck me most is how common this problem seems to be. It s'almost like there should be better systems in place to automatically notify the IRS when business ownership changes, rather than relying on new owners to remember to file Form 8822-B. I m'taking notes on everyone s'documentation strategies - the certified mail approach with comprehensive paperwork seems to be the most reliable solution. Your point about referencing the tracking number in follow-up calls is really practical advice. One question for anyone who s'been through this - did you find it helpful to include a timeline in your cover letter showing exactly when each step of the sale process happened? I m'thinking it might help the IRS see the clear break between my responsibility period and the new owners period.' The anxiety around this is so real - there s'something particularly nerve-wracking about official government notices arriving with your name on them for things that aren t'your responsibility anymore. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences!
I'm going through this exact situation right now and can really relate to the stress and anxiety you're experiencing. I sold my small accounting practice in November and the buyers have been completely unresponsive about filing Form 8822-B. I've been getting IRS notices for their tax obligations and it's been keeping me up at night. After reading through all the responses here, I'm feeling much more confident about resolving this. The key takeaway seems to be that you don't need to wait for the new owners to cooperate - you can take direct action with the IRS by providing comprehensive documentation of the sale. I'm putting together my documentation package based on what others have shared: my Asset Purchase Agreement with closing date highlighted, final tax returns showing the end of my ownership period, state registration transfer documents, and a detailed cover letter explaining the situation. The advice about requesting that future correspondence be redirected to the new owners' address is particularly helpful. One thing I learned from my CPA is to also include a statement in your cover letter that you're not trying to file Form 8822-B on behalf of the new owners (since you can't), but rather providing evidence that you're no longer the responsible party as of the sale date. This helps clarify your position with the IRS. The most reassuring thing from reading everyone's experiences is that this is a common problem with established solutions. The IRS deals with business ownership transfers regularly, and they have procedures to handle situations where the proper forms weren't filed by the new owners.
Dmitry Ivanov
Congrats on getting your 846 code! š I know exactly how you're feeling - that mix of excitement and paranoia after waiting so long. I went through the same thing last year and can tell you that once that 846 appears with a date, it's pretty much set in stone. The IRS has already processed everything and scheduled your refund. My 846 showed up with a February date last year and it deposited exactly when promised. The only thing that might delay it would be bank-related issues, but that wouldn't change the 846 date itself - just potentially delay when you actually see it in your account. Your 3/13 date should be solid! Try to relax now, you've made it through the hardest part of the waiting game šŖ
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Amara Adeyemi
ā¢Thank you Dmitry! š As someone who's been following this community for weeks while waiting, it's so reassuring to hear from people who've actually been through this before. The emotional rollercoaster of tax season has been exhausting and I never expected checking transcripts to become such an obsession lol! Your explanation about bank issues potentially delaying the deposit but not changing the actual 846 date makes total sense and helps ease my worries. It's amazing how this community has kept me sane through all the waiting - finally feels like there's light at the end of the tunnel! š
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Lia Quinn
Hey Rita! Congrats on finally getting that 846 code! š I totally get the paranoia after such a brutal waiting period this year. From everything I've seen in this community and my own experience, once that 846 shows up with a specific date, you can actually trust it. The IRS has already processed your return and locked in that refund schedule at that point. I got my 846 last month and it hit my account exactly on the date shown. The waiting game has been absolutely terrible this season but you're basically at the finish line now! That 3/13 date should be solid, so try to breathe easy and maybe take a break from checking your transcript every hour (I know, easier said than done lol). You made it through the hardest part! šŖ
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Savannah Weiner
ā¢Thanks Lia! š Your message really helps calm my nerves! I've been lurking in this community for months watching everyone's journey and it's so nice to finally be on the other side with an actual 846 code. You're absolutely right about the obsessive checking - I think I've refreshed my transcript more times today than I care to admit lol! It's amazing how supportive everyone here has been during this stressful season. Hearing from people like you who actually got their refund exactly when promised gives me the confidence to finally relax a bit. Can't wait to close this chapter of tax season stress! š
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