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.

Just to add another perspective, I had to deal with this same issue when we sold our family restaurant. The IRS kept sending employment tax notices to us for quarters after we sold. What worked was sending a letter to the IRS that included: 1) A copy of the signed sales agreement with the effective date highlighted, 2) A copy of our final 1120-S showing it was our final return, 3) Documentation from the state showing the ownership change, and 4) A cover letter explaining the situation. I sent this package certified mail to the address on the notices I was receiving. It took about 6 weeks, but eventually they updated their records and the notices stopped. If new owners won't file the 8822-B, you have to take matters into your own hands.

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now - sold my consulting LLC in December and the new owners haven't filed the 8822-B either. The IRS notices have been giving me panic attacks because I keep thinking I'm somehow still responsible for their tax obligations. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful. I think I'm going to try the approach of sending a certified letter package to the IRS with all my sale documentation first, since that seems to have worked for several people and doesn't require getting the new owners to cooperate. @Giovanni Martello - have you made any progress on this since posting? I'm curious if any of these suggestions have worked for you. Also wondering if you've had any luck getting the new owners to respond at all about filing the 8822-B.

5 Does anyone use TurboTax for figuring this stuff out? I'm self-employed and use my internet for work but never sure how to calculate the percentage.

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.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned checking for wage garnishments. If you have unpaid debts, child support, student loans, or tax liens, your wages can be garnished, sometimes taking most or all of your paycheck. The garnishment would show up on your paystub though. Worth checking all line items carefully.

Check your paystub line by line and compare it to previous ones from before this started happening. Look specifically for any new deductions that weren't there before, and verify that your filing status and number of allowances on your W-4 are still correct. Since you mentioned this started suddenly after 8 months of normal paychecks, something definitely changed in the system. It could be the new POS system others mentioned, a payroll software update, or even an error in how your tax withholding is being calculated. I'd recommend taking your recent paystubs plus a few older ones to your manager or whoever handles payroll and ask them to walk through exactly what changed. Don't let them brush you off with "that's just how taxes work" - you deserve a clear explanation since this is a sudden change from your normal pay pattern. Also consider reaching out to your state's Department of Labor if your employer can't give you a satisfactory explanation. They can help determine if wages are being withheld properly according to state and federal law.

One thing nobody's mentioned is that you should check if you can use the simplified method for home business deductions instead of calculating actual expenses. If the rented room is under 300 sq ft, you might be able to use the $5 per square foot deduction (up to 300 sq ft) which is MUCH easier than tracking all those individual expenses and doing all those calculations. Not sure if it applies perfectly to your situation but worth looking into!

I've been through a similar situation with my duplex in Florida while living in Georgia. One important thing to add that I don't see mentioned yet - make sure you're tracking your "days of personal use" very carefully. The IRS has specific rules about what constitutes personal use vs rental use. If you're keeping part of the house available for family visits, those days when family actually stays there count as personal use days, which can affect your ability to deduct rental losses if you have any. Also, any days you spend there yourself for maintenance or repairs don't count as personal use, but days spent there for vacation or personal reasons do. For the Colorado filing requirement, you'll definitely need to file a nonresident return there since that's where the rental income is generated. Most states have this requirement regardless of where you live. The good news is you can usually claim a credit on your Texas return (though Texas has no state income tax, this would apply if you lived in a state with income tax). Documentation is key - keep a calendar marking rental days, personal use days, and vacant days. This will be crucial for your depreciation calculations and expense allocations.