I feel your pain on this one! I actually did something similar last year - paid my state taxes for the wrong year and was absolutely mortified. The good news is that tax agencies deal with these kinds of mix-ups all the time, so you're definitely not alone. Here's what I'd suggest based on my experience: Call the IRS first thing in the morning (like 7 AM sharp) to avoid the brutal hold times. Have your payment confirmation number, exact amount, date of payment, and SSN ready before you dial. The agents I've dealt with have always been surprisingly patient about these mistakes. Also, if you haven't filed your 2024 return yet, this might actually work out perfectly since they can apply the payment directly when you do file. Sometimes these "mistakes" end up being happy accidents! Don't beat yourself up about it - we've all been there with the tax stress. You'll get this sorted out! 💪

Hey there! I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now - I made this exact same mistake about 18 months ago and felt like I'd completely ruined everything. But honestly, it turned out to be way less of a big deal than I thought it would be. Here's what worked for me: I called the IRS customer service line (1-800-829-1040) on a Wednesday morning right at 7 AM when they opened. I only waited about 15 minutes, which was amazing compared to what I was expecting! The agent was super professional and said this happens "more than you'd think" - apparently it's especially common during tax season when everyone's rushing to get their payments in. Make sure you have these ready before you call: - Your payment confirmation number - Exact payment amount - Date you made the payment - Your Social Security Number - Maybe even pull up your bank statement showing the transaction The agent was able to transfer my payment to the correct tax year during that same phone call. She explained that while the transfer happens immediately on their end, it can take 3-5 business days to show up properly in your online account. I got a confirmation letter in the mail about a week later. Don't stress too much about this - you're going to get it sorted out! The IRS deals with payment mix-ups like this constantly, and they have a pretty streamlined process for fixing it. You've got this! 👍

This is really helpful information! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my YouTube AdSense earnings - made about $350 last year but no 1099 from Google either. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like the key is just being accurate with your self-reporting. I've been keeping detailed records of all my payments in a spreadsheet anyway, so I guess I'll just use those numbers on my tax return. One question though - for those of you who went the Schedule C route, what kind of expenses were you able to deduct? I'm trying to figure out if it's worth the extra complexity and self-employment tax for my small amount of earnings. Things like my camera equipment, editing software subscriptions, and portion of internet costs seem like they could add up to meaningful deductions.

I'm going through a similar situation with missing 1099 forms from multiple platforms this year. What I've learned from my tax preparer is that the IRS actually expects you to report ALL income regardless of whether you receive forms - they're more concerned about accuracy than having the paperwork. For your Facebook earnings, definitely keep detailed records of your payments. You can screenshot your payout history from Creator Studio as others mentioned, but also consider downloading your bank statements showing the deposits from Meta. Having multiple sources of documentation gives you better backup if questions ever arise. One thing to consider - if you plan to continue growing your content creation income, it might be worth setting up proper bookkeeping now even for smaller amounts. This makes tax time much easier as your earnings increase, and you'll be prepared when you do start receiving 1099s regularly. Plus tracking expenses from the beginning can save you money even on modest earnings.

Just want to add something about the California thing you mentioned - some states have different e-filing schedules than the federal system. California does sometimes accept certain e-filings when the federal system is down for maintenance, but that's for state returns only, not federal. So while you might be able to e-file a CA state return during this period, it doesn't change anything about federal filing capabilities.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - that EA is definitely using pressure tactics. The IRS e-filing shutdown is routine maintenance that happens every year and has zero impact on regular 2024 tax filings. I made the mistake of rushing into hiring a tax preparer last year because of similar "urgent deadline" claims, and it cost me both money and quality service. Take your time to find someone reputable who doesn't resort to scare tactics. The fact that they're pushing you to sign "ASAP" over something that doesn't even affect your filing timeline is a huge red flag. A good tax professional would explain the actual deadlines clearly and let you make an informed decision without artificial pressure.

Does anyone know if California requires a separate state extension for S Corps? I filed the federal 7004 but now I'm worried I missed something for state.

I went through this exact situation two years ago with my S Corp - the stress is real! A few additional tips that helped me beyond what others have mentioned: 1. Don't forget about quarterly estimated tax payments. Even with extensions, if you and your partner expect to owe taxes personally from the S Corp income, you'll still need to make your Q1 2025 estimated payment by April 15th to avoid underpayment penalties. 2. Consider setting up a simple bookkeeping system now while you're dealing with this. I used QuickBooks Online for S Corps, and it made the following year's tax prep so much easier. The pass-through nature of S Corps means you need good records for your personal returns too. 3. If your business had losses this year (which it sounds like it might have), those losses can offset other income on your personal returns, which could actually help reduce your tax liability. Make sure your tax preparer or software accounts for this properly. The first year is always the hardest - you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed. Once you get through this extension process, consider setting up quarterly check-ins with a CPA who specializes in small business. It's worth the investment for peace of mind.

Just to add a practical perspective - my husband and I run a 2-member LLC consulting business. We started taking draws only (partnership taxation) for the first two years when profits were lower. In year 3, we switched to S-Corp status once we crossed $120k in annual profit. Now we each take a $45k salary and the rest as distributions. That saves us around $4,600 in SE taxes annually, which more than covers the extra $1,800 we pay for payroll processing and additional tax preparation complexity. The other benefit is that having W-2 income makes it easier to qualify for mortgages and other loans compared to just having Schedule K-1 income, which lenders sometimes view skeptically.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share some additional perspective as someone who's helped several family members navigate LLC taxation decisions. One thing I'd emphasize for your daughter is timing - if they decide to elect S-Corp status, they need to file Form 2553 within 75 days of forming the LLC (or by March 15th of the tax year they want it to be effective). Missing this deadline means waiting until the next tax year. Also, since they're college students, consider their other income sources. If either has significant scholarship income, work-study jobs, or parents claiming them as dependents, this could affect their overall tax situation and influence whether the S-Corp election makes sense. For a brand new consulting business run by 19-year-olds, I'd honestly recommend starting simple with partnership taxation and draws. They can always elect S-Corp status later once they have a better handle on their profit levels and business operations. The administrative burden of payroll processing might be more than they want to deal with while also focusing on growing their business and managing college coursework. The most important thing right now is that they're setting aside money for quarterly estimated taxes and keeping good records of all business expenses.