One thing nobody mentioned - if you're going to be doing business under a different name than your personal name (like "John's Consulting" instead of just "John Smith"), you'll probably want to get an EIN even though it's not strictly required for a single-member LLC. Makes things way easier for banking and keeping business/personal separate.

Great question about multiple LLCs! I went through this exact situation last year with my three single-member LLCs. Here's what I learned: For tax ID numbers, you have flexibility - you can use your SSN or get separate EINs for each LLC. I chose to get EINs for all mine because it made banking much easier and keeps everything separated. You can apply for EINs online through the IRS website for free. Yes, you'll need separate Schedule Cs for your consulting and online store LLCs since they're active businesses. However, your rental property LLC should actually be reported on Schedule E (Supplemental Income and Loss), not Schedule C, since rental activities are treated as passive income rather than active business income. One tip: keep meticulous records for each LLC separately from day one. Use separate bank accounts, credit cards, and accounting systems for each business. This makes tax time so much easier and helps maintain the liability protection that LLCs provide. Also consider whether any of your LLCs might benefit from an S-Corp election if they generate substantial income - it can save on self-employment taxes. The IRS doesn't have issues with multiple legitimate businesses, so don't worry about that. Just make sure each one is truly operated as a separate business with the intent to make a profit.

Here's another option that worked for me when I was in a similar situation - check if you have any old direct deposit records or bank statements from 2022. Sometimes your bank will show the employer's full EIN or tax ID number in the ACH transaction details, especially if you can access detailed transaction records online. Also, if you had any employee benefits (health insurance, 401k, etc.) from that employer, try contacting those third-party providers directly. Benefits administrators often maintain employer EIN records even after companies are acquired, and they might be more accessible than trying to navigate the acquired company's HR department. One more thing - if you're filing late anyway, don't stress too much about the timeline. The IRS is generally understanding about situations where you can't obtain complete employer information despite reasonable efforts, especially when companies have been acquired or dissolved.

I've been through this exact situation before! Here are a few additional strategies that helped me track down my former employer's full EIN: 1. **Check old email accounts** - Search for any automated payroll emails or benefits enrollment communications. These often contain the full EIN in the fine print or email signatures. 2. **Contact your tax preparer from previous years** - If you used a CPA or tax service in 2021 or earlier when you were still with that employer, they likely have your complete tax records on file including the EIN. 3. **Look for old unemployment documents** - If you ever filed for unemployment after leaving that job, your state unemployment office would have the complete employer information including EIN. 4. **Try LinkedIn or professional networks** - Sometimes you can find former coworkers who might still have their W-2s or pay stubs from that employer. The wage transcript route with just the last 4 digits is super frustrating, but you have more options than you might think. Don't give up! I ended up finding mine in an old benefits enrollment email that I almost deleted.

This whole discussion has been so enlightening! As someone who just received my first "tax year 2022" notice in the mail yesterday, I was completely panicked until I found this thread. The way everyone has broken down that it simply refers to income earned during calendar year 2022 (filed in 2023) makes so much sense now. What really strikes me is how many people have had similar experiences with that initial panic when seeing official tax correspondence. It's almost like there should be a "Tax Notice 101" guide that explains these basic concepts before you even open the envelope! I'm definitely going to keep this thread bookmarked for future reference. The advice about reading notices carefully and not assuming the worst is particularly valuable. Sometimes it really does take a community to help decode government communications that should be straightforward but somehow aren't.

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I've been dealing with tax anxiety for years, and the terminology around tax years has always been one of my biggest stumbling blocks. Reading through everyone's experiences really helped me realize that I'm not alone in finding IRS communications confusing and intimidating. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that initial panic when receiving any official tax correspondence. I think there's something about the formal language and official letterhead that immediately makes us assume we've done something terribly wrong. But as several people pointed out, most of these notices are just routine administrative requests. The explanation that "tax year 2022" simply refers to income earned during calendar year 2022 (regardless of when you filed) is so much clearer than anything I've read in official IRS publications. Sometimes peer explanations are worth more than all the official documentation combined! For anyone else who gets overwhelmed by tax notices: take a deep breath, read it carefully, and remember that getting a letter doesn't automatically mean you're in trouble. This community has shown me that most tax issues are much more manageable than they initially appear.

Something else to consider - do either you or your sister plan to live in the house at all before selling? If one of you moved in and used it as your primary residence for at least 2 years, you might qualify for the Section 121 exclusion, which lets you exclude up to $250,000 of capital gain from your income ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly). It's a long-term strategy and might not be practical in your situation, but worth mentioning as it's one of the biggest tax breaks available for residential real estate.

I'm sorry for your loss. This is definitely a complex situation that requires careful handling. One important point that hasn't been fully addressed yet - you mentioned your sister is the executor of your father's estate. Since your father passed away in August (after the July quitclaim deed transfer), there may be some coordination needed between how this transfer is handled and the overall estate administration. The executor will need to include information about this quitclaim deed transfer in the estate tax return (Form 706, if required) and potentially amend any gift tax considerations. Make sure your sister is working with a qualified estate attorney or CPA who understands both the gift tax implications of the July transfer AND the estate tax implications following your father's death. Also, keep detailed records of all expenses related to maintaining, improving, or selling the property after you received it - these can potentially be added to your basis and reduce your capital gains when you do sell. Given the complexity and the significant tax implications involved, I'd strongly recommend getting professional advice from someone who specializes in estate and gift taxation rather than trying to navigate this alone.

Warning from someone who got audited: Make sure you keep DETAILED records of all business travel! The IRS specifically looks at travel deductions. For each trip, document: 1) business purpose 2) dates 3) who you met with 4) all receipts. I had a bunch of legitimate business travel but couldn't prove some of it during my audit and lost those deductions.

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who's been through the business travel deduction maze myself, I just want to emphasize a key point that might save some headaches: the "away from home overnight" rule. If your business trip requires you to sleep away from home (like Chloe's 3-day meeting example), then ALL your transportation costs are deductible - airfare both ways, airport parking, rental cars, the works. But if it's just a day trip where you return home the same day, you can still deduct transportation to temporary work locations, but the rules are slightly different. The IRS considers anything over 100 miles from your tax home as likely requiring overnight stay, which makes the deduction clearer. Also, keep receipts for everything over $75 - that's the IRS threshold where you need actual documentation rather than just logging the expense. For smaller amounts, a detailed log is usually sufficient.