You're absolutely right to question this situation. Generally speaking, you should only need to file state tax returns in states where the partnership actually conducts business activities or owns income-producing property. The fact that a general partner resides in NY or NJ typically doesn't create a filing obligation for you as a limited partner. However, that $157 showing up on your NY K-1 is concerning and definitely needs clarification. Even small amounts can potentially trigger filing requirements in some states, and New York is particularly aggressive about non-resident taxation. I'd recommend getting written documentation from the general partner explaining exactly what that $157 represents and whether it constitutes NY-source income. If they're telling you to ignore the forms, they should be able to provide you with a clear explanation of why those amounts don't create filing obligations for the limited partners. Don't just take their word for it - ask for specifics about the nature of that income allocation and get their advice in writing for your records.

As someone who's dealt with similar multi-state partnership issues, I'd strongly recommend being very cautious about ignoring any state K-1s that show actual dollar amounts, especially that $157 on your NY form. New York has some of the most aggressive non-resident tax enforcement in the country. Here's what I'd suggest: First, contact the partnership's tax preparer directly (not just the GP) and ask them to explain exactly what generated that $157 allocation to NY. Sometimes it could be something like a small bank account earning interest in NY, or a portion of management fees allocated to a NY-based service provider. Second, consider the cost-benefit analysis. Filing a simple non-resident return in NY for $157 of income would likely result in minimal or zero tax owed, but it establishes a clear record of compliance. The penalty risk of not filing (if you actually should have) could far exceed the cost of just filing the return. I learned this lesson the expensive way when I ignored what I thought was an "informational only" K-1 from Pennsylvania. Two years later, I got hit with penalties that cost way more than just filing the return would have. When in doubt, err on the side of caution with state tax obligations - especially with New York!

Anyone used UFile or similar cheaper software for a multi-member LLC? I'm in the same situation (like $1500 total activity for the year) and TurboTax Business seems like overkill at that price.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year - multi-member LLC with my business partner, minimal activity (around $600 revenue, $900 expenses), and got quoted ridiculous amounts by CPAs for what seemed like simple filing. Here's what I learned: Yes, you absolutely must file Form 1065 even with minimal activity or losses. The penalty for not filing is $210 per partner per month, so with two partners you're looking at $420/month in penalties - way more than just getting it done right. I ended up using FreeTaxUSA Business for about $90 total (federal + state) instead of the $300+ TurboTax Business wanted. The interface isn't fancy but for simple partnerships like ours, it walks you through everything step by step. You'll need to create K-1s for both partners showing your share of the loss, which you'll then report on your personal returns. Pro tip: Make sure you understand your ownership percentages and how you're splitting profits/losses before you start. That's really the only "complicated" part for simple LLCs like yours. The actual data entry is straightforward when you only have a handful of transactions. Don't let the forms intimidate you - with your level of activity, this is totally doable yourself and will save you over $800 compared to those CPA quotes!

Grace, this sounds like such a wonderful way to support your local animal shelter! I've been involved in organizing several charity events over the years, and the tax considerations can definitely seem overwhelming at first, but they're totally manageable with the right approach. From reading through all the great advice here, it sounds like you're getting a clear picture of the best path forward - partnering directly with the shelter so donations flow straight to them rather than through your personal accounts. This really is the cleanest approach and eliminates most of the tax complexity you'd face otherwise. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned much is to think about creating a simple event budget early on and sharing it with the shelter's development team. This helps them understand your fundraising goal, anticipated expenses, and how you plan to structure everything. Many shelters have event planning experience and might offer suggestions that could help you raise even more money or reduce costs. Also, don't underestimate the power of storytelling in your promotional materials. People connect with specific stories about animals the shelter has helped, and this emotional connection often translates to more generous participation. Ask the shelter if they have any recent rescue stories or photos you could include in your tournament promotion. The golf tournament format is perfect for this kind of fundraiser - it's a full day event that gives you multiple opportunities for fundraising through registration fees, sponsorships, auctions, and even things like closest-to-the-pin contests with small entry fees. You're being so thoughtful about doing this right, and that care is going to make all the difference in creating a successful event that truly benefits the animals. Best of luck with your planning!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been considering organizing a charity event but felt overwhelmed by all the tax implications, seeing Grace's journey from initial confusion to having a clear roadmap is so encouraging. The consistent advice about partnering directly with the charity rather than handling funds personally really makes sense - it eliminates so much potential complexity while ensuring donations go straight where they're intended. And I love how everyone has emphasized getting proper documentation upfront rather than trying to figure it out later. One thing I'm curious about - for those of you who have organized these events successfully, how far in advance did you start planning? Grace mentioned wanting to do this "this summer" and I'm wondering if that timeline is realistic for getting all the partnerships, agreements, and logistics sorted out properly. Also, has anyone dealt with weather contingency plans for outdoor charity events? I imagine having a backup plan is important both for the event's success and for managing sponsor/participant expectations. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. This community is such a great resource for navigating these kinds of questions!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustration! Just tried to log in to check my payment history and got hit with that unhelpful "services unavailable" message. What makes it worse is that I'm trying to gather documentation for a loan application and the bank specifically needs my IRS account transcript. The timing is always terrible with these outages. I've noticed they seem to happen right when you need something urgently. I'm going to try those automated phone numbers that @Logan Stewart shared - hopefully the transcript request line is still operational even if the website is down. For anyone else in a similar bind, I also discovered that some local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites can sometimes help access basic tax information or at least point you toward alternative resources when the IRS website is acting up. Might be worth calling around if you're really stuck and need something time-sensitive. Thanks everyone for sharing your workarounds and experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a widespread issue and not just me having bad luck with technology!

I'm having the exact same problem right now! Been trying to access the IRS website for the past two hours to download some tax forms and keep getting that frustrating "services unavailable" message. The timing is really stressful since I have some amended returns I need to file soon. What's particularly annoying is how vague their error message is - it doesn't tell you if it's planned maintenance, a system crash, or if certain parts of the site might still be working. I tried accessing different sections like the payment portal and forms downloads, but everything seems to be down. I really appreciate everyone sharing the phone numbers and alternative resources. I had no idea about the automated transcript request line or that libraries might have tax resources available. It's good to know there are backup options when their website fails us during such a critical time of year. Has anyone tried accessing the site from different browsers or devices to see if it makes a difference? Sometimes these issues can be browser-specific, though it sounds like this is a widespread outage affecting everyone.

Just want to add a data point - I had a similar issue and it turned out I wasn't eligible for APTC for one month due to having access to employer coverage that month (even though I didn't take it). The marketplace still paid APTC to my insurer but left Column B blank. When I called, they told me to use the SLCSP calculator tool to determine the correct amount for Column B, rather than leaving it as zero. Apparently a zero really isn't valid there on the 8962 form.

I had this exact same issue last year! Your tax software is correct to flag the $0 in Column B - it's actually not a valid entry on Form 8962 when you've received advance premium tax credits. Here's what's likely happening: The marketplace made an error on your 1095-A. Column B (SLCSP) is essential for calculating your premium tax credit eligibility, and it should never be blank or zero when you received APTC payments (Column C has a value). My recommendation is to use the SLCSP lookup tool on Healthcare.gov to find the correct amount for your zip code, family size, and coverage period for April. You'll need this information: your county, number of people covered, and their ages during that month. The tool will give you the official SLCSP amount that should have been in Column B. Once you have the correct SLCSP amount, enter it on your Form 8962 instead of the $0.01 workaround. This will give you an accurate premium tax credit calculation. You don't necessarily need to wait for a corrected 1095-A if you can verify the correct SLCSP amount yourself using the official tool. Just make sure to keep documentation of where you got the SLCSP figure in case the IRS has questions later.