I'm an accountant and handle this situation all the time with clients. Here's a simple checklist for unused LLCs: Federal: If single-member (disregarded entity), no separate federal filing needed. If multi-member or elected corporate taxation, file returns showing zero activity. State Income Tax: Varies dramatically by state. Some require returns regardless of activity. State Franchise/Privilege Tax: Many states charge these regardless of income (CA's $800 minimum is notorious). Annual Reports: Often required by Secretary of State offices regardless of activity. Honestly, between state fees, franchise taxes, and filing requirements, an unused LLC usually costs more trouble than it's worth. I typically advise clients to dissolve unused entities and form a new one when they're actually ready to start the business.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I'd definitely recommend getting professional advice before making the dissolution decision. I almost dissolved my unused LLC thinking it was just costing me money, but my accountant pointed out that if I planned to start any business in the next few years, keeping it might actually save money in the long run. Formation fees, registered agent costs, and the time to set everything up again can add up. Plus, some states have "shelf life" restrictions where you can't reuse certain business names for a period after dissolution. If you're truly done with business plans, dissolve it. But if there's any chance you'll want to start something in the next 2-3 years, it might be worth keeping and just staying compliant with the minimal requirements.

Has anyone actually received their money faster from SBTPG? I keep seeing complaints but wonder if there are success stories too. I've been looking at their BBB page and the complaints are pretty consistent about the delays. But are these just the vocal minority?

I can share a success story! My refund went through SBTPG last month and it was actually pretty quick. They received it on a Wednesday morning around 10am (I checked their portal obsessively) and I had the money in my Chime account by Thursday at 3pm. So about 29 hours total, which matches what others have said about the 24-48 hour window. I think the key is that it was mid-week with no holidays - I've heard weekends and federal holidays can add extra delays. The waiting is still nerve-wracking when you're expecting that money, but at least in my case they delivered within their stated timeframe.

One other option: if your tax software allows it, you can adjust the amount reported in Box 3 directly rather than adding a separate line item. I use TurboTax and they have a section for adjusting 1099-INT amounts specifically for accrued interest purchased.

I've been dealing with treasury bonds for years and want to clarify something important that might help avoid future confusion. When you buy treasuries in the secondary market, always check the "accrued interest" line on your purchase confirmation BEFORE completing the transaction. The accrued interest is essentially paying the previous bondholder for the interest they earned while holding the security. When the next interest payment comes, you'll receive the full amount even though you only earned part of it - that's why you need to deduct what you paid upfront. For tax reporting, yes your 1099-INT will show the full interest payment in Box 3, but you absolutely should deduct the accrued interest you paid at purchase. List it on Schedule B as "Accrued Interest Paid on Treasury Securities" with the amount as a negative number. Also, losing money on a treasury isn't that uncommon if you buy at a premium in the secondary market. The capital loss (difference between what you paid excluding accrued interest and what you received at maturity) goes on Schedule D and can offset other gains or up to $3,000 of ordinary income. Pro tip: if you want guaranteed returns, consider buying treasuries directly from TreasuryDirect.gov at auction to avoid paying premiums and accrued interest complications.

Dont forget to think bout qualified housing fringe benefits where employers can provide housing tax-free to employees if its on premises and for the employers conveneince. We do this for our properrty managers and maintenance staff and its a huge benefit that doesnt get taxed. Also look at 'de minimus' benefits the IRS allows for temporary housing when relocating employees. I think its 30 days thats considered non-taxable if its for a job-related move.

One thing to keep in mind is the reporting complexity difference between these benefits. Housing assistance programs require careful tracking of fair market values, proper W-2 reporting across multiple boxes, and often quarterly adjustments if you're providing ongoing housing subsidies. Compare that to signing bonuses which are straightforward - just report as wages with standard withholding. Stock options have their own complexity but at least the rules are well-established and most payroll systems handle them automatically. I've found that the administrative burden of housing programs is often underestimated. You need systems to track occupancy, calculate fair market rent values annually, handle employee turnover mid-program, and deal with various state tax implications that can differ significantly from federal treatment. That said, if you're in a competitive hiring market for specific roles, housing assistance can be a real differentiator that candidates value more than equivalent cash compensation. Just make sure you budget for the ongoing administrative costs and have clear policies for edge cases like employees who relocate again or change roles within the company.

Nobody's mentioned the education exclusion for savings bonds! If you use the I-Bond proceeds for qualified education expenses, you might be able to exclude the interest from your income completely. It's subject to income limits, but worth looking into if you or a dependent has education expenses.

This is such a common source of confusion! I went through the exact same thing last year when I had to cash in some I-Bonds early for an emergency expense. The key difference that helped me understand it is this: with CDs, you actually earn ALL the interest throughout the term, but then the bank takes some back as a penalty. That's why it shows up as income and then gets deducted. With I-Bonds, the Treasury literally just stops paying you interest for those last 3 months - you never "earn" it in the first place. Think of it like this: if you work 10 hours but your boss docks 2 hours pay as a penalty, you can deduct that penalty. But if you only work 8 hours to begin with, there's nothing to deduct. That's essentially what's happening with I-Bonds vs CDs. One thing to double-check though - make sure you're reporting the I-Bond interest correctly. If you didn't get a 1099-INT from Treasury (they only send them if you redeem $600+ in a year), you'll need to calculate the interest yourself using the redemption value minus what you originally paid.