Great question! I've been in the same boat before. For sensitive tax documents, I'd definitely recommend going with established services like eFax or HelloFax rather than free options - the peace of mind is worth the small cost. One tip that saved me a lot of stress: before sending your actual documents, send a test fax to the IRS number with just a cover sheet asking them to confirm receipt. Most IRS offices will fax back a confirmation if they receive it. This way you can verify the fax number works and your service is transmitting properly before sending the important stuff. Also, always call the IRS directly to get the correct fax number for your specific situation - they have different numbers for different types of documents and regional offices. Using the wrong number is probably the #1 reason people think their fax "didn't go through" when it actually went somewhere else entirely.

I've had good experiences with both eFax and MetroFax for sending tax documents to the IRS. What I really appreciate about MetroFax is that they provide a detailed delivery report showing the exact time of transmission and confirmation that all pages went through successfully. One thing I learned the hard way - always double-check that your documents are properly oriented and readable before sending. I once sent a 10-page document that was rotated 90 degrees and the IRS couldn't process it, which delayed my case by weeks. Most online fax services have a preview feature that lets you see exactly how your pages will look when transmitted. Also, if you're sending multiple documents in one fax, include page numbers and a table of contents on your cover sheet. This helps the IRS processors organize everything correctly on their end. The small details really make a difference when dealing with government agencies!

I'm an accountant and see this issue often. Just wanted to add that if your employer refuses to correct this or doesn't understand, you have options when filing: 1. File Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) for the 5-month period if your employer won't issue a correct W-2 2. Report the Paychex W-2 normally, and use Form 4852 for the employer-issued portion, entering only the ADDITIONAL amounts not already reported by Paychex 3. Attach an explanation letter to your return Just don't report duplicate income! And make sure you get this resolved before filing.

This is a really common issue that causes a lot of stress, but you're handling it the right way by addressing it early. I went through something similar when my company switched from Workday to their own system mid-year. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - make sure you keep detailed records of ALL your communications with your employer about this. Email them about the W-2 issue so you have written documentation of when you raised the concern and what their response was. Also, if your employer has an HR department, go through them rather than just talking to whoever handles payroll now. HR usually understands the legal requirements better and can ensure this gets handled properly. They should know that issuing a full-year W-2 when another company already reported part of the year will create duplicate reporting. The key point everyone's made is correct - you should end up with TWO separate W-2s: one from Paychex covering Jan-July, and one from your employer covering Aug-December. If your employer pushes back, you can reference IRS Publication 15 (Employer's Tax Guide) which explains how to handle this situation properly.

Just wanted to add another perspective on this issue. I've been dealing with partnership returns for about 8 years now, and this Box 14c confusion comes up every single year. What I've learned is that you really need to be careful about the distinction between limited and general partners, especially when it comes to self-employment tax implications. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that you should also double-check your partnership agreement to make sure the limited partners are truly limited partners under state law and not just called "limited partners" in name only. Sometimes partnerships have members who are designated as limited partners but actually participate in management activities, which could affect their tax treatment. Also, when you make those manual K-1 adjustments for the limited partners, make sure you're keeping good documentation of the changes you made and why. The IRS has been paying more attention to partnership returns lately, and having clear records of your reasoning will be helpful if you ever get questioned about it.

Great question about verifying limited partner status! You'll want to look at both the partnership agreement and actual activities. Key things to check in the agreement: does it explicitly limit the partner's management rights, voting rights, and day-to-day business participation? Red flags for "limited in name only" include partners who sign contracts, hire/fire employees, make major business decisions, or have broad management authority. The safest approach is to review what each partner actually does versus what the agreement says they can do. If there's any ambiguity, consider consulting with an attorney familiar with your state's partnership laws since the rules can vary by jurisdiction. For documentation, I keep a simple spreadsheet showing: partner name, designation (general/limited), basis for classification, any manual K-1 adjustments made, and the tax code section supporting the treatment. Takes 10 minutes to set up but saves hours if you ever need to explain your decisions to the IRS or a reviewer.

Has anyone dealt with digital nomading after establishing domicile? I'm in a similar situation but plan to travel constantly rather than settle in one foreign country. I established Florida domicile last year but now I'm worried about maintaining it while having no fixed address internationally.

This is a great question and you're smart to think about this timing! From my experience working with clients in similar situations, the 183-day rule is a good baseline, but I'd actually recommend staying a full calendar year if possible before moving abroad, especially if you're coming from a high-tax state like California or New York. The reason is that aggressive tax states often look at the "totality of circumstances" and a longer physical presence really strengthens your case. Beyond the practical steps you've mentioned (which are excellent), consider also: - Filing your next federal tax return from your new state address - Establishing medical/dental providers in your new state - Joining local professional or social organizations if relevant to your work - If you have kids, enrolling them in local schools Once you're abroad, the key is maintaining those ties to your no-tax state while NOT creating new domicile elsewhere. Keep that driver's license current, maintain your voter registration, and try to return at least once a year if feasible. Document everything - keep records of when you left the US, your foreign addresses, and any steps you take to maintain your state domicile. Also remember that while you're establishing state domicile, you'll still need to comply with federal tax obligations as a US citizen abroad, including FBAR filings and possibly FATCA reporting depending on your foreign account balances.

One detail no one has mentioned yet: Coverdell ESAs have an annual contribution limit of $2,000 per beneficiary. If your CD is maturing and you want to add more money beyond just reinvesting the existing balance, that $2,000 annual limit will apply. 529 plans, on the other hand, have much higher contribution limits - technically up to the projected cost of education in your state, which is usually $300,000+ per beneficiary. So if you're planning to add more funds for future education expenses, the 529 might give you more flexibility there. Also worth noting that Coverdell contribution eligibility phases out based on your income (starts phasing out at $190,000 for joint filers), while 529s have no income limitations.

Another consideration that hasn't been mentioned is state tax benefits. Many states offer tax deductions or credits for contributions to their 529 plans, but not for Coverdell ESAs. Since you're looking at potentially rolling over $7,200, you should check if your state offers any tax incentives for 529 contributions. For example, some states allow you to deduct up to $10,000 or more annually from your state taxes for 529 contributions. Even though this would be a rollover rather than a new contribution, some states still allow the deduction. This could provide immediate tax savings that might outweigh keeping the money in the Coverdell. Also, since your son is in 10th grade, you have time to take advantage of multiple years of potential state tax benefits if you do decide to make additional contributions to a 529 plan after the rollover.