Warning to everyone still waiting - there's been a huge uptick in ERC processing scams lately. I got a call from someone claiming to be from "IRS ERC Processing Division" saying they could expedite my refund for a fee. Total scam! The IRS never calls about this stuff and definitely doesn't charge "expedition fees." If you're desperate for your refund, don't fall for these scams. Stick with legitimate channels like the Taxpayer Advocate Service or the methods others have mentioned here. The processing delays are frustrating, but don't let scammers take advantage of that frustration.

I'm in the exact same boat - filed for ERC in September 2023 for our small retail business and we're still waiting on about $28,000. The lack of transparency from the IRS is maddening. One thing that helped me get some actual information was filing Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service). You can do this online or by mail when your case meets certain criteria, which yours definitely does after 18 months. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is supposed to help when normal IRS channels aren't working. Also, keep detailed records of every call attempt, reference numbers, and dates. If you do eventually get through to someone, having this documentation helps show you've been trying to resolve this through normal channels for an unreasonable amount of time. The restaurant industry got hit so hard during COVID - you deserve that credit you qualified for. Don't give up, but definitely try multiple approaches since the regular phone lines are basically useless right now.

Did anyone consider this might be a scam or identity theft attempt? My cousin worked at a place where the "HR director" emailed everyone asking for tax documents, and it turned out to be a phishing attack. The real HR director never sent that email. Make sure this request is coming from legitimate management. Maybe ask for the client contract section that specifically requires tax returns (I bet it doesn't exist). And never email tax documents - if you must provide anything, do it in person with copies you can take back with you.

Employment lawyer here. This request is not just unusual - it's potentially illegal depending on your state. Federal law doesn't explicitly prohibit employers from requesting tax returns, but many states have privacy laws that would make this problematic. More importantly, this creates significant liability for your employer. If they're storing copies of your complete tax returns, they become responsible for protecting all that sensitive financial data. Most legitimate companies avoid this liability nightmare entirely. I'd recommend responding in writing: "I'm unable to provide my complete tax returns as they contain personal financial information unrelated to employment verification. I can provide W2s, employment verification letters, or arrange for you to contact my previous employers directly." If they persist or retaliate, document everything. This could constitute grounds for a constructive dismissal claim if they make your work environment hostile over your refusal to provide unnecessary personal financial information.

Has anyone used a Charitable Remainder Trust for this kind of situation? My cousin mentioned it might help with capital gains but I don't really understand how it works.

One strategy you might want to consider is installment sale treatment if you're willing to finance part of the sale yourself. Instead of receiving the full $3.2 million upfront, you could structure the deal so the buyer pays you over several years. This spreads the capital gains tax over multiple years, potentially keeping you in lower tax brackets each year rather than taking the full hit in one tax year. You can still exclude your $500k in the year of sale, but the remaining gain gets recognized proportionally as you receive payments. This works especially well if you're near retirement or expect to be in lower tax brackets in future years. Just make sure the buyer is creditworthy since you'd essentially be acting as their lender. You'll also earn interest on the outstanding balance, which provides additional income but is taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gains. The other thing I'd strongly recommend is consulting with a tax attorney or CPA who specializes in large capital gains transactions. With $2.7 million in taxable gain, even small percentage savings from proper planning could save you tens of thousands in taxes.

Has anyone dealt with the Transition Tax (Section 965) that hit a lot of us expat business owners a few years ago? I'm wondering if that's still something to worry about with foreign dividends or if that was a one-time hit?

One important consideration that hasn't been fully addressed is the timing of when you actually distribute the dividends. Since you're dealing with both Thai and US tax obligations, the timing can significantly impact your overall tax burden. In Thailand, dividend distributions are typically subject to withholding tax, but as the company owner, you might have some flexibility in when those distributions occur. From a US perspective, you'll owe tax on the dividends in the year you receive them, not when the company earns the profits. This creates a potential planning opportunity - you might want to time your dividend distributions to optimize your US tax situation, especially if you're dealing with varying income levels year to year. For example, if you have a lower income year in the US, taking dividends then might result in a lower overall tax rate. Also, don't forget about estimated tax payments to the IRS. Since dividends don't have withholding like salary does, you'll likely need to make quarterly estimated payments to avoid underpayment penalties. The IRS expects you to pay tax on foreign income throughout the year, not just when you file your return.

Anyone else getting the 'still processing' message on the KDOR website? Its been 2 weeks for me

Filed mine electronically about 10 days ago and just got my refund yesterday! Kansas has been pretty consistent with their 7-10 day timeline this year. For anyone still waiting, definitely check your bank account even if the website hasn't updated yet - mine showed up before the status changed online.