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I've dealt with this exact situation! I work for a small company that uses a PEO, and my first year filing taxes with this setup was confusing. The key thing to remember is that the PEO is handling all the legal employer responsibilities - payroll, taxes, workers' comp, etc. - so they're the ones who reported your income to the IRS under their EIN. When I called my HR department about it, they explained that this is totally normal and I should just enter everything exactly as it shows on the W-2. Don't try to rearrange anything or "fix" what looks wrong. The IRS matching system expects to see the PEO's information since that's what was reported to them. Your actual employer (Actually Company LLC) being listed is just for clarity so you know where you actually work, but for tax purposes, the PEO is your legal employer. I've filed this way for three years now with zero issues or rejections.
Thank you for sharing your experience! This is really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through this multiple times. I was getting stressed thinking I might mess something up, but it sounds like as long as I enter everything exactly as it appears on the W-2, I should be fine. It's weird how the PEO setup makes it look like there's an error when there really isn't. I appreciate you mentioning that you've filed this way for three years without issues - that gives me confidence to just follow the W-2 exactly as printed.
I just went through this same situation a few months ago! I was so confused when I saw both my PEO and actual company listed on my W-2. After reading through all these responses, I can confirm that entering everything exactly as it appears on the W-2 is definitely the way to go. What helped me understand it better was thinking of the PEO as basically handling all the "back office" stuff for your actual employer - they process payroll, handle tax reporting, manage benefits, etc. So while you show up to work at Actually Company LLC every day, PEO Company LP is the one who cut your paychecks and reported your earnings to the government. I used FreeTaxUSA and it handled the dual-company W-2 format just fine when I entered it exactly as printed. No rejections, no issues. The software even has a help section that explains PEO arrangements, which made me feel better about the whole thing. Don't stress too much about it - this is way more common than you'd think!
Since you're renting half of a duplex where you live in the other half, you should look into whether this qualifies as a "dwelling unit used as a home" under IRS rules. This classification affects how expenses are allocated and deducted. When you use a dwelling unit for both personal and rental purposes, expenses have to be allocated based on time or space. For a duplex where half is your residence and half is Airbnb, you'd usually allocate based on square footage. So mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, internet, etc. would be split accordingly. Also, if you're actively managing the property (screening guests, handling turnovers, etc.), this could potentially be considered "material participation" which has different tax implications than passive rental income.
So if I understand right, for a 50/50 split duplex, I could deduct 50% of common expenses for the business side? What about stuff that's only for the rental side like furniture, cleaning between guests, etc? Are those 100% deductible?
One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned yet - since you're doing short-term rentals (Airbnb), you'll likely need to deal with local occupancy taxes and business licensing requirements that vary significantly by city and county. Many jurisdictions require separate business licenses for short-term rentals, and some have caps on the number of days you can rent or require special permits. For the LLC timing question, I'd actually recommend getting it set up ASAP, not just for liability protection but because many local licensing authorities want to see a registered business entity when you apply for STR permits. Having your LLC established first makes the licensing process smoother. Also, don't forget about sales tax implications - in many states, short-term rentals under 30 days are subject to sales tax collection and remittance, which is different from traditional long-term rental properties. The LLC can help keep these tax obligations separate from your personal finances and make compliance easier to track.
Great point about the local requirements! I'm just getting started with this whole process and hadn't even thought about occupancy taxes or business licenses. Do you know if there's a good way to research what specific requirements apply in my area? I'm worried about accidentally operating without the right permits and getting hit with fines or having to shut down before I even get going. Also, when you mention sales tax collection - does that mean I'd need to charge guests extra tax on top of what Airbnb already collects, or does Airbnb handle that automatically in most places?
Absolutely make copies of everything before mailing! I learned this the hard way years ago when the IRS claimed they never received some documents I sent (though that was a different situation). For something this voluminous and important, I'd recommend: 1) Scan or photocopy every single page before packaging 2) Store digital copies in multiple places (cloud storage, external drive, etc.) 3) Keep physical copies in a safe place for at least 3 years With 1000+ pages, the copying cost might seem annoying, but it's nothing compared to the headache of trying to recreate everything if the package gets lost or damaged in transit. Plus, having digital copies makes it much easier to reference specific transactions if the IRS has questions later. The peace of mind alone is worth the extra effort and cost!
Great advice on making copies! I'd also suggest creating a simple inventory sheet that lists exactly what you're sending - like "Form 8453 (2 pages), Form 8949 Pages 1-847, Cover Letter (1 page)" etc. Include this as the second page after your cover letter. If there are ever questions about what was received, you have a clear record of exactly what was in the package. I do this for any important document submissions now after having disputes about missing paperwork in other situations (not IRS related, but same principle applies). Also, take photos of the packed box before sealing it so you have visual proof of how everything was organized and packaged. Might seem overkill, but with this much important tax documentation, better to be overly cautious!
As someone who went through a similar massive Form 8949 situation last year, I want to add a few practical tips that saved me headaches: First, consider breaking your submission into multiple packages if you're hitting over 1000 pages. The IRS can handle multiple packages for the same return as long as each one clearly references your e-filed return and includes your identifying information. Second, use page protectors for at least the first few pages (your 8453 and the first page of Form 8949). These documents are critical for connecting everything to your e-filed return, and you don't want them getting damaged or illegible during handling. Third, include your phone number and email on your cover letter. While the IRS rarely calls taxpayers directly, if there are processing questions about such a large submission, having multiple ways to contact you can prevent delays. Finally, mail early in the week (Monday or Tuesday) so it doesn't sit in a postal facility over the weekend. With that much paperwork, you want it moving through the system as quickly as possible after you send it. The three-day rule gives you some breathing room, but don't push it - mail as soon as possible after your e-file is accepted!
This is incredibly helpful advice! The multiple package suggestion is brilliant - I hadn't thought about breaking it up but that makes so much sense for handling and processing. Quick question: if I do split into multiple packages, should I number them somehow (like "Package 1 of 3") or just make sure each references the same e-filed return? Also, do you think it's better to send them all on the same day or stagger them a day apart so they don't overwhelm whoever processes them?
A word of caution - I tried something similar and got audited. Make sure ANY property transfer to an LLC is done at fair market value with proper documentation. The IRS scrutinizes these transactions heavily because they're often used just for tax purposes. Also, putting properties in an irrevocable trust has MAJOR implications. You basically give up ownership and control. Don't do this without consulting an estate planning attorney who specializes in this area! The tax implications alone are complex.
Be very careful about the mortgage implications of transferring to an LLC. Most residential mortgages have a "due on sale" clause that can be triggered by transferring the property to an LLC, even if you own the LLC. This could force you to pay off the entire mortgage immediately or refinance at potentially higher commercial rates. I'd strongly recommend getting written approval from your lender before making any transfers. Some lenders will work with you, but many won't allow it without refinancing as a commercial loan, which typically has higher rates and different terms. Also, don't overlook the potential impact on your homeowners insurance. Many policies don't cover properties owned by LLCs, so you might need to switch to a landlord policy, which is usually more expensive. The tax strategy might work, but make sure you can actually execute it practically with your current mortgage and insurance situation first.
This is such an important point that often gets overlooked! I learned this the hard way when I was exploring a similar strategy. My lender made it very clear that any transfer to an LLC would trigger the due-on-sale clause, even though I would still be the owner of the LLC. What's particularly tricky is that some people think they can just not tell their lender, but that's risky because most loan agreements require you to notify them of ownership changes. If they find out later (which they often do through title searches or insurance changes), they can demand immediate payment of the full loan balance. The commercial refinancing route can be expensive too - not just higher rates, but also different down payment requirements, shorter amortization periods, and sometimes personal guarantees even with an LLC structure. Definitely worth getting quotes from commercial lenders before committing to this strategy to see if the numbers still make sense after accounting for the higher borrowing costs.
Freya Ross
wat tax software did u use? heard some are having delays with certain companies
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Serene Snow
ā¢turbotax wbu?
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Freya Ross
ā¢same. fingers crossed for both of us š¤
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Zainab Ahmed
Hey! I went through the exact same thing last week and was totally panicking. My 2024 Account Transcript was completely blank for like 10 days while my Return Transcript showed everything perfectly. Finally got my first update yesterday with processing codes! The blank Account Transcript just means they haven't started actually working on your return yet - it's not broken or anything. Once they begin processing, you'll see all the codes start appearing including the 846 you're waiting for. The Return Transcript being visible is actually a good sign that everything was received properly. I know the waiting is brutal but it sounds like you're in the normal flow. Keep checking Wednesdays and Fridays since those are the main update days. You should see movement soon! š¤
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Mateo Gonzalez
ā¢Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly what I needed to hear. It's so stressful when you're waiting for your refund and the transcript looks broken. Really glad to know this is normal and that movement should happen soon. Did your 846 code show up right after the processing codes appeared?
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