If your combined income for the year is under $73,000, you can use IRS Free File to e-file both your federal and state returns for free! I used it for my two-state situation last year and it worked great. The wizard asks where you lived during the year and guides you through the process for filing multiple state returns.

I notice there's some confusion in the comments above - the original poster mentioned working in Colorado first then Arizona, but one commenter referred to California instead of Arizona. Just wanted to clarify for anyone following along! For your specific situation (Colorado → Arizona), you'll file your federal 1040 to the IRS processing center for Arizona residents since that's your current state of residence. For state returns, you'll need to file a Colorado part-year resident return (not non-resident, since you lived there for part of the year) and an Arizona part-year resident return as well. The key difference between part-year resident and non-resident filing can affect your tax liability significantly, so make sure you're using the right forms for each state. Both Colorado and Arizona have specific rules about how to allocate income and deductions for part-year residents.

Check your health insurance if you had it! When my employer went under, I was able to find their EIN on some BlueCross documentation. It was in tiny print on a benefits statement.

Another option that worked for me in a similar situation - check if your former employer ever sent you any equipment receipts or reimbursement documents. I found my old company's EIN on a laptop return receipt they emailed me when I started working remotely. Also, if you ever filed any workers' compensation claims or had any HR-related paperwork (like background check authorizations or direct deposit forms), those often include the EIN. I know it's a long shot since the company disappeared, but if you have any old emails saved, it might be worth doing a search for "EIN" or the company's full legal name. One more thing - if you remember the company's address, you could try searching your state's business entity database online. Most states have searchable databases where you can look up registered businesses by address, and the EIN is sometimes included in the public records.

Has anyone here actually received a whistleblower award from the IRS? I've heard they can be substantial (like 15-30% of what's collected) but also that they take FOREVER and most reports don't result in any award. Just wondering if the potential reward is worth the risk and hassle.

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and can share some practical advice. The IRS does protect whistleblower identities, but you're absolutely right to be concerned about indirect identification. Here's what I learned: First, consider what evidence you have and whether it could realistically only come from you. If you're the only person who would know specific details (like personal conversations, private documents you had access to, etc.), then your identity might be deducible even if the IRS doesn't reveal it directly. Second, document everything but be strategic about what you submit. Focus on evidence that multiple people could theoretically access - public records, business filings, things visible to customers/clients, etc. Avoid including private communications or insider knowledge that screams "this came from [your name]." The timing issue others mentioned is real. If you recently had a falling out with this person or left their employment, an IRS investigation starting immediately after could be a dead giveaway. Consider waiting a reasonable period if the fraud isn't actively ongoing. Finally, definitely consult with a tax attorney who handles whistleblower cases. They can help you structure your report to maximize protection while still being effective. Many work on contingency for whistleblower cases, so you don't necessarily need upfront costs. The process is slow and there's no guarantee of an award, but if someone is genuinely defrauding the government, reporting it is often the right thing to do - just be smart about protecting yourself.

Has anyone actually checked what codes are in Box 14 and 16 of their 1095-C? Different codes mean different things.

Thanks for sharing your situation! I was in almost the exact same boat last year - got a 1095-C from my employer even though I was covered under my spouse's plan the entire time. I completely understand the initial panic! The good news is that everyone here has given you solid advice. The form is really just your employer's way of documenting that they offered you ACA-compliant coverage, which they're required to do for all full-time employees regardless of whether you actually enrolled. One thing I'd add is to double-check that your employer didn't accidentally mark you as enrolled in Part III of the form. If they did, definitely reach out to HR to get it corrected. But if it's just Parts I and II filled out (showing what was offered), then you're all set - just file it away with your tax records and don't stress about it. The codes in your boxes should tell the whole story. Sounds like yours are probably filled out correctly showing you were offered coverage but declined it. These forms can be confusing but they're really more for the government's record-keeping than anything you need to worry about!

Anyone know which tax software can actually handle 8858 and 5471 properly for dual status aliens? I tried TurboTax and it's completely confused by my situation.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I moved from the UK in August and had to deal with my foreign LLC income. The key thing to understand is that Forms 8858 and 5471 are information returns that report the full calendar year activity of your foreign entity, regardless of when you became a US resident. However, for your actual tax liability on Form 1040, you'll only include income from the date you became a US resident forward. So if you became a resident in June, you'd report income from June through December on your US return, even though the 8858/5471 covers the full year. The tricky part is the dual-status return filing. You'll need to file both Form 1040 (for your resident period) and Form 1040NR (for your non-resident period), with a clear statement explaining how you allocated the income. I recommend calculating this on a daily basis - if you received $60,000 total income and were a resident for 214 days out of 365, you'd report approximately $35,000 on your US return. Don't forget about the potential penalties for late filing of these forms - they can be substantial even if no tax is owed. If you're unsure about any aspect, definitely consult with a tax professional who has experience with international forms.