I work in payroll and can confirm that @Ana Rusula is absolutely right - never use the federal EIN in place of a state EIN! These are completely separate numbers assigned by different agencies for different purposes. Here's what I'd recommend based on your company spin-off situation: First, check if you have any old pay stubs from before the spin-off - they often contain the state employer ID number. Second, try searching your state's Secretary of State website AND your state's Department of Labor/Employment website, as they sometimes maintain separate databases. If you're in a state like Texas, Florida, or Nevada that don't have state income tax, you might not need a state EIN at all for income tax purposes (though you might still need it for unemployment insurance records). The "APPLIED FOR" suggestion from @Mary Bates is actually the safest route if you can't locate the number through other means. State tax agencies deal with this regularly during corporate restructuring and it won't raise any red flags.

For Pennsylvania specifically, you'll want to check the PA Department of Revenue's employer database as well. The PA Department of Labor & Industry maintains employment records, but for state income tax withholding ID numbers, the Department of Revenue is your best bet. You can also try calling PA's taxpayer service line at 717-787-8201. During tax season they're usually pretty good about helping with these employer ID lookups, especially when you explain it's due to a corporate spin-off situation. One more tip - if your company was publicly traded, you might find the state tax ID information in their SEC filings or annual reports from around the time of the spin-off. These documents sometimes contain subsidiary tax information that includes state employer ID numbers. The good news is PA is generally pretty efficient with processing returns that have "APPLIED FOR" in the state EIN field, so you have a solid backup plan if the search doesn't pan out.

Pro tip: Consider using your phone's location history as a backup for reconstructing mileage logs if you forget to track in real-time. Google Maps Timeline has saved me multiple times when I've forgotten to log trips. It's not a replacement for proper contemporaneous records, but it can help fill gaps if needed.

Great question! Yes, you absolutely need to maintain a mileage log even when your vehicle is primarily used for business. The IRS requires documentation to support any business vehicle deductions, regardless of the percentage of business use. However, your approach of tracking the rare personal trips could work! This is called the "adequate records" method where you document total annual mileage and subtract personal use. Just make sure you: 1) Record your odometer reading at the beginning and end of each year 2) Keep detailed records of every personal trip (date, destination, mileage, purpose) 3) Have supporting documentation for your business travel (client appointments, receipts, etc.) Since you're already meticulous with receipts and expenses, you're on the right track. Consider using a mileage tracking app like MileIQ or Everlance to make logging easier - they can automatically detect trips and you just categorize them as business or personal. One important note: once you choose between the standard mileage rate or actual expense method for a vehicle, you generally need to stick with that method for the life of the vehicle. Given that you're tracking all actual expenses already, make sure to calculate which method gives you the better deduction before deciding!

For what it's worth, I went through this exact situation in 2024. You definitely can't claim your spouse as a dependent - that's not how the tax code works. But I learned that filing jointly often gives you better tax benefits anyway. If her SSN doesn't arrive in time, file Form 4868 for an automatic 6-month extension. That should give plenty of time for the SSN to arrive, and there's no penalty as long as you pay any estimated taxes owed by the original deadline. We ended up saving almost $3k by waiting and filing jointly versus my original plan.

One thing nobody mentioned - you might actually qualify for "married filing jointly" status even if your wife doesn't have an SSN yet by using the "NRA spouse exemption." If your wife is a nonresident alien (which sounds possible based on recent arrival), you can elect to treat her as a resident for tax purposes, which lets you file jointly.

Has anyone dealt with donating to fundraising events where they auction off "free pizza for a year" certificates or something similar? Is that still deductible as a food donation or is it handled differently?

Great question! I run a bakery and went through the same learning curve with food donations. One thing that really helped me was setting up a simple system to track everything from day one rather than trying to reconstruct it at tax time. I keep a small notebook by our register where we quickly jot down any donations - date, what we donated, to whom, and our rough cost basis. Then once a week I transfer it to a spreadsheet with the proper calculations. A few practical tips: For schools, I always ask for their tax-exempt number upfront and keep a list of the local qualified organizations we regularly donate to. Also, don't forget about labor costs in your cost basis calculation - if you're making pizzas specifically to donate, include a reasonable amount for the time spent preparing them. The enhanced deduction really does add up over the year, especially if you're donating weekly like it sounds. Just make sure you're being conservative with your fair market value estimates and keeping good records. The community goodwill alone makes it worthwhile, but the tax benefit is a nice bonus!

I went through this exact same situation last year! My routing number was off by one digit and it took about 5 weeks to get my paper check. What really helped was setting up a USPS Informed Delivery account so I could see when mail was coming each day - saved me from constantly checking the mailbox. The IRS transcript online showed a code 846 about a week before the check actually arrived, so definitely keep an eye on that. Since you're planning a move, make absolutely sure your address is current with the IRS or you'll be waiting even longer! Good luck with graduation and the move! 🎓

This is such a frustrating situation, but you're definitely not alone! I had a similar routing number mixup last year (switched two digits like you did) and it was nerve-wracking waiting for the paper check. From what I've seen in this thread and my own experience, you're looking at roughly 4-5 weeks from when the direct deposit was rejected. A few things that might help while you wait: definitely check your IRS transcript online for code 846 (that'll show when the check is scheduled to be mailed), and if you haven't already, set up USPS Informed Delivery so you can track when it's actually coming. Also, since you mentioned moving post-graduation, double-check that the IRS has your current address on file - the last thing you want is for the check to go to an old address! I know the waiting is stressful when you're trying to budget for a big life change, but based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the IRS is pretty consistent with their timeline once the conversion to paper check happens. Hang in there! 🎓