This situation is absolutely horrible, but you're getting excellent advice here! I want to add one more angle that saved me when I was in a similar mess: contact your state's taxpayer advocate office. Every state has one, and they're specifically designed to help with situations like this where taxpayers are caught in bureaucratic nightmares. The taxpayer advocate can actually intervene with the IRS on your behalf if you're facing hardship due to the preparer's actions. They have more pull than individual complaints and can expedite getting answers about whether a return was filed under your SSN. Also, if you decide to reconstruct and file yourself, don't stress too much about getting every single deduction perfect. The IRS is generally reasonable about amended returns if you discover something later. The most important thing right now is getting SOMETHING filed to avoid failure-to-file penalties, which are much worse than failure-to-pay penalties. One last thing - screenshot or print everything from this thread! The advice here is gold and you'll want to reference it as you work through each step. Hang in there - you're going to get through this and probably end up with better tax knowledge than most people!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it's one of the most stressful tax situations you can face! The advice here is phenomenal, but I wanted to add something that might give you immediate peace of mind while you work through all these steps. If you're worried about the April deadline and haven't filed Form 4868 yet, you can actually do it online right now through the IRS website or most tax software - you don't need any documents from your missing preparer. You just need to estimate your tax liability (you can use last year's return as a rough guide). Even if your estimate is off, the extension itself protects you from failure-to-file penalties. Also, since everyone's mentioning checking if a return was filed under your SSN - if you can't get through online or by phone, you can also walk into any IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center with proper ID and get an immediate answer. Sometimes the in-person route is faster than trying to navigate their phone system or waiting for transcripts by mail. One thing I haven't seen mentioned: if this preparer is part of a larger firm or franchise, try contacting their corporate headquarters. Sometimes individual locations go rogue, but corporate will want to protect their brand and might help resolve things quickly. You've got this! The stress is real, but you have so many good options now thanks to everyone's advice here.

Don't forget about the potential complexity if these mutual funds were purchased at different times by your mother-in-law. Even with the stepped-up basis, you'll want to make sure the brokerage correctly adjusts the cost basis for each lot of shares. I learned this the hard way when I inherited my father's Vanguard funds - some shares he'd owned for decades, others were more recent purchases. The stepped-up basis should apply to ALL the shares regardless of when she bought them, but I had to work with the brokerage to make sure their records reflected this properly. Also, if your wife plans to continue holding these funds long-term, consider whether they align with your overall investment strategy. Sometimes inherited investments don't fit your risk tolerance or allocation goals, and it might make sense to sell and reinvest in something more suitable. Since you get the stepped-up basis, there may be little to no capital gains tax even if you sell immediately after inheriting.

Just wanted to add something that might be relevant - if your mother-in-law had any automatic investment plans or dividend reinvestment programs (DRIPs) set up on these mutual funds, make sure those get cancelled or transferred properly during the inheritance process. I inherited some funds from my grandmother and didn't realize she had automatic monthly investments of $200 continuing to buy new shares even after she passed. The estate had to sort out those transactions that occurred between her death date and when we got control of the account. It created some confusion with the cost basis calculations because those new purchases didn't get the stepped-up basis treatment - only the shares she owned at the time of death did. Also, if there were any pending transactions (like a redemption she initiated but hadn't settled yet), those might need special handling too. The brokerage should catch these things, but it's worth asking specifically about any automated features on the account when you're working with them to transfer everything over.

The W-9 is actually not the correct form for 401k withdrawals. You should be filling out a distribution form from your 401k provider, not a W-9. A W-9 is generally used for independent contractors or when you're receiving certain types of payments where the payer needs your taxpayer info.

I went through this exact same situation last year when I did a 401k withdrawal. The brokerage definitely can require a W-9 even though you're also filling out distribution paperwork with your plan administrator. It's because they need your taxpayer information on file for their own reporting requirements to the IRS. You're absolutely right to select "Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC" - that's the correct box for regular employees like us. The form language is confusing because it's designed to cover multiple scenarios, but as an individual taxpayer (not a corporation or partnership), that first option is what you want. One thing I wish someone had told me - make sure you understand exactly how much tax will be withheld from your withdrawal. The default withholding might not be enough to cover what you'll actually owe, especially if the withdrawal bumps you into a higher tax bracket. I ended up owing more at tax time because I didn't plan for that properly.

This thread has been incredibly insightful! As someone who's been working as a tax attorney in government (state revenue department) for about 6 years, I wanted to add my perspective on the government track since several people asked about it. The work-life balance really is excellent - I consistently work 40-42 hours per week with very rare exceptions. However, what Harper mentioned about advancement being slow is absolutely true. I'm still making around $82k after 6 years, while my law school classmates in private practice are well into six figures. That said, there are some unique advantages to government tax work that aren't often discussed: 1) You develop deep expertise in specific areas of tax law because you see the same issues repeatedly, 2) You get to work on cutting-edge policy issues and rulemaking, 3) The pension and benefits are genuinely excellent, and 4) There's something satisfying about working in the public interest rather than just minimizing taxes for wealthy clients. One subspecialty worth considering is state and local tax (SALT) - it's growing rapidly due to remote work complications and e-commerce issues. The hours tend to be more predictable than federal tax work, and there's high demand for expertise in this area. I've seen SALT attorneys at mid-size firms have very successful practices with reasonable hours. For continuing education, I do a mix: formal CLE courses for credits, daily reading of tax news (Tax Notes, Bloomberg Daily), and attending 2-3 specialized conferences per year. The key is making it routine rather than trying to catch up periodically.

This has been such a comprehensive discussion! As someone currently in law school considering tax law, I'm really grateful for all the detailed insights about work-life balance, compensation trajectories, and subspecialty options. One thing I'm still curious about is how the rise of AI and technology is impacting the day-to-day work of tax attorneys. Are you finding that certain routine tasks are being automated, and if so, is that changing the skill set that's most valuable? I'm wondering whether the future of tax law practice will require more strategic/advisory work and less document preparation, or if the complexity of tax law provides some insulation from automation. Also, for those who mentioned the importance of continuing education - are there any particular professional organizations or certifications beyond the basic bar admission that you'd recommend prioritizing early in a tax law career? I want to make sure I'm positioning myself well for whatever direction I ultimately choose within the field. The regional variations in demand and work-life balance that several people mentioned are also really eye-opening. It sounds like the "where" might be almost as important as the "what" when it comes to career satisfaction in tax law.

Just wanted to add another important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're planning to refinance or sell your home within the next few years, keep copies of all your supplemental property tax documentation! I learned this the hard way when refinancing. The lender wanted to see the complete property tax history to properly calculate my new escrow payments, and I had to scramble to get copies of my supplemental bills from two years prior. Having everything organized made the process much smoother the second time around. Also, if you're using a tax preparer, make sure to bring both your regular property tax statement AND the supplemental bill. Some preparers aren't as familiar with supplemental assessments and might miss including it in your deductions. I caught this mistake with my first preparer and it would have cost me about $400 in additional taxes. One last tip - if your supplemental bill seems unusually high compared to what you expected based on your purchase price, you have the right to appeal the assessment in most states. The deadline is usually pretty tight (often 60-90 days), so don't wait if you think there's an error!

For researching whether your supplemental assessment is reasonable, start by looking up recent comparable sales in your neighborhood through sites like Zillow, Redfin, or your county assessor's website. Most county assessor sites have online tools where you can search property records and see what similar homes have sold for recently. You can also request the detailed assessment worksheet from your county assessor's office - this shows exactly how they calculated your property's assessed value. Look for errors in square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, lot size, or property condition ratings. If you decide to appeal, many states have informal review processes where you can present your case with comparable sales data before going to a formal hearing. Some counties even allow online appeals now. The key is acting quickly - those deadlines are firm and you usually can't extend them. Regarding tax preparers, I'd recommend finding someone who specializes in real estate transactions or at least has experience with property tax issues. CPAs who work with a lot of homebuyers tend to be much more familiar with supplemental assessments than seasonal chain preparers. It's worth paying a bit more for someone who knows what they're doing, especially in your first few years of homeownership when these issues are most common. Don't let that deadline stress you out too much - just start gathering comparable sales data this week and contact your assessor's office to understand their appeal process. Even if you ultimately don't appeal, you'll have a better understanding of how your property was valued.