Just a heads up based on my experience - if the stocks were held in a trust before your mom's death, but it was a irrevocable trust (not the typical revocable living trust), the step-up rules might be different. Most pour-over wills work with revocable living trusts, but it's worth confirming. We had a complicated situation where my grandma had created an irrevocable trust years before her death, and those assets didn't qualify for the same step-up in basis. Caused a lot of confusion when we were settling her estate.

I'm sorry for your loss and the confusion you're dealing with during an already difficult time. Based on what you've described, it sounds like there may have been a significant error in how the stock sales were handled. For a typical revocable living trust (which is what most pour-over wills work with), assets should receive a step-up in basis to fair market value as of the date of death. This means if your mom's stocks were worth $340,000 when she died, that becomes the new "cost basis" - so selling them shortly after for the same amount should result in little to no capital gains tax. The fact that they paid taxes on the entire $340,000 suggests they may have used your mom's original purchase price as the basis instead of the stepped-up value at death. This could be a very expensive mistake. I'd strongly recommend: 1. Get copies of all trust documents to confirm it's revocable 2. Obtain documentation of the stock values on the date of death 3. Have the trustee consult with an estate tax professional immediately 4. Consider filing amended returns if an error was made Given the amounts involved ($67,500 in taxes potentially overpaid), this is definitely worth pursuing professionally. Time may be limited for amendments, so act quickly.

What tax software are you guys using for multi-state returns? I tried doing mine with TurboTax last year when I worked in 3 states and it got really expensive really fast because they charge extra for each state.

Just wanted to add another perspective from someone who's been through this exact situation multiple times. I've been a digital nomad for 3 years now with W2 income and have had to navigate this mess annually. A few additional tips that might help: 1. Start keeping a detailed location log NOW for next year - even a simple note in your phone each day saves massive headaches later. I use a shared Google Sheet that automatically timestamps entries. 2. Some states have "safe harbor" provisions where if you work less than a certain number of days (often 14-30), you might not owe taxes there. Worth checking each state's specific rules. 3. Don't forget about local taxes too! Some cities (like NYC) have their own income taxes on top of state taxes if you work there. 4. Consider talking to your employer about updating your state withholding if you plan to work in tax states regularly. Many payroll systems can handle multi-state withholding if you give them a heads up. The workday calculation method mentioned earlier is definitely the standard approach. Keep all those receipts and booking confirmations - even if you don't think you'll need them, having a paper trail is invaluable if questions come up later.

Does anyone know if the 15% min tax applies to private companies too or just publicly traded ones? My family has ownership in a large private manufacturing business and I'm trying to figure out if this would impact us.

Thanks for all these insights! As someone who works in corporate finance, I wanted to add that companies are also looking at their international structures more carefully now. Since the minimum tax is based on consolidated financial statement income, multinational corporations can't just shift profits to low-tax jurisdictions to avoid it like they could with regular corporate tax. However, there are some nuances around foreign tax credits that create planning opportunities. Companies with significant foreign operations might restructure how they organize their international subsidiaries to optimize the interaction between the minimum tax and foreign tax credit limitations. Also worth noting - the IRS is still working on final regulations for implementation, so some of the finer details are still being hammered out. Companies are having to make strategic decisions based on proposed guidance that could still change.

What if the boss hired your husband as a "consultant" for the transition to the new owners and paid him $30k for that? Might still be taxable but could potentially be at a better rate if he set up as an independent contractor? Just spitballing here...

I'd strongly recommend getting professional tax advice before proceeding with any of these strategies. While some of the suggestions here have merit, the IRS is very strict about distinguishing between compensation and gifts, especially when there's an employment relationship involved. The key factors the IRS will look at are: 1) the relationship between the parties, 2) the intent behind the payment, and 3) whether it's tied to services rendered. Since this is explicitly described as a reward for "loyalty over the years," it's likely going to be treated as taxable compensation regardless of timing or structuring. If the former boss really wants to help minimize the tax impact, the "gross up" approach mentioned earlier might be the most straightforward legal option. He could calculate the total amount needed to leave your husband with $30k after taxes and pay that larger amount, with the understanding that the extra covers the tax burden. Whatever you decide, make sure to document everything properly and consider consulting with a tax professional who can review your specific situation. With this much money involved, the cost of professional advice is probably worth the peace of mind.

I'm a bit confused by some of these responses. Does the time zone thing apply to all IRS deadlines or just the April filing deadline? What about estimated tax payments?

Don't panic! You're absolutely fine. The IRS operates on a "timely filed" principle based on your local time zone, not Eastern Time. Since you submitted at 11:23pm Pacific Time on April 15th, your return is considered filed on time according to IRS regulations. The April 16th date on your confirmation is likely just when the tax software's servers processed your return or when they transmitted it to the IRS - this can happen due to high traffic volumes on deadline day. What matters legally is when YOU hit submit in your time zone. You should receive an official IRS acceptance email within 24-48 hours that will show the correct filing date. Keep that email as your official record. I've seen this exact situation countless times and it's never been an issue. The IRS systems are designed to handle time zone differences properly. If you're still worried, you can always call the IRS to confirm (though expect long wait times), but based on your description, you're completely in the clear. No late penalties for you!