def check ur bank statements for those dates. sometimes they come from different names not just 'IRS

I went through something similar last year with missing Child Tax Credit payments. Here's what worked for me: First, call the IRS Child Tax Credit Update Portal helpline (not the main number) - it's usually less busy. Second, gather ALL your bank statements for July-December 2021 and check for deposits from "IRS TREAS" or "US TREASURY" - sometimes they don't show as "IRS". Third, if you truly didn't receive them, you'll need to file Form 8812 with your 2021 return to claim the missing credits. The IRS has been dealing with tons of these cases since the advance payments started, so they have a process for it. Just be prepared with documentation showing you never received the payments when you call!

I went through this exact same situation two years ago! You definitely need to pay quarterly taxes on that income even without the LLC formed yet. The IRS doesn't care about your business structure - they care about the income you're earning. With $3,500 so far this year, you're likely looking at owing around $500-700 in self-employment tax alone (that's the Social Security/Medicare tax at 15.3%), plus regular income tax on top of that. If you expect to make more throughout the year, you could easily hit that $1,000 threshold that triggers the quarterly payment requirement. My advice: don't wait until you form the LLC. Calculate your estimated taxes now using Form 1040-ES and make the payment. You can always adjust future quarters once your LLC is formed. The penalties for underpayment can be way more expensive than just paying a bit extra now to be safe. Also, keep those spreadsheets organized! You'll need them for Schedule C when you file, whether you're still a sole proprietor or have formed the LLC by then.

Great question! As someone who's helped many clients through this transition, I want to clarify a few key points that might save you some headaches. First, regarding the $500-700 self-employment tax estimate - that would be roughly what you'd owe for the full year if you only made $3,500 total. But since you're asking about quarterly payments, you need to project your full-year income. If you think you'll make $10,000+ this year, you're looking at significantly higher tax obligations. For quarterly payments, you should estimate your total annual business income, then pay 25% of your expected annual tax liability each quarter. Don't just base it on what you've earned so far - the IRS wants you to pay as you earn throughout the year. Regarding the LLC transition mid-year: it's actually pretty seamless for tax purposes. You'll report all your business income for the entire year on Schedule C, whether it was earned as a sole proprietor or after LLC formation. The LLC formation date doesn't create a tax filing break - it's all one continuous business year on your personal return. One tip: if you're unsure about your projections, it's often safer to pay a bit more in estimated taxes rather than underpay. You'll get any overpayment back as a refund, but underpayment penalties can be costly and annoying to deal with.

Does anyone know if I can still do this recharacterization thing for my 2024 contribution? I contributed to a Roth earlier this year but just realized my income will be too high.

Just wanted to add another perspective on this situation. I had a very similar mess with my 2023 Roth contribution and recharacterization timing, and what really helped me was understanding that the IRS treats the recharacterization as if you had made the correct choice from the beginning. The key insight that wasn't immediately obvious to me: when you recharacterize in 2024 for a 2023 contribution, you're not making a new 2024 contribution - you're retroactively changing what type of contribution you made in 2023. This is why your 2024 Roth contribution is completely separate and valid. Make sure when you're entering the 1099-R information in your tax software that you're categorizing it correctly. The recharacterization 1099-R should be coded as "N" and the conversion should be coded as "2". If your software is still showing over-contribution after entering these correctly, you may need to manually override the calculation or seek help from a tax professional who understands backdoor Roth conversions. Also double-check that your custodian reported everything with the correct tax year designations on the 1099-Rs. Sometimes they get confused about which year a recharacterized contribution should be attributed to.

Man, the IRS needs to get with the times. In this day and age, we should be able to access all this info online easily. SMH 🤦‍♂️

Pro tip from someone who's been through this nightmare - if you applied online, try logging back into the IRS website with the same credentials you used. Sometimes the EIN is still visible in your application history. Also, check your bank statements from around that time - if you paid any fees, it might help you narrow down the exact date you applied, which could help when you call the IRS. They can search by application date if you have it!

Has anyone dealt with digital nomading after establishing domicile? I'm in a similar situation but plan to travel constantly rather than settle in one foreign country. I established Florida domicile last year but now I'm worried about maintaining it while having no fixed address internationally.

This is a great question and you're smart to think about this timing! From my experience working with clients in similar situations, the 183-day rule is a good baseline, but I'd actually recommend staying a full calendar year if possible before moving abroad, especially if you're coming from a high-tax state like California or New York. The reason is that aggressive tax states often look at the "totality of circumstances" and a longer physical presence really strengthens your case. Beyond the practical steps you've mentioned (which are excellent), consider also: - Filing your next federal tax return from your new state address - Establishing medical/dental providers in your new state - Joining local professional or social organizations if relevant to your work - If you have kids, enrolling them in local schools Once you're abroad, the key is maintaining those ties to your no-tax state while NOT creating new domicile elsewhere. Keep that driver's license current, maintain your voter registration, and try to return at least once a year if feasible. Document everything - keep records of when you left the US, your foreign addresses, and any steps you take to maintain your state domicile. Also remember that while you're establishing state domicile, you'll still need to comply with federal tax obligations as a US citizen abroad, including FBAR filings and possibly FATCA reporting depending on your foreign account balances.