


Ask the community...
I might have a different perspective than others here. I explored the multi-entity structure with IP holdco for my software business ($600K revenue) and ultimately decided AGAINST it. The annual compliance costs and complexity weren't worth the tax savings for me. Instead, I focused on maximizing other tax strategies like R&D tax credits, which gave me about $47K in tax savings last year with much less overhead. Sometimes simpler is better, especially at our size. Once I hit $2M+ in revenue, I'll reconsider the more complex structure.
Did you use a particular service to help with the R&D tax credits? I've heard they're available for software development but wasn't sure if my company would qualify.
As someone who's been through this exact decision process, I'd suggest starting with a comprehensive analysis of your specific situation before jumping into any complex structure. At $750K revenue, you're right at the threshold where it could make sense, but the devil is really in the details. A few key questions to consider: What's your current effective tax rate? How much of your revenue comes from IP licensing vs. direct software sales? Are you planning significant growth in the next 2-3 years? The answers will heavily influence whether the complexity is worth it. For what it's worth, I started with a simpler structure (single LLC with good tax elections) and gradually added complexity as my business grew. Sometimes it's better to implement these changes in phases rather than trying to build the perfect structure from day one. You can always restructure later when the tax savings clearly justify the additional overhead. Also worth noting - make sure you have a solid business reason for the structure beyond just tax savings. The IRS looks much more favorably on arrangements that have legitimate business purposes like asset protection, operational efficiency, or risk management.
This is really solid advice about taking a phased approach. I'm curious though - when you say you started with a "single LLC with good tax elections," what specific elections are you referring to? S-Corp election? And at what revenue point did you decide it was time to add the additional entity complexity? I'm at around $650K revenue myself and trying to figure out if I should wait another year or two before implementing a more complex structure. The administrative burden is definitely my biggest concern right now.
I'm going through the exact same thing! Had N/A for almost 2 months and just got the 570 code this week. From what I've researched, it usually means they're doing some kind of review but at least our returns are finally being processed. Trying to stay patient but it's so hard when you're counting on that refund š
Quick question - does anyone know if leasing avoids this whole tax credit problem? I've heard that with leases, the leasing company can take the tax credit and pass the savings on to you in the form of a lower monthly payment, regardless of your tax situation. Is that true for 2024?
You're absolutely right about leasing! When you lease an EV, the leasing company (technically the owner of the vehicle) claims the tax credit and can pass those savings to you through reduced lease payments. This approach works regardless of your personal tax liability. Most major manufacturers, including Tesla, are already factoring the $7,500 credit into their lease calculations for 2024. This is why you might see advertised lease deals that seem surprisingly affordable compared to purchase prices. The key advantage is that you get the benefit immediately in the form of lower monthly payments without having to wait for point-of-sale implementation or tax filing season. However, remember that with a lease, you don't own the vehicle at the end unless you choose to buy it out.
I was in exactly your situation a few weeks ago - AGI around $60k and stressed about whether to wait for Tesla's point-of-sale option or just buy now. Here's what I learned after doing a ton of research: With your $65k AGI, you'll almost certainly have enough tax liability to use the full $7,500 credit when you file your 2024 taxes. The standard deduction for 2024 is $14,600 (assuming you're single), so your taxable income would be around $50,400. The tax on that income will definitely exceed $7,500, so you won't lose any of the credit by taking it on your return instead of at point of sale. The real question is cash flow - can you afford the extra $7,500 upfront and wait until next tax season to get it back? If so, I'd say go ahead and buy now. Tesla's pricing has been pretty stable lately, but there's always the risk of price increases if you wait. I ended up purchasing my Model Y in March and claiming the credit on my taxes. No regrets - the peace of mind was worth more than potentially saving a few months of waiting for a point-of-sale option that may or may not come soon.
Has anyone here actually received their sales tax permit deposit back? My state (Florida) promised a refund after 3 years too, but when the time came they claimed I had filed one of my monthly returns 2 days late in year 2, so they kept the entire $500 deposit. Wondering if this is common practice.
I got mine back from Pennsylvania without any issues, but I was super careful about filing everything on time. Had a calendar reminder 5 days before each deadline. They sent the refund automatically right after the 3-year mark.
Great question! I went through this exact same situation with my LLC last year. The advice about treating it as an asset is spot on - don't expense it initially since you're expecting to get it back. I set up a "Deposits - Refundable" asset account in my accounting software and recorded the $500 there. One thing I'd add is to keep really good documentation about the deposit terms and your compliance with the requirements. Take screenshots of your filing confirmations, payment receipts, etc. Some states are pretty strict about the "good standing" requirements and will keep your deposit for minor issues. Also, if you're using QuickBooks, you can set up a reminder for when the 3-year period is almost up so you can proactively follow up on getting your refund rather than waiting for them to process it automatically.
Sean Murphy
FYI - there's also the National Taxpayer Advocate office that handles more systemic issues. Different from the local TAS offices that handle individual cases. Prob not what you need rn, but good to know the diff. Also, TAS has been super backed up since COVID started and they never fully recovered their staffing. Might be worth trying to reach a regular IRS agent first to check your amended return status before escalating to TAS.
0 coins
Isabella Santos
I actually got through to TAS about 6 weeks ago using that 1-877-777-4778 number. Here's what worked for me: I called at exactly 7:00 AM EST on a Tuesday and got connected after about 25 minutes on hold. The agent was really helpful once I explained that my amended return had been sitting for 5 months with no movement despite multiple calls to regular IRS lines. One thing that helped my case was that I had documentation showing the delay was affecting my ability to get a mortgage pre-approval. TAS seems to prioritize cases where you can show concrete financial impact from the delay, not just general frustration (though trust me, I was plenty frustrated too). Also, make sure you have your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or SSN, the tax year in question, and your most recent contact with the IRS documented before you call. They'll ask for all of this upfront to verify your case qualifies for their assistance. Good luck - the wait times are brutal but once you get through, they're actually pretty effective at cutting through the red tape!
0 coins
Joshua Hellan
ā¢This is exactly the kind of real-world experience I was hoping to find! Thank you for the specific timing details and the tip about having documentation ready. I'm curious - when you mentioned the mortgage pre-approval issue, did you have to provide any formal documentation to TAS about that, or was it enough to just explain the situation verbally? I'm dealing with a similar situation where I need my tax documents finalized for a financial application, so this could really help my case.
0 coins