You can request a tax transcript though right? Even if they haven't fully processed it?

Unfortunately, the transcript isn't available until they've processed your return, which is exactly the problem. You can get transcripts from previous years, but not for a return that's still sitting in their paper backlog. My mortgage lender ended up needing additional documentation and it delayed my closing by almost a month. Just wanted to mention it in case you might need proof of filing for anything important this year.

That's a great suggestion! Is there anything specific I would need to bring to the appointment besides my last paystub? Would I need to bring a partially completed 4852 form too?

Definitely bring your ID, Social Security card, last paystub, and any communication you've had with your employer about the missing W-2. It's helpful to bring a partially completed Form 4852 too, but not required - they can help you fill it out from scratch if needed. Also bring your previous year's tax return if you have it, as this helps them verify your identity. And if you've already started working on this year's return, bring that draft too. The more documentation you have, the smoother the appointment will go!

I used Form 4852 last year and had zero issues. Got my refund in about 3 weeks. Just make sure your numbers are as accurate as possible from your last paystub. The main thing IRS looks for is if your reported income matches what your employer eventually reports to them.

What about component depreciation or cost segregation studies? I've heard those can front-load even more depreciation. Are those worth doing for a small investor with just 1-2 properties, or are they only worthwhile for larger portfolios?

Cost segregation studies absolutely can be worth it even for small investors with 1-2 properties, especially for properties with higher improvement values (like $300K+ in building value). These studies typically identify 20-30% of a building's components that can be depreciated over 5, 7, or 15 years instead of 27.5 years. The sweet spot is usually properties purchased in the last 1-3 years with significant improvement value. The studies themselves typically cost $3,000-$7,000 depending on property size and complexity, but can generate tax savings of $15,000-$50,000 in the first year for many properties. Just make sure you work with a reputable firm that has experience defending their studies in IRS audits if needed.

Yes, you still have to pay depreciation recapture even if you sell at an overall loss. The IRS treats the depreciation recapture as a separate calculation from your capital gain/loss. So you could have a capital loss on the sale but still owe depreciation recapture tax on all the depreciation you claimed (or should have claimed) during ownership. It's one of the nastier surprises in real estate taxation.

This sounds promising! How much paperwork/maintenance is involved with a DAF? And can you recommend any specific providers? I've heard of Fidelity and Schwab having these, but not sure if there are advantages to one over another.

The paperwork is minimal - much easier than setting up a private foundation. It takes about 15-20 minutes to open online, similar to opening a brokerage account. Once it's set up, you just transfer assets in and then make grants to charities whenever you want with a few clicks. I use Fidelity Charitable because that's where my other accounts are, but Schwab and Vanguard are also excellent options. They all have similar fee structures (around 0.6% administrative fee annually plus underlying investment fees). The main difference is minimum initial contribution ($5K for Fidelity, $5K for Schwab, $25K for Vanguard) and minimum grant amounts. I'd go with whoever you already have investment accounts with for simplicity.

Just a quick note on this - the mega backdoor Roth requires specific plan provisions: 1) allowing after-tax contributions (not just Roth), and 2) either in-plan Roth conversions or non-hardship in-service distributions. Many plans don't have both features, especially the second one. Worth calling the 401k administrator to check though!

Do you need to send Form 1040-X even if you're just providing documentation but not actually changing any numbers on your return? My CP 2000 is just asking for proof of a deduction I already claimed.

If you're not changing any numbers and just providing supporting documentation for what you already claimed, you typically don't need to submit Form 1040-X. Just include a clear explanation letter referencing your CP 2000 notice number along with your documentation. However, you should still use the response form that came with your CP 2000 notice to indicate whether you agree or disagree with their findings. That form is crucial for proper processing.

Yes! I just went through this. When you respond to the CP 2000, there's usually a payment options section on the response form. You can check the box indicating you can't pay in full. Once they process your response and send the final bill, you can set up an installment agreement online through the IRS website for balances under $50,000. I set mine up for $100/month and it was super easy to do online. Just make sure you actually set it up once you get the final bill - don't ignore it or they'll start collections.