25 Something nobody mentioned - make sure you check local tax requirements too! I found out the hard way that my city requires a business license and annual business tax return even if your business hasn't started operating yet. Cost me a $75 late fee because I didn't realize this applied to "pre-revenue" businesses.

One thing I'd add from my experience with a similar situation - don't forget to get an EIN if you haven't already! You'll need it for the Form 1065 filing. You can apply for one online at the IRS website for free (be careful of scam sites that charge for this). Also, even though you haven't started operations, consider setting up a simple bookkeeping system now. Something basic like QuickBooks or even a spreadsheet to track that initial $8k investment and any future expenses. It'll make next year's taxes much easier when you do have actual business activity to report. The sooner you establish good record-keeping habits, the better off you'll be. And definitely keep receipts for any startup costs you incur before beginning operations - LLC formation fees, business bank account setup fees, etc. These can often be deducted as startup expenses once you begin operations.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! One alternative approach that has worked for some of my clients is requesting help through your local Taxpayer Advocate Service. They can sometimes intervene when a return has been stuck beyond normal processing times. You'll need to demonstrate financial hardship to qualify for their assistance - things like pending eviction, utility shutoffs, or medical bills can qualify. I've seen them get movement on cases that were seemingly lost in the system for months! You can find your local office at taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov and request Form 911 for assistance.

I feel your pain - went through almost the exact same timeline earlier this year. Filed in early February, got the dreaded "errors department" notice after 6 weeks, then waited through their initial 10-week estimate only to be told about another 6-week extension. What finally broke things loose for me was getting my account transcripts (you can request them online at irs.gov). The transcript showed specific codes that revealed what was actually holding up my return - turned out to be a simple W-2 verification issue that I could have resolved months earlier if anyone had just told me what they needed. Once I had that information, I was able to call with specific details about my case rather than just asking for a general status update. The whole experience was incredibly frustrating, but having those transcript codes made all the difference in getting actual answers instead of generic responses.

Has anyone used TurboTax for claiming a parent? I tried last year and it kept asking me really confusing questions about my mom's income that I wasn't sure how to answer.

I went through this exact situation with my elderly father last year and can confirm what others have said about the qualifying relative rules. The key thing that helped me was keeping detailed records throughout the year of ALL expenses. I created a simple spreadsheet with categories: housing (rent/mortgage portion for his room, utilities), food (groceries and dining out), medical (co-pays, medications, doctor visits), transportation, clothing, and personal care items. At year-end, I compared what I spent versus what he spent from his Social Security. One tip - don't forget to include the fair market value of housing. If your mom lived independently, she'd pay rent somewhere. That "rent" you're providing counts as support even if your actual housing costs are lower. I used local rental prices for a similar room/apartment to calculate this. Also keep copies of her SSA-1099 and any other income documents. Social Security is usually not taxable income unless she has other significant income sources, so you'll likely meet the income test easily. The documentation will be important if the IRS ever questions your dependent claim.

Back on March 15th, I called the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line about this exact issue. They confirmed that the 14-digit control number is assigned during the e-filing process and appears on your acknowledgment receipt after successful submission. The community consensus here is correct - this isn't something you need to obtain before filing. Focus on getting your 1099s submitted before the April 30th deadline instead!

Just went through this exact situation last week! I was panicking about the same thing with my freelance income reporting. After reading through all these responses, I can confirm what everyone is saying - you literally cannot get this number ahead of time because it doesn't exist until you actually submit your forms. I was about to spend hours on hold with the IRS before I realized this. Your tax software (whether it's TaxAct, TurboTax, or whatever) will handle this automatically during the e-filing process. The control number shows up on your confirmation receipt after successful submission. Don't stress about it - just focus on getting all your contractor information entered correctly and hit submit before the deadline!

You're definitely not missing something obvious! I had the exact same confusion when I first encountered Worksheet B. What finally helped me understand it was realizing that the IRS essentially splits the Child Tax Credit calculation into two parts: determining your base credit amount, and then checking if your income requires them to reduce it. Worksheet B handles the second part entirely. Those calculations on lines 1-14 aren't "disconnected" - they're working through a complex income limitation formula that considers your specific filing status and income level. The reason only Line 15 transfers back is because it represents your final credit amount after all possible income-based reductions have been applied. Think of it like a quality control checkpoint: you calculate your initial credit eligibility, then Worksheet B runs it through an income test to see if you get to keep the full amount. All those intermediate steps are the IRS showing you exactly how they determined whether (and by how much) your credit gets reduced. It's definitely one of the more confusing aspects of tax preparation, but once you understand that Worksheet B is essentially an income limitation calculator, it makes much more sense why only the final result matters for your return!

I completely feel your pain on this one! Schedule 8812's Worksheet B is notorious for causing confusion, and you're absolutely right that it seems like a lot of disconnected math at first glance. The key insight is that Worksheet B is essentially performing an income limitation test for your Child Tax Credit. Think of it as the IRS asking: "Based on your income level, do you qualify for the full credit amount, or does it need to be reduced?" Lines 1-14 are working through a complex phase-out calculation that considers your filing status, modified adjusted gross income, and the number of qualifying children you have. These calculations determine if you're in the income range where credits start getting reduced and by exactly how much. Line 15 is the "survivor" of all that math - it's your final allowable credit amount after any income-based reductions have been applied. That's why it's the only number that transfers back to Worksheet A. The other calculations served their purpose in determining that final amount, even though they don't appear elsewhere on your return. It's definitely not the most intuitive design, but once you understand that Worksheet B is basically an income filter for your credit eligibility, the whole process makes more sense. You're not missing anything - the IRS just makes you show all the work to get to that final number!