As someone who's been researching tax strategies for high earners, I'd strongly recommend getting a second opinion from a tax professional who isn't selling these investments. I've seen too many colleagues get burned by complex tax strategies that sounded great in presentations but fell apart under scrutiny. One thing that concerns me about Neil Jesani's approach specifically is that when someone markets primarily to one profession (dentists/doctors), it often means they're exploiting our lack of investment knowledge rather than offering genuinely superior opportunities. We're easy targets because we have high incomes but limited time to do proper due diligence. Before considering any mineral rights investment, I'd suggest: 1) Get an independent analysis of the investment's economics (not just tax benefits) 2) Understand the full fee structure 3) Ask what happens if tax laws change 4) Consider simpler alternatives like maximizing defined benefit plans or conservation easements The fact that you're asking these questions here shows you're being smart about it. Don't let FOMO or aggressive sales tactics rush you into something this complex.

I appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences here. As someone who's been through IRS audits before (unrelated to mineral investments), I can't stress enough how important it is to have bulletproof documentation if you're going to pursue these strategies. The IRS has been increasingly scrutinizing tax shelter-like investments, especially those marketed to high-income professionals. Even if the deductions are legitimate, you need to be prepared to defend them. This means keeping detailed records of: - Your profit motive beyond tax benefits - All due diligence you performed - Documentation showing this is a real business investment, not just a tax scheme I'd also suggest looking into the IRS's "Listed Transactions" and "Transactions of Interest" lists to see if similar structures have been flagged. The last thing you want is to unknowingly participate in something the IRS has already identified as abusive. One final thought: remember that aggressive tax strategies often have a shelf life. What works today might not work tomorrow, and you could be stuck in an illiquid investment that no longer provides the benefits you bought it for. Sometimes the boring approaches (maxing out retirement accounts, establishing a cash balance plan) are boring for a reason - they work consistently over time.

I work in pharmaceutical sales and deal with manufacturer incentives quarterly. One thing that might help is checking with your husband's dealership's finance or HR department - they often have to report these incentive programs to corporate for tax purposes, even if the payments come directly from manufacturers. Also, many manufacturers send incentive summaries in January showing all payments made the previous year, even if they don't issue formal 1099s. Check any manufacturer portals or apps your husband uses for sales tracking - sometimes the tax documents are posted there digitally before they're mailed. If you can get even a rough breakdown of which manufacturers paid what amounts, you can report the income accurately and avoid the stress of waiting for potentially missing forms. Better to overestimate slightly and get a small refund later than to underreport and face penalties.

As someone who's been through tax season with missing 1099s multiple times, I'd strongly recommend against filing an incomplete return if you know income is missing. The IRS computers are really good at matching up income reports from companies with what individuals report on their returns. Here's what worked for me: Contact the dealership's accounting department ASAP - they usually track all manufacturer incentive programs for their salespeople, even if the payments come directly from manufacturers. Many dealerships have to report these arrangements to their corporate offices for liability and tax purposes. Also, check if your husband has access to any manufacturer sales portals or apps. I've found that many companies post annual summaries there in January that show all incentive payments, even if they're not issuing formal 1099s. If you absolutely can't track down the information, file Form 4868 for an extension rather than filing incomplete. The extension gives you until October to file (though you still need to pay estimated taxes by April 15th). Those few extra months often give enough time for the missing 1099s to arrive or for you to track down the information through the dealership's records.

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this betrayal during an already difficult time. What you've described absolutely constitutes federal tax fraud - forging signatures on tax documents and Treasury checks are serious crimes that can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Here's what I'd recommend as your immediate action plan: **Secure your tax identity first:** File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS immediately and request an IRS Identity Protection PIN online. This prevents any future fraudulent filings in your name. **Document the fraud systematically:** Request actual copies of all tax returns using Form 4506 (not just transcripts) - these will show the forged signatures as evidence. Create a detailed timeline of every conversation where he deflected questions about taxes. **File for protection:** Submit Form 8857 for Innocent Spouse Relief - given the documented pattern of deception and forged signatures, you have an excellent case. Also file Form 911 to request Taxpayer Advocate Service assistance for coordinated help. **Report to multiple agencies:** Contact your state's Medicaid fraud control unit about the healthcare fraud, and file a police report specifically for the check fraud (forging Treasury checks is a separate criminal offense). **Leverage in divorce:** Make sure your attorney knows about this pattern of financial crimes immediately - courts typically rule in favor of the victim of financial fraud during asset division. The fact that he suddenly hired an accountant for 2023 taxes actually works in your favor as evidence that he knew his previous behavior was illegal. You did nothing wrong by trusting your spouse about shared financial obligations - that's completely normal in a marriage. He's the one who chose to systematically betray that trust and commit federal crimes. Stay strong - you're taking exactly the right steps to protect yourself and your child's future.

I'm so sorry you're going through this devastating betrayal during what's already an incredibly difficult time. What your ex-husband did absolutely constitutes multiple federal crimes - signature forgery on tax documents, fraudulent endorsement of Treasury checks, and identity theft are all serious offenses that the IRS prosecutes aggressively. The pattern you've described of being deliberately kept in the dark about your own tax returns while he forged your signature and stole refunds is textbook financial abuse. This isn't just about tax mistakes - it's about systematic deception and control. Here are my recommendations for immediate action: **Protect yourself first:** File Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS today and get an IRS Identity Protection PIN online to prevent any future fraudulent filings in your name. **Gather concrete evidence:** Use Form 4506 to request actual copies of all tax returns filed in your name - not just transcripts, but the physical documents showing his forged signatures. This will be crucial evidence. **Document the pattern:** Create a detailed timeline of every conversation where you asked about taxes and he deflected or gave evasive answers. This shows deliberate concealment. **File for multiple protections:** Submit Form 8857 for Innocent Spouse Relief and Form 911 for Taxpayer Advocate Service assistance to coordinate your case across IRS departments. **Report all fraud:** Contact your state's Medicaid fraud control unit and file a separate police report for check fraud - forging Treasury checks is its own criminal offense. His sudden decision to use an accountant for 2023 taxes is actually evidence that he knew his previous actions were illegal. You did nothing wrong by trusting your spouse with shared financial responsibilities - that's completely normal behavior in a marriage. He chose to exploit that trust and commit federal crimes. This pattern of financial deception will likely work strongly in your favor during divorce proceedings. Stay strong - you're taking exactly the right steps to protect yourself and your child.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed Feb 11th, accepted Feb 14th, and I've had that "Action Required" message for almost 3 weeks. It's so maddening that they can't just tell us what they need instead of this vague message followed by waiting weeks for a letter. I finally broke down and checked my transcript yesterday using the IRS website, and it showed some codes that I couldn't decipher. Someone mentioned taxr.ai earlier in this thread so I gave it a try - turns out I have an identity verification flag on my account. At least now I know what's causing the delay instead of just sitting here wondering. The worst part is that the IRS website makes it sound like this review process is quick, but from what everyone is saying here it can take months. Really hoping my letter arrives soon so I can get this sorted out. Hang in there - sounds like most people eventually get their refunds once they complete whatever verification the IRS needs!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! Filed on Feb 9th, accepted Feb 12th, and I've been stuck with that vague "Action Required" message for over 3 weeks now. No letter in the mail yet either. What's really annoying is how unhelpful that message is - they basically say "we might need something from you" but give zero specifics about what or when. I've been checking my mailbox religiously every day hoping for some actual information. Based on what everyone here is saying, it sounds like this is unfortunately super common this tax season. I'm planning to check my transcript this weekend to see if I can get any clues about what's causing the hold-up. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're counting on that money for bills and expenses. Thanks for posting about this - it's oddly comforting to know so many others are in the same boat. Hopefully we all get our answers (and refunds!) soon!

This is such a great way to help your mom build up her Social Security credits! I actually did something very similar with my aunt who was in the same situation. One thing I'd strongly recommend is to establish a clear written agreement upfront that outlines her specific duties, work schedule, and pay rate. This doesn't need to be anything fancy - just a simple document that shows this is a legitimate employment arrangement rather than just family financial support. Also, make sure to research what personal chefs or meal prep services charge in your area so you can set a reasonable wage. In most areas, $12-20 per hour for cooking services would be totally justifiable, and paying her for 10-15 hours per week should easily get her the credits she needs. The key is consistency - pay her the same amount on the same schedule (weekly or bi-weekly), keep good records, and treat it like any other employer-employee relationship. Your mom will thank you when she gets those full Social Security benefits! One last tip: consider having her provide other household services too if needed (light cleaning, meal planning, grocery shopping) to justify more hours and higher total wages. Just make sure everything you pay for represents real work being performed.

This is a really smart way to help your mom! I've been reading through all the great advice here and wanted to add one more practical tip that helped me when I set up a similar arrangement with my father. Consider opening a separate checking account specifically for paying your mom's wages. This creates an even cleaner paper trail and makes it crystal clear that these are employment payments, not just family money transfers. I named mine "Household Employee Payroll" which made everything super obvious for record-keeping. Also, don't forget that your mom will need to pay estimated quarterly taxes on this income since you won't be withholding enough to cover her full tax liability (especially if she has other income sources). Help her set aside about 25-30% of what you pay her for taxes - this prevents any nasty surprises at tax time. The Social Security credits accumulate faster than you might think. At the current rate of $1,730 per quarter for each credit, even paying her $400-500 monthly should get her one credit per quarter. That means she could earn all 4 annual credits with just $6,920 in wages for the year - very achievable with consistent cooking work! The peace of mind knowing she'll have proper Social Security benefits is worth all the extra paperwork. You're being a great son looking out for her future like this.