Just want to add that the IRS has specifically stated they're focusing enforcement efforts on willful violations and significant unreported accounts, not honest mistakes on form fields. If you're correcting a "type of filer" error but all your accounts and amounts are accurately reported, it's extremely low risk. I've prepared hundreds of FBARs for clients and we've filed amendments for simple errors like this many times with zero issues. The important thing is that you're disclosing your foreign accounts properly. The form technicalities, while important to get right, aren't what they're hunting for in terms of enforcement.

I completely understand your stress about this - FBAR errors can feel overwhelming, especially on your first filing! The good news is that selecting the wrong "Type of Filer" box is definitely something you should and can easily fix with an amended filing. Since all your actual account information and financial data are correct, this falls into the category of a non-material error that you're voluntarily correcting. The IRS and FinCEN much prefer when taxpayers proactively fix mistakes rather than hoping they won't be noticed. Here's what I'd recommend: log back into the BSA E-Filing System and prepare an amended FBAR. When you get to the filing type section, select "Amended" and briefly explain in the text field something like "Correcting Type of Filer selection in Box 2." Make sure to reference your original BSA ID number so they can link the filings. The sooner you file the amendment, the better - there's no benefit to waiting. This type of voluntary correction of a form error (as opposed to hiding unreported accounts) is exactly the kind of compliance behavior they want to see. You're doing the right thing by fixing it!

Reading through all these responses really highlights why MLP investing can be so daunting for individual investors! The state tax complexity alone seems like it could turn a simple investment decision into an annual administrative nightmare. I'm particularly struck by Giovanni's point about amended K-1s creating filing obligations years after selling positions. That kind of ongoing liability would make me very nervous about MLP investments in taxable accounts. For those who have gone the ETF route (AMLP, MLPA, etc.), I'm curious about the performance differences compared to direct MLP ownership. Yes, you lose the K-1 tax advantages, but you also avoid all these state filing headaches and professional preparation costs. Have you found the trade-off worthwhile in practice? Also, for anyone using software solutions like taxr.ai that were mentioned earlier - do these tools help with the amended K-1 situation Giovanni described, or do they only handle current year filings? It seems like having historical tracking and the ability to easily amend multiple state returns could be crucial for MLP investors. The more I research this topic, the more I appreciate why many financial advisors steer individual investors away from direct MLP ownership despite the attractive yields. The juice may simply not be worth the squeeze for most retail investors, especially those with smaller portfolios.

This entire discussion has been incredibly valuable! As someone who works in financial planning, I see clients struggle with MLP complexity all the time. One additional point worth mentioning - the IRS has been increasing scrutiny on MLP investments in recent years, particularly around basis calculations and state allocations. I've had several clients receive notices requesting documentation for MLP basis adjustments going back 5+ years. This makes the record-keeping burden even more critical. For those considering the ETF route, also look at MLPX (it's newer but has a slightly different structure) and consider the impact on your overall asset allocation. Energy infrastructure can be volatile, so whether you go direct MLP or ETF route, make sure it fits your risk tolerance and portfolio diversification goals. The tax software solutions mentioned earlier (like taxr.ai) are becoming essential tools for anyone with significant MLP holdings. The cost is typically far less than what you'd pay a CPA for the same level of analysis, and the automated basis tracking alone can save you from costly mistakes down the road. Bottom line: if you're investing less than $25K total in MLPs, the ETF route almost always makes more sense. Above that threshold, direct ownership might be worth the complexity if you have good systems in place.

Has anyone tried calling the IRS directly about this problem? I lost a W-2 once and they were actually helpful, which surprised me lol.

I went through this exact same situation last year! Whatever you do, don't file without all your income information. The IRS gets copies of every W-2 issued, so they'll definitely notice if yours doesn't match what they have on file. Here's what worked for me: I requested a wage and income transcript directly from the IRS website. It takes about a week to get it online (or 2-3 weeks by mail), but it shows all the W-2s that were issued in your name. You can use this information to complete Form 4852 (Substitute for W-2) with the exact numbers the IRS already has. The transcript route is better than trying to estimate from paystubs because you get the actual figures that were reported to the IRS. You'll need to create an account on the IRS website and verify your identity, but it's pretty straightforward. Way less stressful than dealing with unresponsive employers or risking problems later!

Has anyone used TurboTax for reporting their gambling winnings? I've got a similar situation with FanDuel and wondering if the software handles this well.

I went through this exact same situation with my FanDuel records last year! The key thing to understand is that your $4,100 in deposits aren't "losses" - they're just the money you transferred to your account to gamble with. Think of it like putting cash in your wallet before going to a casino. Your actual gambling wins and losses are what happened when you placed bets. So you're correct that you have $5,400.66 in net gambling income ($33,862.41 wins minus $28,461.75 losses). For tax reporting, you'll need to report the full $33,862.41 as gambling winnings on your Form 1040. If you itemize deductions, you can then deduct up to $28,461.75 in gambling losses on Schedule A. If you take the standard deduction, you unfortunately can't deduct those losses but still must report all the winnings. Make sure to keep all your FanDuel transaction records - the IRS requires good documentation for gambling activities. The session method you mentioned is totally valid for organizing your records, just be consistent in how you define each session.

Is anyone else still having issues? The website seems to be back up for me now, but I'm getting an error when I try to login to my account. Everything else seems to be working.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions! I'm dealing with the same frustration right now. The IRS website has been unreliable lately and it's really stressful when you have deadlines approaching. For those still having trouble, I found that the IRS also has a few automated phone services that sometimes work even when the website is down. You can call 1-800-829-1954 for refund information or 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) to order forms and publications. The automated systems aren't as convenient as the website, but they can provide basic information without waiting for a human agent. Also, many local libraries have tax preparation resources and sometimes can help you access forms or provide guidance on next steps when you can't get online. Just another backup option to consider during these outages.