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QuantumQuest
I've been through the 83(b) process a few times with different startups. My tax guy always tells me to keep THREE copies of everything: one with my tax records, one in a secure cloud storage, and one with a family member or in a safe deposit box. Seems excessive but situations like this are exactly why! If you still have the certified mail receipt, that's actually pretty strong evidence you filed properly even without the IRS confirmation. The 83(b) election is considered valid as long as you mailed it within the 30-day window, which your receipt would prove.
Dylan Wright
ā¢This is really helpful! I do still have the certified mail receipt showing I sent it within the 30-day window. Does that typically satisfy auditors if they ever question the 83(b) election? And do you happen to know if there's a specific place I should write "83(b) election on file" on my 1040? Like on the top margin of the first page or somewhere specific?
QuantumQuest
ā¢Yes, in my experience, the certified mail receipt is very strong evidence for auditors. The IRS rules are clear that the election is based on when you mail it, not when they process it. If you can show you mailed it within 30 days of receiving the equity, you're in good shape. For writing "83(b) election on file" on your 1040, put it at the top margin of the first page. If filing electronically, you can include it in the notes/comments section that most tax software provides, but also print a copy of your return and write it at the top of that copy for your records.
Does anyone know if this 83(b) thing is something you have to do every year? My company gave me some startup options last month and I'm totally confused about all this tax stuff.
NebulaKnight
ā¢No, you only file the 83(b) election once, within 30 days of receiving the equity grant. It's not an annual thing. But if you just got options last month and haven't filed an 83(b) election yet, you might still be within that 30-day window! I'd strongly recommend consulting with a tax professional immediately. The 83(b) election can save you significant money on taxes in the future if your company's value increases, but the 30-day deadline is absolutely strict with no exceptions.
@NebulaKnight is absolutely right - this is urgent! The 83(b) election has to be filed within 30 days of when you received the equity grant, and there are literally zero exceptions to this deadline. If you got your options last month, you might already be past the window. The 83(b) election lets you pay taxes on the current (presumably low) value of your equity now, rather than on the potentially much higher value when it vests. Without it, you could face a massive tax bill later if your startup does well. Drop everything and get to a tax professional TODAY. Even if you're past the 30-day window, they can at least help you understand your tax obligations going forward. Don't let this slide!
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Back to the original question - FreeTaxUSA has been my go-to for 4 years now. They make money on state returns and deluxe features, not by selling data. Their security is solid. One big advantage over other services is they don't constantly upsell you while you're filing. Plus they save your returns year to year so you can reference them later. Much better experience than I had with the "big name" tax software that kept trying to trick me into paid upgrades.
Dmitry Popov
ā¢Do they let you import previous years' returns from other services? I've been using H&R Block online but want to switch if FreeTaxUSA is better.
Unfortunately, they don't have a direct import feature from other tax services. You'll need to manually enter your information the first year you use it. This is actually one of their few downsides. However, once you've filed with them once, they save all your info for future years, which makes subsequent filings much faster. The manual entry actually ended up being a good thing for me because I caught some errors that had been carrying forward in my previous software. Plus, their interface is pretty straightforward, so the manual entry isn't as tedious as you might expect.
Ava Garcia
Just FYI, as someone who worked in data privacy (not for a tax company), free tax services usually have three revenue streams: 1) upselling premium features, 2) charging for state returns, and 3) affiliate marketing of financial products. FreeTaxUSA does recommend financial products that they get commissions on, but that's different from selling your data. They might show you offers for IRAs or refinancing based on your tax situation, but that targeting happens within their system without sending your data externally.
StarSailor}
ā¢This is really insightful! What kind of financial products do they typically push? Are these actually decent offerings or predatory stuff I should avoid?
Noah Irving
ā¢From what I've seen, they typically promote things like high-yield savings accounts, CDs, and retirement accounts (IRAs). These are generally legitimate financial products from established institutions, not payday loans or sketchy stuff. The retirement account offers can actually be pretty good since they're often from reputable brokerages with competitive rates. Just do your own research on any offers rather than clicking through immediately - compare the rates and terms they're showing you with what you can find directly from the financial institution.
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Has anyone actually tried doing exactly what the original poster is asking about? I'm in an almost identical situation (part-time job, not eligible for their 401k, doing a large Roth conversion), and my tax software flagged my IRA deduction when I entered the Roth conversion amount.
Amara Chukwu
ā¢Which tax software are you using? I had the same issue with TurboTax but it was actually a false flag. When I continued through the process and indicated I wasn't eligible for my employer's plan (despite my employer having one), it eventually calculated the correct deduction. Some tax software gets confused by this scenario initially but sorts it out when you complete all the retirement questions. It's definitely worth double-checking your W-2 to make sure box 13 isn't checked.
Carmen Diaz
Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact scenario last year! I was part-time at a company with a 401k but wasn't eligible due to hours worked, and I also did a substantial Roth conversion that pushed our income way up. The key insight everyone's mentioned is absolutely correct - your eligibility to participate in your employer's plan is what matters, not whether your employer has one. Since you're not eligible due to part-time status, you're considered "not covered" and can deduct traditional IRA contributions regardless of income level. One practical tip: when you file your taxes, make sure to answer the retirement plan coverage questions carefully. The software will ask if your employer has a retirement plan (yes) but then ask if YOU are eligible to participate (no). Getting this right is crucial for the deduction calculation. Also, keep documentation from your employer showing you're not eligible for the 401k due to part-time status. It's unlikely you'll need it, but it's good backup if questions ever arise about your coverage status. With your $25k in earned income, you'll have plenty to support the full $15k in IRA contributions for both you and your wife. The Roth conversion income actually helps your overall tax planning here since it creates room for the traditional IRA deductions to offset some of that conversion income.
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Congratz on making it thru! Been stuck since February myself, might have to try that number u posted
Wow, 8 months from filing to refund - that's brutal but glad you finally got through it! Your transcript tells quite a story with all those adjustments. The fact they gave you interest (776 code) is at least something for all that waiting. I'm curious about that cycle code change from 20241305 to 18254-661-06944-4 - did you notice any pattern with when those updates happened? Also wondering if the amended return on June 4th was something they requested or you had to figure out on your own? Thanks for sharing all the details, this is super helpful for those of us still navigating the IRS maze! š
Lucy Lam
Has anyone used TaxAct or TurboTax to help with these international forms? I'm in a similar situation (Australian dev) but wondering if the major tax software has any tools for W-8BEN completion.
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Aidan Hudson
ā¢TurboTax and TaxAct are pretty useless for W-8BEN forms. They're designed for US tax returns, not international forms. I tried using TurboTax last year and it couldn't help with any of the treaty sections. You're better off using the specialized advice here or consulting with a tax professional who understands international treaties.
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Christian Bierman
Hey Andrew! I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago when I launched my first app on the App Store. The W-8BEN definitely seems overwhelming at first, but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand the key parts. Based on my experience as an Australian developer, here's what worked for me: - Left the US taxpayer ID field completely blank (we don't need an ITIN for app royalties) - Used my ABN in the foreign tax ID field, though some people leave this blank too - Definitely checked box 9 for treaty benefits - this is crucial to get the reduced 5% withholding rate instead of 30% - Left box 10 empty since I'm just receiving standard app royalties, not claiming any special exemptions - Reference number field stayed blank The most important thing is getting that treaty benefit on line 9. Without it, Apple will withhold 30% of your earnings instead of just 5%. That's a huge difference when you're trying to make money from your game! I'd recommend double-checking your form against the Australia-US tax treaty articles before submitting. Apple usually processes these pretty quickly once they're filled out correctly. Best of luck with your game launch - it's exciting to get that first app out there!
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