This has been such a comprehensive and helpful thread! I wanted to add one more potential source that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you've ever worked with or consulted for any accounting firms, bookkeeping services, or other tax professionals, check any contractor agreements or W-9 forms you might have on file. When I did some freelance work for a larger CPA firm a few years back, they required me to provide my PTIN on the contractor paperwork since I was doing tax preparation work under their supervision. I completely forgot about this until I was cleaning out old files and found the paperwork with my PTIN clearly listed in the credentials section. Also, if you've ever had to provide professional references for anything (job applications, professional memberships, etc.), you might have sent your credentials to references who could still have that information. I once provided my PTIN to a former supervisor who was serving as a reference, and when I reached out to them recently about something unrelated, they mentioned they still had all my credential information in their files. The collective wisdom in this thread is amazing - between all these suggestions, it seems like there are dozens of places to check before having to navigate the IRS phone system. Really appreciate how this community comes together to solve these practical challenges that we all face!

This thread is absolutely fantastic - reading through all these suggestions has been incredibly educational! As someone who just recently started preparing taxes professionally, I had no idea there were so many places where PTIN information gets stored over time. I wanted to add one more potential resource that might help others in similar situations: if you've ever submitted continuing education transcripts to any state boards or regulatory agencies, your PTIN might be included on those submissions. Many states require annual CE reporting for various professional licenses, and if you've cross-reported any tax-related education hours, your PTIN could be on file with those agencies. Also, for anyone who uses cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive for their business documents, try searching within those platforms for "PTIN" or your social security number. I've found that many of us end up storing scanned copies of important forms and correspondence in cloud storage, and the search functionality might turn up documents we've forgotten about. The collaborative problem-solving in this community is really impressive - between the original suggestions about the IRS self-service portal and all these creative alternatives everyone has shared, there are truly dozens of options to try before having to deal with phone support. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world advice that makes such a difference during busy season. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and solutions!

I've been investing in MLPs for about 5 years now and here's my practical approach to the state tax issue: 1) I only file state returns where my allocated income from the MLP exceeds $500. This is technically not compliant with every state's rules, but it's a reasonable threshold where the tax liability becomes meaningful enough to justify filing. 2) For states with small allocations, I maintain records in case of audit but don't file. So far, no issues. 3) For MLPs in IRAs, I specifically choose ones with historically low UBTI to avoid triggering the $1,000 threshold. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) has been good for this. 4) I keep detailed basis records for return of capital distributions, as these will eventually matter when I sell. Not saying this is the "correct" approach legally, but it's worked for me as a practical compromise between full compliance and sanity.

For anyone considering MLPs, please know that while the tax complexity is real, it's manageable if you approach it systematically. A few tips from my experience: 1. Request the "investor tax package" from each MLP you own - most provide detailed state-by-state breakdowns of your allocations 2. Focus on your home state plus any states with significant operations by your MLPs 3. Keep excellent records of your basis adjustments from return of capital distributions 4. Consider using an accountant experienced with MLP investments rather than DIY software 5. For small investments, ETFs that hold MLPs like AMLP might be more tax-efficient as they issue 1099s instead of K-1s

This is a complex situation that definitely requires careful handling. Based on what others have shared, here are a few additional points to consider: **Documentation is key**: Make sure you keep every piece of paperwork from the raffle organization, including any materials that describe how they determined the $62,500 value. This could be important if you need to dispute the valuation later. **Consider the timing of your sale**: Since you're selling immediately, you might want to get multiple purchase offers to document that $59,000 is indeed the fair market value. Having 2-3 offers around the same price range could strengthen your position. **Don't forget about self-employment tax**: Depending on how the IRS classifies this income, you might also be liable for self-employment taxes on top of regular income tax. This is less common with prize winnings, but worth confirming with a professional. **State registration considerations**: Even though you're in Texas with no state income tax, you'll still need to consider vehicle registration and title transfer costs. These aren't deductible but are real expenses that eat into your proceeds. The advice about setting aside 35% seems prudent given all the potential tax implications. Better to overestimate and have money left over than scramble to find additional funds at tax time. Good luck with this situation - winning should be exciting, not stressful!

I've been following this thread and there's some really solid advice here, but I want to add a few practical considerations that might help: **Get everything in writing from the raffle organizers**: Before you do anything, ask them for a detailed breakdown of how they arrived at the $62,500 valuation. Was it MSRP, dealer invoice, or actual market research? This documentation could be crucial if you need to challenge the amount later. **Consider the timing of your quarterly payments**: Since you won recently, your first estimated payment would likely be due January 15th for Q4 2024. But given the size of this income, you might want to make a payment sooner to avoid underpayment penalties. The IRS generally expects payments within the quarter you receive the income. **Don't overlook AMT implications**: With a sudden $62,500 income spike, you might trigger Alternative Minimum Tax calculations. This is another reason why professional help is worth the cost - AMT can add unexpected complexity to your tax situation. **Document EVERYTHING**: Keep records of all costs associated with this situation - appraisal fees, tax preparation costs, even storage or insurance costs while you arrange the sale. While most won't be deductible, having detailed records shows you're handling this professionally. The 35% cash reserve recommendation is spot-on. This situation has enough moving parts that professional guidance isn't just helpful - it's essential for protecting yourself from costly mistakes.

quick questions - do the payments actually need to match the profitability by quarter or can i just divide my total estimated taxes for the year into 4 equal payments? my s-corp has really seasonal income so some quarters have way more profit than others.

Great question about S Corp quarterly payments! Just to add some clarity - you're absolutely right to be thinking about this carefully. The key thing to remember is that as an S Corp owner, you wear two hats: employee (if you take a salary) and owner/shareholder. From the business account, you should pay: - Payroll taxes for your salary (employer portion of FICA, unemployment taxes, etc.) - Any business-specific taxes like state franchise fees From your personal account, you should pay: - Estimated quarterly payments for the income tax on your share of the S Corp profits - Your portion of self-employment tax equivalent (though S Corp profits aren't subject to SE tax, which is one of the benefits) Since this is your first profitable quarter, make sure you're also paying yourself a reasonable salary if you haven't been already - the IRS expects S Corp owner-employees to take W-2 wages before distributions. Congrats on the profit, and keep that business/personal separation clean for your records!

I went through almost the exact same situation with my 2017 amended return that I filed in 2020. The waiting is absolutely maddening, especially when you've already paid what you think you owe! One thing I learned that might help - when you check your account transcript, look for the cycle date next to code 977. This shows when the IRS actually began working on your amendment. If it's been more than 16 weeks since that cycle date, you have grounds to request expedited processing when you call. Also, don't worry too much about your payment sitting as a credit. Mine sat there for almost 8 months before they applied it. The IRS is super cautious about applying payments until they've triple-checked all the math, especially on older tax years where there might be statute of limitations issues. The code 290 everyone mentioned will definitely appear when it's done - mine showed up on a Friday and by the following Tuesday I had a letter in the mail explaining the final adjustment. Hang in there, it will eventually move!

I went through a very similar situation with my 2019 amended return that I filed in late 2022. The waiting period is absolutely brutal, especially when you can see some activity but no resolution. One thing that helped me understand the process better was learning that there are actually sub-phases within the "processing" status that the online tools don't show. After code 977 appears, your return goes through several internal queues - first for initial review, then for calculation verification, then for final approval. Each step can take weeks or months depending on the complexity and current workload. In my case, I had codes 971 and 977 for about 7 months before anything else appeared. Then suddenly one week I saw code 290 with the exact additional tax amount I calculated, followed by codes showing interest assessment and payment application. The whole thing finalized within days once it actually reached the final stage. The hardest part is that there's really no way to know which internal queue your return is sitting in. But the fact that you already paid the amount you calculated was smart - it shows good faith and prevents additional interest from accumulating while they work through their backlog. Keep checking that transcript weekly. When the 290 code appears, you'll know you're finally at the finish line!