Something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - you need to check the TRUST DOCUMENT itself. Many irrevocable trusts have specific provisions about how trust assets should be managed, and some even explicitly address whether properties should be income-producing. As trustee, you're bound by the terms of the trust. If the document says the properties should be maintained for eventual use by beneficiaries, you might be violating your duties by trying to rent them out. Conversely, if it says assets should be managed to produce income, you could be in breach by leaving them vacant. This isn't just a tax question - it's a fiduciary responsibility question. I'd strongly recommend having an attorney who specializes in trust administration review the document before making any decisions about tax treatment.

Be really careful here! I tried something similar with my family trust properties and got audited. The IRS agent specifically focused on whether I had a genuine profit motive or was just trying to create tax losses. What saved me was having documentation showing: 1) Multiple attempts to rent the properties (saved emails with real estate agents, copies of listings) 2) Competitive market analysis showing reasonable rent expectations 3) Records of property improvements specifically aimed at making them rentable 4) A written business plan showing projected income and expenses Without these, I would have been toast. The agent told me they see lots of trustees trying to claim "ghost" rental properties that are really just sitting empty with no real attempt to rent them.

This thread has been really helpful! I'm in a similar situation and was confused about all these different credentials. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like for basic tax prep work, someone with PTIN and EFIN who's working toward their CPA should be fine. I'm curious though - how do you actually verify someone's credentials? Is there a way to look up whether their PTIN and EFIN are current and valid? I want to make sure I'm not just taking someone's word for it when they claim to have these certifications. Also, for those who mentioned Enrolled Agents - is there a directory where you can search for EAs in your area? That sounds like it might be exactly what I need for my tax situation.

One thing I'd add is to make sure whoever you hire carries professional liability insurance, regardless of their credentials. I learned this the hard way when a preparer made an error on my return that resulted in penalties and interest. Even someone with all the right certifications can make mistakes, and you want to be protected if that happens. Also, don't be afraid to ask about their error resolution process upfront. A good tax professional should be willing to represent you if there are issues with the return they prepared, and many will cover penalties that result from their mistakes. This is especially important if you're dealing with a complex situation like the large tax bill you mentioned - you want someone who'll stand behind their work. The credential discussion here has been really helpful, but I think practical experience and accountability are just as important as the letters after someone's name.

I went through this exact situation with Amazon Flex last year! Here's what fixed it for me: 1. Clear your browser cache completely 2. Try using a different browser altogether (Firefox worked when Chrome failed) 3. Disable any ad blockers or privacy extensions 4. Make sure you're using the exact same email address as your Flex account 5. If all else fails, contact Amazon Flex support through the app Such a relief when I finally got in! If you're really stuck, you can also request your wage and income transcript directly from the IRS which will show what Amazon reported for you.

Hey Zoe! I totally feel your stress about this - tax deadline anxiety is real! I've been doing gig work for a few years and ran into similar issues. A few things that might help: First, definitely try Ryan's suggestion about the Stripe portal - that's actually how I accessed mine last year when the main Amazon portal was being glitchy. Also, Benjamin's tip about using the mobile app instead of the website is spot on - I've noticed the app tends to be more reliable. If you still can't access it, don't panic! You can absolutely file your taxes without the official 1099 form. Just gather all your payment records from the Amazon Flex app (go to Earnings > Payment History) and add up your total for 2023. The IRS cares more about you reporting the income accurately than having the physical form. One more thing since you mentioned caring for your mom - make sure to look into the Credit for Caring if she qualifies as your dependent. And if you're using your car for deliveries, don't forget to track those business miles for deductions! You've got this! 💪

I'm also dealing with this exact same issue! Applied for my EFIN in late January and I'm now at the 8-week mark with no movement beyond "in process" status. It's incredibly frustrating watching tax season slip away while clients are asking when they can e-file their returns. Reading through all these experiences has been both helpful and eye-opening. I had no idea this was such a widespread problem this filing season. The lack of communication from the IRS is really the worst part - even a simple "your application is progressing normally" or "there's an issue that needs attention" would help us plan better. Based on what everyone has shared here, I'm going to try several approaches: using the specific terminology about "suitability review status" when calling, checking my e-services account more thoroughly for any hidden messages, and seriously considering one of those hold services since traditional calling hasn't worked for anyone. One question for those who eventually got through - did you find out what was actually causing the delay in your case? I'm wondering if it's mostly fingerprint quality issues or if there are other common bottlenecks in the system that we should be aware of. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions. It's reassuring to know we're not alone in this, even though it's frustrating that the system seems so broken for something this essential to our businesses.

I'm experiencing the exact same frustrating situation! Applied for my EFIN in mid-February and have been stuck on "in process" status for over 5 weeks now. It's incredibly disheartening watching potential clients walk away because they can't wait for paper filing when e-filing would be so much faster. This thread has been incredibly valuable - I had no idea so many other preparers were dealing with identical delays this season. The specific terminology everyone has shared about asking for "suitability review status" and checking for "quality flags" is really helpful. I've been making generic status inquiries when calling, but being more targeted with my language sounds like it could make a real difference. I'm definitely going to try some of the solutions people have mentioned here, especially those services that wait on hold for you. After spending countless hours in IRS phone queues with nothing to show for it, having someone else handle that while I can focus on serving existing clients seems like it would be worth the cost. The documentation approach several people mentioned is smart too - I'm going to start keeping detailed records of all my contact attempts in case I need to escalate this to the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and practical solutions. It's both reassuring and concerning to see how widespread this problem is, but at least now I have some concrete strategies to try beyond just hoping the status magically changes!

This discussion has been incredibly helpful! I'm also working with a non-profit that's launching a rental assistance program, and I was getting confused by all the different rules I was reading about online. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - what happens if we provide rental assistance to someone who later in the year receives other forms of government assistance like SNAP or Medicaid? Could our rental assistance somehow affect their eligibility for those programs, or create complications when they're reporting income for those applications? I want to make sure we're not inadvertently creating problems for the people we're trying to help by having them appear to have higher income than they actually do when applying for other assistance programs.

This has been such a valuable discussion! I'm working with a community action agency that provides emergency rental assistance, and this thread has clarified so much for me. One additional point I'd like to add based on our experience - if your non-profit works with multiple landlords regularly, consider creating a simple one-page fact sheet explaining the program and its tax implications. We found that landlords sometimes had questions about whether they needed to handle these payments differently from regular rent, and having a standardized explanation saved everyone time. Also, for organizations just starting out, consider reaching out to other local non-profits who already run similar programs. Most are happy to share their policies and procedures, which can save you from reinventing the wheel. We based our initial documentation on templates from a more established organization in our area, then customized them for our specific program. The key takeaway for anyone reading this is that direct-to-landlord payments from qualified non-profits are generally not taxable income for tenants, but proper documentation and consistent procedures are absolutely critical. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical guidance our sector needs!