Another thing worth mentioning - if u work in a different state than where u live, it gets even more complicated. I work in PA but live in NJ and have to file in both states. The way they handle tax credits for taxes paid to other states varies depending on which states are involved. Some states give u full credit, others partial.

One thing that might help clarify this - think of it as two separate tax systems that don't really "talk" to each other during the calculation process. Your federal tax is calculated on your full gross income ($135k in your case), and your state tax is also calculated on that same gross income. The only place they interact is if you choose to itemize deductions on your federal return, where you can deduct up to $10,000 of state and local taxes paid. But with the current standard deduction amounts, most people come out ahead just taking the standard deduction anyway. So to directly answer your question - neither is calculated "first." They're calculated independently on your gross income, and then you get to choose the most beneficial approach (standard vs itemized) when filing your federal return.

Has anyone tried calling the international IRS number instead? +1-267-941-1099 is supposed to be specifically for international EIN requests. I've had much better luck getting through on that line than the domestic numbers.

Based on all the responses here, it sounds like you have several viable options for your SS-4 situation! The consensus seems to be that while electronic signatures aren't officially supported, they are being accepted when faxed with proper documentation. Here's what I'd recommend based on everyone's experiences: 1. **Fax method with e-signature**: Complete your SS-4, sign it electronically (DocuSign works fine), and fax to 855-641-6935 with a cover letter explaining your international business circumstances. 2. **International phone line**: Try calling +1-267-941-1099 - this seems to be the fastest option if you can get through. They can process it over the phone and email confirmation immediately. 3. **Cover letter is key**: Multiple people mentioned including a brief explanation about why you're using an electronic signature due to international logistics. Given your urgency for the banking relationship, I'd try the international phone line first, then fall back to the fax method if you can't get through. The phone processing seems to be the fastest based on Miguel's experience. Good luck with your business setup!

Quick question about depreciation start date for a multi-unit building - if I bought my fourplex in December 2023 but the tenants didn't move in until January 2024, when do I start depreciating? From purchase date or when it was "placed in service" with actual tenants?

Great question about multi-unit depreciation! I went through this exact situation with my duplex a couple years ago. You're absolutely right to treat the entire building as one depreciable asset - no need to split it by individual units. The key thing is separating out the land value from the building value, since you can only depreciate the building portion. For your $475,000 purchase, you'll need to determine how much was land vs. building. Your property tax assessment is usually the easiest way to get this allocation. Once you have the building value, you'll depreciate it over 27.5 years using straight-line depreciation. Regarding your $28,000 in improvements - the roof would typically be depreciated over 27.5 years as part of the building structure, while the HVAC system might qualify for shorter depreciation (5-7 years) since it's considered equipment with a shorter useful life. One tip: consider looking into cost segregation if your improvements are substantial. Some components like appliances, flooring, and certain fixtures can be depreciated over shorter periods (5-7 years instead of 27.5), which gives you larger deductions in the early years. Make sure to keep detailed records of all improvements and their costs - you'll need this for Form 4562 and Schedule E. The IRS loves good documentation!

Don't worry too much, this is super common! I got my first K-1 a few years ago and was like "wtf is this and why am I suddenly a business owner??" lol One thing no one mentioned yet - if your investment in the partnership is really small (sounds like it probably is), the amounts on the K-1 might be really minimal too. Like a few dollars of income. You still need to report it, but it probably won't impact your tax situation much.

Just want to add that you should double-check which specific investment account generated this K-1 by looking at the EIN (Employer Identification Number) on the form. You can then cross-reference that EIN with your investment statements or call your brokers directly. I had a similar situation where I got a K-1 from a company I'd never heard of, and it turned out to be buried deep in one of my target-date funds. The fund held a small position in an MLP that I had no idea about. Once I figured out which account it came from, everything made sense. Also, keep in mind that some investment platforms will send you a consolidated 1099 that includes K-1 information, while others send the actual K-1 forms separately. If you're getting the actual K-1 directly from Cedar Point, it means one of your funds likely has a significant enough position that they're required to pass through the partnership reporting to individual investors. Don't stress too much - this is just part of having a diversified investment portfolio! The tax software should handle it fine once you know what you're dealing with.

This thread has been incredibly thorough and helpful! As someone who just went through this exact situation with MetLife disability payments, I wanted to add one more piece of advice that saved me a lot of hassle. When you contact MetLife (or use Claimyr to get through to them), ask specifically if they can email you the payment summary rather than mailing it. I requested mine by email and received it within 24 hours, whereas friends who requested mailed copies waited 2-3 weeks during tax season. Also, if you discover that your benefits are non-taxable due to post-tax premium payments, don't forget to keep the documentation showing this determination. I created a simple folder with my pay stubs showing post-tax deductions, the MetLife payment summary, and a one-page summary I wrote explaining why the benefits weren't taxable. My tax preparer said this level of documentation would make any potential IRS inquiry very straightforward to resolve. The key takeaway from all these great responses is that this situation is much more common than people realize, and it's totally manageable with the right documentation and approach. Don't let the lack of a tax form stress you out - just be proactive about getting the information you need!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm a new parent dealing with this exact MetLife disability situation, and I was honestly panicking about how to handle the missing tax forms. Reading through everyone's experiences has completely changed my perspective from "oh no, I'm going to get in trouble with the IRS" to "this is a common issue with clear solutions." The most valuable takeaway for me is understanding that the taxability depends entirely on how the premiums were paid. I never would have thought to check my old pay stubs for that detail! I'm also impressed by how many practical tools people have mentioned - from taxr.ai for analysis to Claimyr for actually getting through to customer service reps. What strikes me most is how proactive everyone recommends being. Rather than hoping the IRS doesn't notice missing income, the consensus seems to be: document everything, get proper records from MetLife, determine the correct tax treatment, and report it properly even without receiving official forms. For anyone else new to this situation - this thread is basically a complete guide to handling disability payment taxation. The combination of professional advice from the enrolled agent, real-world experiences from people who've been through it, and practical tips for getting the documentation you need makes this incredibly comprehensive. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge!