I've been through this exact same situation with my husband's return where I was listed as the third party designee. The frustration is real! After weeks of trying, I finally got through using a combination of the strategies mentioned here. What ultimately worked for me was calling the main IRS line (800-829-1040) on a Tuesday morning right at 7am when they opened, selecting option 1 for "questions about a form you filed," then option 3 for "1040 individual return questions." When prompted for specific issues, I said "third party designee inquiry" which seemed to route me to someone who actually understood the designation. The key phrase that helped was exactly what Daniel mentioned - I started with "I am the third party designee listed on this taxpayer's Form 1040" and had his PIN ready. The agent was able to tell me his return was held up because they needed verification of his business expenses, something we never would have known from the generic "still processing" message. One thing I learned: the 9+ week delay you're experiencing often indicates they're waiting for third-party income verification (like W-2s or 1099s that don't match what employers reported). As the designee, you can authorize them to proceed with processing based on the information submitted if the discrepancies are minor. Don't give up - the designation really does give you power to help resolve issues once you finally reach someone!

I'm dealing with this same frustration as a third party designee for my mom's return! Reading through all these experiences really validates what I've been going through. The inconsistency between IRS reps is maddening - some immediately recognize the designation while others act like it doesn't exist. What's really helped me is keeping detailed notes from each call attempt, including the rep's ID number when they give it. If someone incorrectly tells you that you need Form 8821 or other additional authorization (which you don't for basic return discussion), having those details helps when you call back or ask for a supervisor. One thing I've noticed is that the third party designee works best for straightforward processing questions, but if there are compliance issues or audits involved, they sometimes want more formal authorization. For basic refund delays and status questions though, the 1040 designation should absolutely be sufficient. The timing advice here is gold - I've had much better luck with mid-week morning calls. Also, if you're using any of the callback services mentioned (like Claimyr), make sure you clearly explain your third party designee status when you first speak with them so they can prep you for what information the IRS agent will need to verify your authorization. Hang in there! The designation really is valuable once you can actually use it properly.

I've been in a similar situation and ended up using a combination of approaches. First, I calculated my safe harbor amounts using last year's tax return - if you paid 100% of last year's tax liability (or 110% if your AGI was over $150k), you're generally safe from penalties regardless of what happens with your current year income. But here's what I learned the hard way: don't just assume you're covered based on rough estimates. I thought I was fine until I actually sat down with all my 1099s and realized I had miscalculated my withholdings from my day job. My suggestion would be to do a mid-year tax projection using actual numbers through now, then extrapolate for the rest of the year with conservative estimates. Include ALL income sources - W-2 withholding, estimated payments made so far, dividends, interest, any side income, etc. If that shows you're clearly above the safe harbor thresholds, then you can confidently skip or reduce remaining payments. The peace of mind of knowing for sure is worth the hour it takes to run the numbers properly. Plus, if you do end up with extra withholding, you'll get it back as a refund anyway.

One thing to consider is that the IRS calculates underpayment penalties quarterly, not annually. So even if you end up overpaying for the year overall, you could still get hit with penalties for specific quarters where you underpaid. That said, if you've already made two quarterly payments based on high projections and your actual income is coming in lower, you're probably in good shape. The key is making sure those first two payments, combined with any withholding from other sources, meet the safe harbor requirements Ian mentioned. I'd recommend doing a quick calculation: take your total tax liability from last year, multiply by 100% (or 110% if your AGI was over $150k), and see if what you've already paid this year covers that amount. If yes, you should be fine to skip the remaining payments. If you're close but not quite there, maybe make a smaller payment just to be safe. Also keep in mind that if you do end up with a big refund, you're basically giving the IRS an interest-free loan, so there's definitely value in not overpaying too much.

This situation is more common than you might think, and you're smart to address it now rather than letting it continue. Based on what you've described - especially the 83(b) election filing - you almost certainly should be treated as a partner rather than an employee for tax purposes. The key issue is that when you receive profit interests in an LLC, you become a partner in the partnership, which fundamentally changes your tax status. Partners don't receive W-2s or have taxes withheld - instead, they receive K-1s and typically make quarterly estimated payments. Here's what I'd recommend for your immediate situation: 1. **Don't file yet using just the W-2** - this could lock in the incorrect treatment and make corrections more complicated later. 2. **Get professional help first** - find a CPA who specializes in partnership taxation. This isn't standard tax prep territory, so make sure they have specific experience with profit interests and partnership issues. 3. **Gather all your documents** - profit interest agreement, 83(b) election filing confirmation, any other equity-related paperwork. Your tax professional will need these to assess your situation properly. 4. **Talk to your employer after you understand the issue** - approach them with solutions, not just problems. They probably don't realize the tax implications and will appreciate guidance on how to fix it. Regarding your future plans to potentially give back the units or move abroad - both are definitely possible, but the international tax implications of being a US partnership partner while living abroad can be quite complex. Address the current year first, then work with your professional to plan the best long-term strategy. The good news is that since taxes were being withheld and paid, you're not in a "no taxes paid" situation, which is what the IRS really cares about. This is fixable with the right professional guidance.

Yes, absolutely mention "profit interests" specifically when calling tax professionals! This is a very particular area of partnership taxation, and you want someone who has direct experience with Section 83(b) elections, profit interest valuations, and the employee-to-partner transition issues. When you call, you can say something like: "I received profit interests in my LLC employer, filed an 83(b) election, but I'm still being treated as a W-2 employee instead of receiving a K-1. I need help determining my correct tax status and fixing any compliance issues." A specialist in this area will immediately understand your situation and should be able to discuss the common approaches for resolving it. If they seem unfamiliar with profit interests or start asking basic questions about what they are, keep looking. Also, don't lose sleep over this! The IRS sees these situations regularly - small companies frequently mishandle the tax implications of equity compensation. The fact that you're proactively addressing it and that taxes have been getting paid puts you in a much better position than someone who just ignored it completely. You're taking exactly the right steps by getting professional guidance before making any filing decisions. This is definitely in the "complicated but totally fixable" category, not the "irreversibly screwed up" category!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! This has been really confusing me since I got my EIN. Just to clarify my situation - I'm a solo LLC (no S-Corp election) and literally have zero employees, zero wages paid, zero payroll activity. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like I don't need to file Form 940 at all unless the IRS specifically mails me one, which they probably won't since I just got my EIN this year. I feel much better about this now. It's frustrating how the IRS instructions can be so confusing when the actual answer seems pretty straightforward!

I went through this exact same situation when I started my consulting business! The confusion comes from the IRS trying to cover all possible scenarios in their instructions. Here's what I learned after dealing with this: If you're a solo LLC with no employees and no wages paid, you absolutely do NOT need to file Form 940. The form is specifically for Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), which only applies when you have actual employees. The "check box C" instruction you mentioned only applies if the IRS physically mails you a Form 940 - which they sometimes do automatically to businesses with EINs because they don't know who has employees. Since you just got your EIN this year and have no payroll activity, it's very unlikely they'll send you one. Keep good records showing you had no employees this year, and you'll be fine. When you do eventually hire employees (if you plan to), that's when you'll need to start worrying about Form 940, along with Form 941 for quarterly payroll taxes. But for now, focus on the tax forms that actually apply to your solo business situation!

I've been reading through this entire thread and wanted to share some additional resources that might help with your situation. As someone who works with tenant advocacy, I see cases like yours regularly - cash-only landlords who get hostile about documentation are unfortunately common. A few things that haven't been mentioned yet: **State-specific tenant hotlines:** Most states have free tenant rights hotlines staffed by advocates who can walk you through your specific protections. They can also help you understand what constitutes proper notice, eviction procedures, and how to document an informal rental arrangement for legal purposes. **Local housing inspection departments:** If your landlord is operating completely off-the-books, she might also be cutting corners on safety codes or proper rental licensing. Many cities require landlords to register rental properties and maintain certain standards. This isn't something to threaten her with, but it's useful information for understanding the full scope of potential violations. **Credit union notary services:** Several people mentioned notarizing your self-created rental statements. Most credit unions offer free notary services to members, and joining a credit union is usually much easier and cheaper than using other notary options. **Medical assistance expedited processing:** When you call the medical program, ask specifically about expedited review for urgent medical situations. Many programs can fast-track applications when health needs are time-sensitive, and they're often even more flexible with alternative documentation in these cases. Your landlord's extreme reaction definitely suggests she's hiding something significant. Focus on your immediate medical needs, but keep documenting everything - you never know when that paper trail might become important for your protection.

This is such a comprehensive and helpful thread! I'm dealing with a very similar situation - my landlord has been collecting $1200/month in cash for about 6 months and absolutely refuses to provide any documentation. When I mentioned needing something for my health insurance application, she got really defensive and started talking about "keeping things simple" and how "paperwork just complicates everything." Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea that I still have tenant rights even without a formal lease, or that medical assistance programs are often flexible with alternative documentation. I've been putting off applying for benefits because I assumed I'd be automatically rejected. The text message strategy everyone's mentioned is brilliant - I'm going to start doing that immediately. Even if she never responds, having that timestamped record of our rental relationship could be crucial for establishing my tenancy and for any future applications. I'm also going to contact my local Legal Aid office and housing authority to see what templates and guidance they can provide. It's really encouraging to hear that so many people have successfully navigated this exact situation and gotten their benefits approved with self-created documentation. Like others have said, I think I need to focus on getting my immediate health needs met rather than getting distracted by potential tax issues. The hostile reaction definitely raises red flags, but my priority has to be getting the healthcare coverage I need. The other stuff can be addressed later if necessary. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical solutions - this thread has given me hope and a clear action plan for moving forward!