Lost my IRS 83B election confirmation letter. What should I do now?

Good news! You don't need to include the IRS confirmation of your 83B election with your tax return. The 83B election is something you make within 30 days of receiving equity, and you've already done that part correctly by sending it certified mail and receiving confirmation. When you file your taxes, you just need to write "83(b) election on file" at the top of your Form 1040 for the year you made the election. You should also keep a copy of your 83B election form with your personal tax records (though it sounds like you at least have the original form, just not the IRS confirmation). The confirmation letter from the IRS is really just proof that they received your election, which is important to have in case of an audit, but not something you submit with future returns.

I went through this exact nightmare last year with my startup equity! After freaking out for days, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was a lifesaver. They have this document retrieval feature that helps you get copies of tax documents you've filed with the IRS, including 83(b) elections. I uploaded my details and they helped me get documentation proving my election was on file without having to deal with the IRS directly. Saved me so much stress since I was also worried about an audit situation down the road. They have tax professionals who know exactly what forms to file to get these records and how to expedite the process.

Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. I was impressed with how straightforward the process was! I uploaded my info and within about a week they had retrieved confirmation of my 83(b) election filing from the IRS. I now have proper documentation that I can use if I ever get audited. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone. They also explained exactly what I need to do on my tax returns going forward when I need to reference the 83(b) election.

If you're concerned about your 83(b) election and need to actually speak with someone at the IRS, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had a similar issue last year where I needed verbal confirmation about my 83(b) election status. After spending DAYS trying to get through to the IRS on my own (endless hold times, disconnects, etc.), I tried Claimyr and they got me a callback from the IRS within a couple hours. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent was able to confirm verbally that my 83(b) was on file and told me exactly what I needed to do for my tax return. Sometimes getting that direct confirmation is the only way to truly stop worrying.

Just wanted to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I had another tax question about 1099 reporting that I'd been putting off dealing with. To my complete shock, I got a call back with an IRS agent on the line within about 75 minutes. The agent was able to answer my question AND I asked about 83(b) election retrievals while I had them - they confirmed you can get a copy of your filed election using Form 4506, though they recommended having your tax professional handle it as the process can be "particular" (their word). Never been so happy to be proven wrong about something!

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.

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.

As a tax professional, I want to emphasize that everyone here has given you solid advice. You're absolutely right that you don't need to include the IRS confirmation letter with your tax return - just write "83(b) election on file" at the top of your Form 1040. However, I'd strongly recommend getting a copy of your filed 83(b) election for your records sooner rather than later. While the certified mail receipt is good evidence, having the actual filed document provides the strongest protection if you're ever audited. Form 4506 is the correct form to request a copy directly from the IRS, but be prepared for a 6-8 week wait time. The third-party services mentioned here can be worth it if you want faster turnaround - just make sure any service you use is legitimate and has good reviews. One additional tip: when you do get your copy, scan it and store it in multiple places (cloud storage, email it to yourself, etc.). You never want to be in this situation again!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I filed my 83(b) election about 18 months ago for my startup equity, but I'm realizing I should probably get a copy of the confirmation for my records before I need it urgently like you did. After reading through all these responses, I'm leaning toward using one of the third-party services mentioned rather than waiting months for the IRS to process Form 4506. The peace of mind seems worth the cost, especially since I've heard horror stories about people getting audited years later and scrambling to find documentation. One thing I'm curious about - does anyone know if there's a statute of limitations on when the IRS might audit your 83(b) election? I'm wondering how long I really need to keep worrying about having this documentation readily available. Also, @Julia Hall mentioned scanning and storing copies everywhere once you get them - do you recommend any particular cloud storage services for sensitive tax documents? I want to make sure I'm storing them securely but accessibly.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! The panic is real when you can't find that confirmation letter, but everyone here has given you great advice. One thing I'll add that saved me a lot of stress - before going the third-party service route, I actually called my CPA first to double-check what I really needed for my records. Turns out they had a copy of my original 83(b) election form in their files from when they helped me prepare it, which was almost as good as the IRS confirmation for peace of mind. If you used a tax professional or attorney to help with your 83(b) election originally, definitely check with them first - they might have kept copies. It won't replace getting the IRS confirmation eventually, but it could calm your nerves while you wait for the retrieval process. Also, totally agree with everyone about the multiple backup strategy going forward. I now have my important tax docs in three places: physical file, Google Drive, and emailed to my personal email account. Never again!

I'm glad I found this thread! I'm actually a tax preparer and see this situation come up fairly often during tax season. You're absolutely right to be concerned about having proper documentation, but the good news is you're not in as bad of a position as you might think. A few additional points that might help ease your mind: 1. The IRS confirmation letter is essentially just a receipt - it doesn't validate whether your 83(b) election was filed correctly, just that they received something. Your certified mail receipt is actually more legally significant because it proves you met the 30-day deadline. 2. If you ever do need to prove your 83(b) election was filed, the IRS keeps these records indefinitely. Form 4506 will get you a copy, though as others mentioned, it can take a while. 3. For future reference, when you write "83(b) election on file" on your tax return, you only need to do this for the tax year when you made the election (sounds like that would be 2024 for you). You don't need to write it every year going forward. The third-party services mentioned here can definitely speed things up if you want peace of mind sooner rather than later. Just make sure any service you use is legitimate and has good BBB ratings or professional reviews. You handled the original filing correctly by using certified mail - that's the most important part!

I went through this exact same panic about 6 months ago! I had filed my 83(b) election for my Series A equity and then couldn't find the IRS confirmation anywhere. I was convinced I had somehow messed up this critical tax election. After reading through IRS publications and talking to my accountant, I learned that the most important thing is that you sent it within the 30-day window (which you clearly did since you have the certified mail receipt). The IRS confirmation letter is really just proof they received it, but your certified mail receipt actually serves as stronger legal evidence that you complied with the filing deadline. I ended up using Form 4506 to get a copy directly from the IRS, and while it did take about 7 weeks, it wasn't too bad. The peace of mind was worth it. Now I keep scanned copies in three different places! One tip: when you do file your 2024 taxes, make sure to write "83(b) election on file" at the very top of your Form 1040. Your tax software might have a comments section where you can add this note as well. After 2024, you won't need to include this notation on future returns. You're going to be fine - the hardest part (filing within 30 days) is already done!

I'm going through something similar right now! I filed my 83(b) election about 8 months ago when I got equity at my startup, and I've been putting off organizing my tax documents. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that you only need to write "83(b) election on file" for the year you made the election, not every year after. The advice about keeping multiple copies resonates so much. I'm pretty sure I have my IRS confirmation letter somewhere in my disaster of a home office, but after seeing how stressed everyone gets when they can't find it, I'm going to dig it up this weekend and make sure I have digital copies stored safely. One question for the tax professionals who've commented - if you're filing electronically, is there a standard way most tax software handles the "83(b) election on file" notation? I use TurboTax and I'm wondering if there's a specific field for this or if I just put it in a general comments section. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread is going to save me so much anxiety come tax time!

I totally understand the panic - I went through something very similar when I couldn't locate my 83(b) confirmation letter during a move last year! The stress is real, but you've gotten excellent advice from everyone here. Just to add one more perspective: I actually called the IRS practitioner priority line (since I work with a CPA) and they confirmed that as long as you have proof of timely mailing (which your certified mail receipt provides), you're in compliance with the 83(b) election requirements. The confirmation letter from the IRS is helpful for your records but isn't what makes the election valid. I ended up going with one of the third-party document retrieval services mentioned here and was really impressed with how smooth the process was. Having that official copy now gives me complete peace of mind, especially since I'm planning to exercise more options in the coming year. One thing I'd add to all the great backup advice - consider creating a dedicated "Tax Critical Documents" folder in your cloud storage and email important docs to yourself with clear subject lines like "83b Election - [Year] - DO NOT DELETE". That way you can search your email if you ever lose track of files again. You handled the hard part perfectly by filing within the deadline. Everything else is just paperwork management!

I can definitely relate to this panic! I went through something similar about a year ago when I was preparing for my first tax filing after making an 83(b) election. The stress of thinking you might have messed up something so important is awful. One thing that really helped me was reaching out to the startup's legal team or HR department. They often keep records of when employees make 83(b) elections and might have copies of the forms or at least records showing that you properly filed within the required timeframe. It's not the same as having the IRS confirmation, but it can provide additional peace of mind while you work on getting the official documentation. Also, since you mentioned you're filing with an extension in October, you actually have plenty of time to get this sorted out properly. I'd recommend taking a systematic approach - first check with your tax attorney/CPA if you used one, then consider whether to go the Form 4506 route or use one of the third-party services others have mentioned. The most important thing to remember is that you did everything right by sending it certified mail within the 30-day window. That certified mail receipt is actually your strongest piece of evidence that you complied with the law. The IRS confirmation letter is just icing on the cake for your peace of mind!

I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago and completely understand the panic! I had made my 83(b) election properly but somehow lost the IRS confirmation letter during a home office reorganization. What really helped calm my nerves was talking to my tax preparer, who explained that the certified mail receipt you have is actually MORE important legally than the IRS confirmation letter. The receipt proves you mailed it within the 30-day window, which is what actually makes the election valid. The IRS letter just confirms they received it, but your receipt is the real proof of compliance. I ended up using Form 4506 to get a replacement copy from the IRS, and while it took about 6 weeks, having that official documentation now gives me complete peace of mind. The process was straightforward - just make sure to specify exactly what you're requesting (83b election) and include all the required information. One lesson I learned: now I keep digital copies of ALL critical tax documents in three places - cloud storage, emailed to myself with clear subject lines, and on a backup drive. Never want to go through that stress again! You're going to be fine - the hardest part (filing within 30 days) is already done correctly. Just focus on getting that replacement copy for your records and you'll be all set.