I encountered some challenges in properly equipping my tax preparer with the documentation necessary for 2017’s filing.

Most (if not all) of the DIY formed LLCs I've encountered in practice have not been correctly documented, and accordingly lack the full protections available to the owners under TX law.

A scam?

If it isn't a scam, it sounds ludicrous to me.

@Jeffery Smyter IMO anyone who is going to pull the "emotional support animal" scam to get around paying the pet fees cannot be trusted.

Hey all,I want to share with you a problem I encountered and a solution I came up with.I am using the MLS as one of the sources of my deals searching.While the MLS is great, it doesn't offer me as an investor any filtering options, or actually any other 'advanced' option rather than viewing the listings.So, in the past few weeks I've been working hard on a solution for my problem and I am happy to share that I have a first working test version! 

They can also scam people by putting the gas in one persons name and electric in anothers. 

We only own 1 duplex where we've directly encountered this same decision set.Broadly I think you've summarized your options correctly. 

They also report the individual to a credit reporting agency so it sits on their credit and hopefully stops them from scamming the next person.

Most common reaction I get from my pool of family and friends is "sounds like a scam."