Has anyone tried calling USO directly? I had a similar issue with Enterprise Products Partners last year, and when I called their investor relations department, they were able to email me a preliminary tax worksheet that had most of the numbers I needed.

I went through this exact situation last year with my USO shares! After hours of research and calling around, here's what I learned: USO typically releases their tax package (preliminary K-1 info) on their investor relations website around late March/early April, but the official K-1 doesn't come until September or October. I ended up using their preliminary numbers to file on time, and when the actual K-1 arrived, the differences were minimal - mostly just rounding differences and some minor adjustments. The key is to check their website frequently in the coming weeks. One thing that really helped me was keeping detailed records of all my USO distributions throughout 2024, because those numbers usually match pretty closely with what ends up on the K-1. If you have your brokerage statements, you can use those distribution amounts as a starting point for estimates. The $10k penalty your wife mentioned is likely related to foreign partnership reporting (Form 8865), but USO is a US partnership, so that shouldn't apply here. The penalties for incorrect partnership reporting are usually much smaller and based on actual tax underpayment. My recommendation: Check USO's investor relations page daily, use any preliminary info they provide to file by the deadline, and amend if needed when the final K-1 arrives. It's way less stressful than dealing with extensions every year!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! You're absolutely right to be concerned about reporting the income even without the 1099-NEC form. The IRS expects you to report all income regardless of whether you receive tax documents. For FreeTaxUSA, when you get to the income section, look for "Business Income" or "Self-Employment Income" rather than trying to enter it as a 1099-NEC. You'll use Schedule C to report your $2,780 in delivery earnings. The earnings summary from Uber Eats is perfectly acceptable documentation - just make sure to save a copy for your records. One thing I wish I had known earlier: you can deduct business expenses like the business use portion of your phone bill, insulated bags, and most importantly - mileage! The standard mileage deduction can significantly reduce your tax liability. Even if you didn't track miles perfectly, you can make reasonable estimates based on your delivery history. Also, don't forget you'll need to file Schedule SE for self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare). FreeTaxUSA should automatically prompt you for this once you enter your Schedule C information. Good luck with your filing!

I went through this exact same situation last year with Uber Eats! You're definitely on the right track - even without the 1099-NEC form, you absolutely need to report that income. Here's what worked for me in FreeTaxUSA: Don't try to enter it as if you have a 1099-NEC. Instead, go to the "Business Income" section and select "Schedule C - Business Income or Loss." Enter your $2,780 as gross receipts from your Uber Eats earnings summary. The platform will walk you through the rest. A few important things I learned the hard way: - Save that earnings summary! It's your proof of income if the IRS ever asks - You can deduct business expenses like phone usage (I claimed about 30% of my monthly bill), delivery bags, and car expenses - The mileage deduction is HUGE - I wish I had tracked miles better, but even conservative estimates helped a lot Also, FreeTaxUSA will automatically generate Schedule SE for your self-employment taxes once you complete Schedule C. The self-employment tax hit was a surprise for me (about 15.3%), so just be prepared for that. One last tip: consider setting aside money quarterly this year for estimated taxes if you plan to continue gig work. It's much easier than getting hit with a big bill next April! You've got this! The hardest part is just getting started with that Schedule C.

I actually went through this exact same verification process about 3 weeks ago and can confirm it's completely legitimate! The whole thing is part of the IRS's beefed-up security measures for 2025. A couple of things that might help while you're waiting: The CP01H notice they send is super plain looking - honestly looks like it could be junk mail at first glance. Mine came in a standard white envelope with just "Internal Revenue Service" in the return address. The 14-digit control number is in a clearly marked box about halfway down the page. The waiting period varies but mine took exactly 11 days from when I first hit that verification screen. I'd recommend checking your mail daily and maybe even asking neighbors if anything got misdelivered - that happened to my friend last month. Once you get the letter and enter those 14 digits (no spaces, just the numbers), the verification happens instantly and you're good to go. The system remembers you're verified so you shouldn't have to do this dance again anytime soon. The sa.www4.irs.gov domain threw me off too at first, but it's their official secure portal. I actually called the IRS to double-check (waited 2 hours on hold like an idiot) and they confirmed it was legit. Hang tight - I know the waiting sucks but the process actually works pretty smoothly once you get that magic number!

Just want to echo what others have said - this verification process is definitely real and becoming much more common this tax season. I'm a tax preparer and have had dozens of clients hit this same CP01H verification requirement over the past few months. The timing can be frustrating, but here's what I've observed: most of my clients receive their notice between days 8-16 after hitting that verification screen. The envelope is incredibly plain - just says "Internal Revenue Service" with no special markings, so it's easy to overlook. One thing I always tell clients is to avoid the temptation to keep clicking "resend notice" if it doesn't arrive exactly when expected. The IRS system can get backed up if you request multiple notices, and it might actually delay the process. Also worth noting - if you're married filing jointly, make sure the verification notice gets sent to the primary taxpayer's name and address as listed on the return. I've seen cases where couples assumed it would go to both spouses but it only goes to whoever is listed first. The sa.www4.irs.gov domain is 100% legitimate - it's their secure access portal specifically for this type of verification. Once you complete it successfully, you'll have normal access to all IRS online services and this verification typically doesn't repeat unless there are major changes to your tax situation. Stay patient - the system works, it's just slower than we'd all like!

idk why they gotta make everything so complicated with these codes. just tell us whats happening in plain english smh

Code 290 is basically the IRS confirming they've processed your return and assessed your tax liability. It's usually a good sign! The amount next to it should match what you reported on your 1040. If it shows $0.00, that means no additional tax was assessed and your return was accepted as filed. Keep an eye out for a 846 code next - that's the refund issued code everyone's waiting for! 🤞

Don't forget about the timing of your divorce! If your divorce will be final early in 2025, it might be worth delaying it by a few weeks to have the option of filing jointly for 2024. My ex and I saved almost $3k by pushing our divorce finalization from December 28 to January 3. Totally awkward but worth it financially.

As someone who went through a messy divorce two years ago with kids involved, I feel your pain! Here's what I learned that might help: Since you're still legally married on December 31st, you have three filing options to consider - married filing jointly, married filing separately, or potentially head of household if you qualify. Given that your kids have been living primarily with you since June and you've been separated, you might actually qualify for head of household status, which often provides better tax benefits than married filing separately. To qualify, you need to be considered unmarried (living apart for the last 6 months of the year counts), pay more than half the household expenses, and have a qualifying dependent. Before making any decision, I'd strongly recommend running the numbers for all possible scenarios. With your income levels ($85k vs $63k), filing jointly might still save you both money even during the divorce mess - you could potentially split any tax savings as part of your separation agreement. But definitely consider the liability risks Connor mentioned if there's any chance your ex has unreported income or questionable deductions. Document everything about who's paying what expenses and where the kids are living - this will be crucial not just for taxes but for your divorce proceedings too.