Had to do this last year after getting flagged for identity verification. Bring everything others mentioned but also consider bringing your W-2s or 1099s if you have them - they didn't ask for mine but the person next to me needed theirs. The staff was actually really helpful and walked me through what they needed. One tip: park at a nearby garage if you're in a city location because IRS building parking fills up fast, especially on Mondays and Fridays. Whole process took about 40 minutes and my refund showed up 6 business days later!

Just went through this process a couple weeks ago! In addition to what everyone mentioned, I'd recommend bringing a printed copy of your online account transcript if you have access to it - the IRS agent said it helped speed things up since they could see my filing history right there. Also, dress business casual if possible - I know it sounds silly but the security and staff seemed to take me more seriously vs the person before me in flip flops and a tank top. My appointment was at 10am and I was out by 10:35, refund hit my account exactly 8 days later. The whole thing was way less stressful than I built it up to be in my head!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation, especially when your health needs are involved. Your landlord's defensive reaction to a reasonable request for documentation is definitely concerning and suggests she may be trying to avoid creating a paper trail. As others have mentioned, you do have established tenant rights after 6 months of consistent payments - this creates a legal month-to-month tenancy in most states, even without a written lease. For your immediate medical assistance needs, I'd recommend calling the program directly and explaining your situation. Use phrases like "month-to-month tenant" and "uncooperative landlord" - these are terms they're familiar with. Ask specifically about their alternative documentation policies or hardship exceptions. While you're waiting to hear back from them, start gathering every piece of evidence you can: bank statements or ATM receipts showing those $925 payments, any mail delivered to your address, photos of yourself at the property, screenshots of any texts with your landlord about rent, utility bills (even if not in your name). This creates a comprehensive picture of your legitimate tenancy. You might also create a simple notarized "Declaration of Tenancy" stating when you moved in, your monthly rent amount, and payment history. Many assistance programs will accept this type of self-created documentation when combined with supporting evidence. Consider reaching out to your local tenant rights organization or legal aid office - they often have templates specifically for situations like this and know what documentation your area's medical programs typically accept. Focus on getting your healthcare documentation sorted first. The tax reporting issue, while valid, should be secondary to ensuring you get the medical assistance you need.

I'm really sorry you're going through this difficult situation, especially when your healthcare needs are at stake. Your landlord's aggressive reaction to a simple lease request is definitely suspicious and suggests she's trying to avoid creating any documentation trail. The good news is you have more options than you might realize. After 6 months of consistent payments, you've established legal tenancy rights in most states - this is called a "month-to-month tenancy" and gives you legitimate tenant protections even without a written lease. For your medical assistance application, don't let her refusal stop you. Contact the program directly and explain that you're a "month-to-month tenant with an uncooperative landlord" - they hear this situation regularly. Ask about their alternative documentation policies or hardship exceptions. Start gathering evidence immediately: bank statements showing those $925 payments, any mail at your address, photos of yourself at the property, screenshots of texts about rent, even utility bills. You can also create a notarized "Declaration of Tenancy" documenting when you moved in and your payment history. Local tenant advocacy groups often have templates for exactly this situation and know what your area's medical programs typically accept. Legal aid offices can also provide guidance on your specific tenant rights. Regarding the tax evasion concern - while that's worth addressing eventually, prioritize getting your medical documentation first. Your health needs are urgent, and you need stable housing while sorting this out. You're not powerless here. Focus on your healthcare needs first, document everything you can, and don't let her intimidation prevent you from accessing the medical assistance you need and deserve.

This has been such an enlightening discussion to read through! As someone who recently started using Venmo more frequently and was getting increasingly anxious about potential tax implications, I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences and professional insights. What stands out most to me is how the core message has been consistent across all perspectives - whether from tax professionals, people who've spoken with IRS agents, or regular users who've navigated these concerns successfully. The IRS isn't monitoring everyday personal transactions like splitting dinner bills, paying roommates for utilities, or reimbursing friends for shared expenses. I think the key insight that's helped ease my worry is understanding that the payment method (cash vs Venmo) doesn't change the fundamental tax rules. Personal reimbursements and selling personal items at a loss have never been taxable, regardless of how you receive the money. The $600 reporting threshold applies to business transactions, not your friend paying you back for their share of groceries. Moving forward, I'm going to focus on the practical advice shared here: using the appropriate payment categories (friends/family for reimbursements), keeping simple records for any personal item sales, and remembering that honest personal transactions aren't creating hidden tax liabilities. It's such a relief to replace unfounded anxiety with actual understanding of how this works!

This thread has been absolutely fantastic! I'm new to this community and was having major anxiety about my Venmo usage after my accountant casually mentioned "new payment app reporting rules" without really explaining what that meant. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly reassuring. What really helped me understand the situation is seeing how many people have successfully used Venmo for normal personal transactions without any issues. I've been splitting rent with my roommates, paying friends back for concert tickets, and occasionally selling old textbooks and electronics (always for way less than I originally paid). I was starting to think I needed to document every single $20 transaction! The key insight for me has been understanding that the IRS hasn't fundamentally changed what's taxable - they're just getting better reporting on digital transactions. But personal reimbursements, bill splitting, and selling personal items at a loss remain non-taxable regardless of the payment method. The distinction between what gets reported TO the IRS versus what actually creates tax liability was huge for me to grasp. I'm definitely going to start being more intentional about using friends/family vs goods/services categories and maybe keep simple notes for personal sales, but it's such a relief to know that my normal Venmo activity isn't some ticking time bomb of tax problems. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical, real-world guidance!

This is a great comprehensive breakdown of your retirement strategy! I wanted to add one more consideration that might be relevant given your income levels - the timing of your solo 401k contributions throughout the year. Since you're making significant quarterly estimated tax payments on your 1099 income, you might want to consider making your solo 401k contributions quarterly as well rather than waiting until the end of the year. This can help reduce your estimated tax burden and improve cash flow. Also, with your combined income approaching $500k, you're definitely in territory where tax-loss harvesting in your taxable investment accounts could provide meaningful benefits alongside your retirement contributions. The tax savings from harvesting losses can be substantial at your marginal tax rate. One more thought - if your consulting business continues to grow, you might want to explore whether converting to an S-Corp election could provide additional tax savings on the self-employment tax portion, though this adds complexity and requires careful analysis of the tradeoffs. Really solid planning overall though! The combination of maxing traditional retirement accounts while doing backdoor Roth conversions gives you great tax diversification for the future.

Great question about quarterly contributions! You can absolutely make employer contributions to your solo 401k throughout the year - you don't have to wait until year-end. The key is making reasonable estimates based on your expected annual profit. If you end up contributing too much based on your actual final net self-employment earnings, you can always correct it before the tax filing deadline. Many solo 401k providers allow you to set up automatic monthly or quarterly contributions, which really helps with cash flow management and dollar-cost averaging into your investments. Regarding S-Corp election, the general rule of thumb is that it starts making sense when your net self-employment income is around $60,000-$80,000 or higher. At your $312,500 level, you could potentially save thousands in self-employment taxes. The basic idea is that you pay yourself a "reasonable salary" (subject to payroll taxes) and take the rest as distributions (not subject to SE tax). However, S-Corp election is a year-long commitment and adds complexity - you'll need payroll processing, quarterly payroll tax filings, and potentially more accounting costs. You'd also lose the ability to make solo 401k contributions based on 1099 income (since you'd now be a W2 employee of your own S-Corp), though you could potentially do a SEP-IRA or corporate 401k instead. Given your income level and the complexity of your situation, I'd definitely recommend running the numbers with a tax professional who can model the total tax impact across multiple years. The savings can be substantial, but the decision depends on your specific circumstances and long-term business plans.

I went through this same process last month and can confirm what others have said - bring more than you think you need. The IRS accepts several documents for SSN verification beyond just the original card: W-2, 1099, or even a paystub showing your full SSN. For photo ID, they want government-issued only (driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID). One thing I'd add that helped me: call ahead to confirm your local Taxpayer Assistance Center's specific requirements. Some locations have slightly different procedures, and you can also ask if they have any current wait times or if appointments are running on schedule. The number for TAC appointments is 844-545-5640. Also, since you're a gig worker, make sure you bring documentation showing your income sources (1099-NEC forms, etc.) as they sometimes want to verify the tax return information matches your actual earnings. Good luck with your verification!

For in-person verification, the core documents you'll need are: (1) government-issued photo ID like your driver's license or passport, (2) Social Security card OR acceptable alternative like a W-2 or 1099 showing your full SSN, and (3) the original verification letter they sent you. Since you're a gig worker, definitely bring your 1099-NECs as backup documentation. Pro tip: Schedule your appointment ASAP through the Taxpayer Assistance Center at 844-545-5640. With April 15th approaching, appointment slots fill up quickly. I'd also recommend bringing two forms of address verification (utility bills, bank statements) just in case, even though they're not always required. Better to be over-prepared than have to reschedule and risk missing your deadline. The verification process typically takes 30-60 minutes once you're seen, and refunds are usually processed within 1-2 weeks after successful verification. Don't stress too much - as long as you have valid ID and SSN documentation, you should be good to go!