That letter is definitely a red flag for identity verification issues! When the IRS can't process your transcript request and specifically mentions the Identity Theft hotline, it usually means there's a verification hold on your account that needs to be resolved. The 9-month delay combined with this letter suggests your return is stuck in their identity verification system. I'd absolutely call 800-908-4490 first thing tomorrow morning - don't put this off because these cases can drag on for months if not handled quickly. They'll be able to tell you exactly what documentation you need to verify your identity and get your return moving again. The "identity theft" language sounds scary, but it could just be their automated fraud detection being overly cautious. Before you call though, I'd recommend trying taxr.ai to analyze your transcript if you can access it. It decodes all those confusing codes and gives you a clear picture of what's happening with your return, which will help you have a much more productive conversation with the IRS rep. This is frustrating but totally fixable once you get through their verification process. Hang in there! 💪

That letter is definitely concerning and points to an identity verification issue on your account. When the IRS can't process your transcript request and specifically directs you to the Identity Theft hotline (800-908-4490), it usually means their fraud detection system has flagged something that requires manual verification - not necessarily actual identity theft, but extra steps needed to confirm your identity. After waiting 9 months, this letter actually gives you a clear path forward! I'd call that number first thing tomorrow morning - they'll be able to tell you exactly what documentation you need to resolve the hold and get your refund processed. Don't delay on this because identity verification cases can drag on for months if not addressed quickly. Before calling, you might want to try taxr.ai to analyze your transcript if you can access it. It breaks down all those cryptic codes in plain English and will help you understand what's actually happening with your return, making your conversation with the IRS much more productive. A lot of folks here have found it super helpful for these exact situations. This is definitely frustrating but completely fixable once you provide whatever verification they need. Your refund should start moving again after that. Good luck! 🤞

Just wanted to add another perspective - I used to process dealer incentive payments for a major RV manufacturer. If your husband calls the manufacturer's dealer relations department (not just general customer service), they can usually look up payments by dealership and salesperson. They absolutely have records of every spiff paid out. Have him ask for the "dealer incentives coordinator" or similar title. They field these calls all the time!

As someone who works in tax preparation, I'd strongly recommend NOT filing without that expected 1099. Here's why: if the IRS receives a 1099 for $2500 that you didn't report, they'll send you a CP2000 notice (basically a bill for the unreported income plus penalties and interest). This usually happens 12-18 months after filing, and by then you could owe significantly more than the original tax due. Since 1099s were due January 31st, I'd give it until mid-February max before filing. In the meantime, have your husband contact his sales manager - they often have records of which manufacturers paid spiffs to which salespeople, even if they don't process the payments directly. Also check if his dealership uses any centralized payment systems like ADP or similar that might consolidate these payments. If you absolutely can't find the source by filing deadline, you can estimate the income and report it as "Other Income" on Form 1040. Better to overestimate slightly than underestimate and face penalties later.

This situation is unfortunately more common than it should be, especially in sales roles. You're absolutely right to be suspicious - what you've described clearly sounds like employee misclassification based on the IRS's control test. The fact that they control your schedule, require specific training, mandate meeting attendance, and dictate your work processes are all strong indicators that you should be classified as a W2 employee, not a 1099 contractor. True independent contractors have autonomy over how, when, and where they complete their work. Here's what I'd suggest before making your decision: 1. **Get everything in writing** - Ask for a detailed written description of the role, including all requirements, expectations, and commission structure. Vague promises about "performance-based" pay are huge red flags. 2. **Calculate the real cost** - As others have mentioned, you'll pay an additional 7.65% in self-employment taxes, plus lose unemployment insurance, workers' comp protection, and any benefits. Make sure any commission structure truly compensates for these additional costs. 3. **Consider it a temporary stepping stone** - If you need income immediately, you could take the role while actively job searching, but document everything and set aside 25-30% of earnings for taxes. 4. **Know your rights** - You can file Form SS-8 with the IRS to get an official determination on your worker classification, and there are protections against retaliation for questioning classification. The positive reviews might be from people who don't realize they're being shortchanged, or from the small percentage of top performers who can make the 1099 structure work in their favor through high earnings and expense deductions. Trust your instincts here - if it feels sketchy, it probably is.

I've been following this discussion closely as someone who went through a very similar situation about 6 months ago. What really helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to calculate the true cost comparison between this 1099 role and a comparable W2 position. Here's what I included in my analysis: - Base salary/commission comparison - The extra 7.65% self-employment tax - Lost unemployment insurance value (roughly 0.5-1% of income) - Estimated value of benefits I'd be giving up - Time and cost of quarterly tax filings - Potential business expense deductions In my case, the 1099 role would have needed to pay about 35% more in total compensation just to break even with a W2 position. The company was only offering about 10% more, so it was a clear financial loss. What sealed the decision for me was asking the hiring manager: "Since you're controlling my schedule, training, and work methods, would you be willing to provide a written explanation of how this meets IRS independent contractor guidelines?" They got very uncomfortable and couldn't give me a straight answer. I ended up walking away and found a properly classified W2 sales role three weeks later. Sometimes the red flags are there for a reason, and your gut instinct about this being sketchy is probably right on target.

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone completely new to HSA rules, I was initially overwhelmed by the complexity of mixed family coverage scenarios, but this discussion has made everything crystal clear. The consistent guidance from multiple community members - all pointing to IRS Publication 969 and confirming that you + any dependent on your HDHP qualifies for family contribution limits regardless of spouse's separate coverage - gives me complete confidence in the $11,100 limit for 2025. What really impresses me is how this evolved into such a comprehensive resource. Beyond just answering the basic question, we now have detailed coverage of catch-up contributions, the last month rule, employer matching considerations, documentation best practices, payroll coordination tips, and multiple pathways for getting official IRS guidance when HR departments provide conflicting advice. As a newcomer dealing with my own complex family insurance situation, I'm bookmarking this entire thread as my HSA reference guide. The combination of specific IRS publication citations, real-world experiences, and professional insights from tax preparers and benefits administrators makes this more valuable than any benefits seminar I've attended. Thanks to everyone who shared their expertise - this is exactly the kind of collaborative knowledge-sharing that makes online communities so powerful for navigating complex financial decisions!

This has been such an incredible thread to read through as a new community member! I'm currently in a very similar situation - my spouse is considering switching to her employer's coverage while I keep our kids on my HDHP, and I was getting completely different answers from different sources about HSA contribution limits. The consistency of guidance here is remarkable - seeing multiple people independently cite IRS Publication 969 and confirm that having yourself + any dependent on an HDHP qualifies for the full family contribution limit ($11,100 for 2025) really gives me confidence to move forward. It's clear that spouse's separate non-HDHP coverage doesn't impact your HSA contribution eligibility at all. What I find most valuable is how this discussion grew beyond the basic question to cover so many practical implementation details - the payroll coordination tips, documentation advice, catch-up contribution rules, and the last month rule considerations. These are exactly the kinds of real-world details that can make or break your tax planning but often get missed in standard benefits explanations. As someone who was skeptical about online tax advice initially, this thread really demonstrates the power of community knowledge-sharing when multiple experts and experienced individuals all arrive at the same conclusion using authoritative sources. I'm definitely bookmarking this as my HSA reference guide! Thanks to everyone who contributed their expertise and experiences - this level of thorough, well-sourced discussion is exactly why I decided to join this community.

As someone who just went through a very similar process with my father's estate, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help streamline things for you and your grandmother. First, if you're planning to continue selling items over several months, consider setting up a simple tracking system from day one. I used a basic Google Sheet with tabs for "Sold Items," "Pending Sales," and "Tax Documentation." This made it much easier when it came time to organize everything for tax purposes. Second, don't overlook the importance of timing your sales strategically. If your grandmother's total income for the year might push her into a higher tax bracket or affect her benefits eligibility, you might want to spread larger sales across multiple tax years. This is especially relevant for high-value items like that antique clock. Third, I'd recommend taking photos of items in their original location before you move them for sale. This can help establish that they were personal/household items rather than business inventory, which supports the "casual sale" classification everyone has discussed. The documentation advice throughout this thread is excellent - I wish I had found a resource like this when I was starting out. You're asking all the right questions, and it sounds like you're approaching this with exactly the right level of care and attention to detail.

This thread has been incredibly comprehensive and helpful! As someone who works in estate planning, I see families dealing with these auction sale tax questions all the time, and this discussion covers all the major issues beautifully. One additional consideration I'd mention - if your grandmother is receiving Medicaid or other means-tested benefits for her assisted living care, be very careful about how the proceeds from these sales are handled. Large influxes of cash from auction sales can temporarily make someone ineligible for benefits, even if the money is quickly spent on care expenses. Some strategies to consider: documenting that proceeds are immediately used for qualified care expenses, or working with an elder law attorney if the amounts are substantial. In some states, there are specific rules about how estate sales proceeds are treated for Medicaid eligibility purposes. Also, keep in mind that some auction houses and online platforms now automatically report sales to the IRS via 1099 forms at lower thresholds than in the past. Make sure you're prepared to reconcile any 1099s you receive with your actual tax obligations - sometimes these forms overstate taxable income because they don't account for basis or the personal property nature of the sales. Diego, it sounds like you're handling a complex situation with great care. The documentation and agent authorization advice throughout this thread will serve you well. Best of luck with everything!