I'm sort of in the same boat but I did multiple apps - DoorDash, UberEats and Instacart all under $600 each. Do I combine them all on one Schedule C or do separate ones for each app?

Great question! I was in a similar situation a couple years ago with small gig earnings. Just to add to what others have said - when you file your Schedule C, make sure to keep good records of everything even for small amounts. The IRS doesn't care if you made $50 or $5000, they want to see it reported correctly. One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, platform (DoorDash), gross earnings, and miles driven. Even if you're reconstructing this after the fact, having it organized makes filing much easier. Also worth noting - if your net profit after expenses ends up being under $400, you won't owe self-employment tax, but you still report the income on Schedule C and it flows to your 1040. The income might still be subject to regular income tax depending on your total income and tax situation. Keep all your records for at least 3 years in case the IRS has questions later!

Just wanted to add my experience - I had the exact same thing happen about 6 months ago with a "fed-prov/terr Canada" deposit that completely caught me off guard. Like others mentioned, it turned out to be the GST/HST credit, but what really helped was calling the automated phone line at 1-800-387-1193. You don't have to wait on hold - just enter your SIN and it tells you all your recent benefit payments and amounts. The timing with your second job is definitely just coincidence since these are all based on last year's tax return. But keep track of your total income this year because working two jobs might bump you into different benefit categories for next year's payments. Some benefits have income thresholds where earning a bit more can actually qualify you for additional credits. Don't worry about spending it - if the CRA deposited it, you're entitled to it based on your previous tax filing. Just good to know what it is so you can budget for future payments!

As someone who's dealt with similar mystery deposits, I can confirm this is most likely a legitimate government benefit payment. The "fed-prov/terr Canada" label typically indicates federal-provincial/territorial benefit programs like GST/HST credit, Canada Workers Benefit, or climate action incentives. Your second job timing is just coincidence - these payments are calculated from your previous year's tax return, not current employment. However, having two jobs might actually work in your favor for next year's benefits depending on your total income bracket. The easiest way to identify the payment is through CRA My Account online, but if you don't want to set that up right away, you can call the automated line at 1-800-387-1193. Just enter your SIN and it'll tell you exactly what recent payments you've received without any hold time. Don't stress about spending it - if CRA deposited it, you're entitled to it based on your tax filing. These aren't mistakes that need to be repaid. Just good to know what it is so you can plan for any future scheduled payments throughout the year!

13 Just a heads up - with amounts that large, you should make sure you received and are reporting all your W-2Gs correctly. Casinos are required to issue them for: - Slot machine wins of $1,200 or more - Poker tournament wins over $5,000 - $600 or more in winnings AND the payout is at least 300x the wager If you have close to a million in gambling income, you should have a stack of these forms! Make sure all your reported income matches what the IRS already has on file from the casinos.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can tell you that $750k in gambling income will definitely get noticed, but as long as your documentation is solid, you should be fine. The IRS sees these amounts more often than you'd think, especially with the rise of sports betting and online gambling. A few key things based on my experience: 1. Keep EVERYTHING - win/loss statements, bank records, travel receipts to casinos, even photos of jackpot wins if you have them. The more documentation, the better. 2. Consider filing an extension to give yourself more time to organize everything properly. With amounts this large, it's worth taking the extra time to get it right. 3. If you do get audited (which isn't guaranteed), they're mainly looking to verify that your reported losses are legitimate gambling losses, not fabricated deductions. Your casino win/loss statements are your best defense. The biggest mistake I see people make is trying to hide or underreport the winnings thinking it won't be noticed. The casinos already reported your wins to the IRS, so everything needs to match up perfectly.

Has anyone here tried using the IRS's "OIC" (Offer in Compromise) instead of a payment plan? I've been seeing ads about "settling your tax debt for pennies on the dollar" and wondering if that's legit or just marketing garbage.

Thank you so much for all this helpful information! I just got off the phone with my aunt and uncle and we were able to get them set up with a payment plan through the IRS website. The online application was actually much easier than I expected - took about 20 minutes and they got instant approval for a 36-month plan. We decided to have them make a partial payment today (about $1,000 of the $4,500 they owe) to reduce the interest charges, and they'll pay the remaining balance at $120/month. The setup fee was only $31 since they chose direct debit, which was way better than the $149 fee for other payment methods. One thing I learned that might help others - make sure to keep a copy of the payment plan agreement they email you! The IRS agent I spoke with (yes, I actually got through after waiting 45 minutes) said people sometimes forget their payment dates or amounts and having that paperwork makes it easier to stay on track. Really appreciate this community for the quick responses when we were in panic mode. Filing separately from paying was something I had no idea about before today!

Filed March 3rd, got my refund March 20th through Cross River/Chime. But my transcript showed "refund approved" on March 15th with a DDD of March 22nd. So I got it 2 days early, not 5. I think Chime oversells that 5-day early thing tbh.

Filed March 11th with Chime/Cross River and just got my deposit this morning! I was in the exact same boat as you - checking WMR obsessively and getting frustrated with the "still processing" message. What finally helped was getting my transcript from the IRS website (took a few tries to verify my identity but eventually worked). The transcript showed way more detail than WMR and had actual codes that explained what was happening. Mine had been sitting in a verification queue for nearly two weeks. The key thing I learned is that the 5-day early deposit only kicks in once the IRS actually releases the funds and sets a direct deposit date - Chime can't work magic if the IRS hasn't approved your return yet. Hang in there, it sounds like a lot of people who filed around the same time as us are finally getting their deposits this week!