I'd also suggest checking your credit reports immediately to see if there's any other suspicious activity. If someone did gain access to your Uber account, they might have tried to access other accounts too. When you contact Uber, make sure to emphasize that you need this resolved BEFORE the tax filing deadline. Ask them for a specific timeline on when they can provide either a corrected 1099-NEC or detailed documentation proving the error. Get this commitment in writing via email. If you can't get it resolved in time for filing, you might want to consult with a tax professional about how to handle reporting this on your return while the dispute is ongoing. The IRS has specific procedures for situations like this, but you want to make sure you're protected if they come asking questions later. Also, change your Uber account password immediately and enable two-factor authentication if available. Even if this turns out to be a simple system error, it's better to secure your account now.

I had a very similar experience with Uber last year! Got a 1099-NEC for about $280 that I definitely never earned. After going through their support system for weeks with no resolution, I ended up having to file my taxes with a statement explaining the discrepancy. Here's what worked for me: I kept detailed records of all my attempts to contact Uber (screenshots of support tickets, dates of calls, etc.) and attached a letter to my tax return explaining that I received an erroneous 1099-NEC that I had disputed with the company. I reported the income on my return but then subtracted it as "Other Income" with the explanation attached. The IRS never questioned it, and about 6 months later Uber finally sent me a corrected 1099-NEC showing $0. Definitely frustrating, but you can work around it if Uber doesn't fix it in time for filing. Just make sure you document everything thoroughly in case you ever get audited. The key is not to ignore it - the IRS computers will flag you if they see a 1099 that doesn't match your return. But with proper documentation, you can protect yourself even if the company is slow to fix their mistake.

I've been following this thread closely as someone who's also considering whistleblowing on my former employer's tax practices. The information here has been incredibly valuable - thank you all for sharing your experiences. One aspect I'm still unclear about: what happens if you discover additional evidence AFTER you've already submitted your Form 211? For example, if a former colleague reaches out with more documentation that strengthens your case, can you supplement your original submission? Or would you need to file a completely separate claim? Also, I'm curious about the geographic aspect - does it matter which IRS office or region handles your case? My former employer operates in multiple states, so I'm wondering if there are strategic considerations about where to submit the form or if the Whistleblower Office in Washington handles everything centrally. The timeline concerns mentioned here are definitely weighing on my mind. It sounds like patience is absolutely critical for this process. I appreciate everyone being so transparent about both the challenges and the potential benefits of going through with this.

Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - this thread has been incredibly informative. I'm in a similar situation where I have evidence of significant tax violations by my former employer, and reading everyone's real-world experiences has been much more helpful than just looking at the official IRS guidance. A few additional questions that haven't been fully covered: Has anyone here dealt with a situation where the company might have already corrected some of their violations after you left? I'm wondering if the IRS still pursues cases where partial corrections have been made, or if they only focus on ongoing violations. Also, for those who mentioned the emotional toll - did any of you experience anxiety about potential retaliation even before submitting? I've been hesitant to move forward partly because I'm worried about my former employer somehow finding out I'm even considering this, even though I haven't submitted anything yet. The information about calling the Whistleblower Office directly at 202-622-7104 is really valuable. I think I'll start there to get clarity on some of the technical aspects before deciding whether to proceed. The stories about successful awards, even with long wait times, are encouraging that the system does work for legitimate cases with good documentation.

Has anyone used an app to track mileage as you go? I tried keeping records manually and always forget. Need something automatic.

For your specific situation as an independent contractor working with one client, your recordkeeping approach sounds solid. Just make sure you're also documenting the business purpose for each trip - even though it's repetitive (like "Material pickup from [Client Name]" and "Delivery to [Client Name]"), the IRS wants to see that detail. One thing to consider: since you're doing regular round trips, you can deduct both legs of the journey. So if it's 10 miles each way, that's 20 deductible business miles per round trip. Many people forget to count the return trip home. Also, keep your odometer readings if possible. While not strictly required for the standard mileage method, having start/end odometer readings for business trips adds credibility to your records. I learned this the hard way during an audit a few years back - the agent was much more satisfied when I could show actual odometer documentation rather than just calculated distances. Your Excel approach is perfect. Just make sure to back it up regularly and maybe print a copy for your tax files. Digital records are fine, but having a paper backup never hurts!

I'm surprised nobody mentioned IRS Publication 525! It specifically addresses this on page 12 under "How to report stock option income." It clearly states you need to adjust your basis by the amount included as income. The trickier part is making sure you account for the reverse split correctly. When I went through this, I created a simple spreadsheet that tracked: - Original shares and exercise price - FMV at exercise (from 3921) - Amount included in income that year - Post-split shares and adjusted basis Also, if you're in a state with income tax, make sure you're adjusting your state basis too! Many people forget that part.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a twist - my company did multiple corporate actions (a reverse split AND a spinoff) between when I exercised my ISOs and when I sold. From reading everyone's responses, it sounds like the key principle remains the same - adjust my cost basis to include what I already paid taxes on from the Form 3921. But I'm wondering how to handle the spinoff portion. Did anyone here deal with spinoffs in addition to splits? Also, @AstroAce, your math example really helped clarify things for me. I was getting confused about whether to adjust the total basis or the per-share basis, but seeing it broken down like that makes it crystal clear. One more question for the group - has anyone had success explaining these adjustments directly in their tax software's notes section, or is it better to attach a separate statement? I'm using TurboTax and want to make sure I document everything properly.

Sorry this happened to you. Just to add a warning - be extra careful with this. My friend tried to claim stolen crypto as a loss in 2024 and got audited. The IRS made him provide tons of documentation. They're REALLY suspicious about crypto "theft" claims since some people try to use it to avoid taxes. Make sure you have solid proof it was actually stolen!

I went through something very similar last year when my hardware wallet got compromised and $15k in crypto was stolen. Here's what I learned from working with a tax attorney: You absolutely need to report the "sale" on Form 8949 as if you disposed of the crypto on the date it was stolen, but you can also claim a theft loss. The key is having bulletproof documentation - police report, wallet provider confirmation of unauthorized access, transaction logs showing the transfer to unknown addresses, and any communication attempts with exchanges where the thief cashed out. One thing that helped my case was getting a forensic analysis from a blockchain analytics company that traced the stolen funds and showed they were mixed/tumbled, which is classic money laundering behavior thieves use. This cost me about $500 but was worth it during my audit. Also, keep in mind that theft losses are subject to a $100 floor per incident, and you can only deduct the amount that exceeds 10% of your adjusted gross income. So depending on your income, you might not be able to deduct the full loss amount. The process is stressful but doable if you have proper documentation. Don't let the fear of an audit stop you from claiming what you're legally entitled to claim.