As someone who just joined this community and has been lurking on tax forums for months trying to figure out my own eBay situation, I have to say this thread is absolutely golden! I've been selling vintage photography equipment and was completely lost about the tax implications. Reading through everyone's experiences has cleared up so much confusion for me. The consensus seems really clear: report the income on Schedule C regardless of whether you got a 1099, deduct your original costs as Cost of Goods Sold, and document your methodology for any estimated costs where you don't have receipts. What really stands out to me is how many people have been through this exact same situation - it makes me feel so much less alone in navigating this. The practical tips about using TurboTax's business income section, keeping digital records, and batching similar items are incredibly valuable. I'm curious though - for those who have filed this way in previous years, have you ever had any follow-up questions from the IRS? I know everyone says to keep good records in case of an audit, but I'm wondering how common it actually is for them to scrutinize small-scale eBay sales like this. The anxiety about "doing it wrong" has been keeping me up at night, but maybe I'm overthinking it? Either way, thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly. This community is exactly what I needed to find!

Welcome to the community! I'm a newcomer here too, but I wanted to share that I'm dealing with a very similar situation. I've been selling vintage board games on eBay and made about $2,200 in sales with roughly $650 profit, also no 1099. This thread has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea so many people were navigating the exact same tax confusion! The advice about Schedule C and treating original purchase costs as Cost of Goods Sold makes so much sense now. I've been avoiding TurboTax for weeks because I kept getting stuck on that 1099 question. One thing I'm still wondering about though - for those who mentioned researching historical prices for missing receipts, how far back did you go? Some of my board games were purchased 5-7 years ago, and I'm not sure how to establish reasonable cost estimates for items that old. Did anyone else deal with really old purchases, or should I just be more conservative with my estimates for the older items? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've made this whole process feel much less intimidating!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a very similar situation - just discovered some W-2s from 2021 while doing my annual tax document purge. The April 18, 2025 deadline for 2021 returns that several people mentioned is definitely motivating me to act fast. I had no idea about the wage and income transcript tool on irs.gov - that sounds like the perfect first step to see what the IRS already has on file before I panic about filing amendments. The practical tips about including ALL W-2s (not just the missing one) and using certified mail are exactly what I needed to hear. It's reassuring to see so many success stories here, even with the complexity of Form 1040-X. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines - it's making what seemed like an overwhelming process feel much more manageable!

This has been such an eye-opening thread! I'm dealing with a nearly identical situation - just found a W-2 from 2021 during my weekend filing cleanup. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is how that April 18, 2025 deadline for 2021 returns is non-negotiable, but there's still time to act if you move quickly. The wage and income transcript tool sounds like the perfect starting point - I had no idea the IRS had that available online. It's fascinating how many people are discovering missing W-2s from 2021 specifically - must have been all the employment chaos that year with remote work transitions and temporary positions. The practical advice about certified mail and including ALL W-2s (not just the missing one) is exactly what I needed. Planning to check my transcript tomorrow and then tackle Form 1040-X if needed. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual refund amounts and processing times - it really helps to see real numbers rather than just theoretical advice!

I'm currently on week 4 with a 570 code that appeared March 1st. Filed January 30th and got accepted same day. What's been eating at me is seeing friends who filed in March already get their refunds while I'm still waiting! I finally broke down and called the IRS yesterday using one of those callback services mentioned here. The agent was actually really helpful - said my 570 is paired with a 971 notice code but the amounts match exactly, which apparently means it's just a standard review, not an audit or math error. She couldn't give me an exact timeline but said most reviews like mine are completing within 21-42 business days. I'm trying to stay patient but it's tough when you're expecting that money for spring expenses. At least knowing it's not something serious helps with the anxiety!

I'm on day 18 with my 570 code that showed up March 15th. Filed February 25th, accepted same day. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - it really shows that most of these do resolve within that 4-6 week window everyone keeps mentioning. What I find interesting is how random it seems to be. My neighbor filed the same day as me with similar circumstances and got her refund 3 weeks ago, while I'm still waiting. The IRS really does seem to be using more automated flags this year. I'm trying to hold off on calling until I hit the 21-day mark, but the temptation to check my transcript daily is real! Thanks to everyone sharing their timelines and outcomes - it definitely helps with the anxiety of not knowing what's happening behind the scenes.

Has anyone figured out how to handle staking rewards in FreeTaxUSA? I've got my regular trading figured out but Coinbase also gave me staking income and I have no idea where to put that. Is it different from the capital gains stuff?

I went through this exact same struggle last year! One thing that really helped me was making sure I understood the difference between what Coinbase sends you and what you actually need for FreeTaxUSA. Coinbase provides a "Tax Document" that looks like Form 8949, but it's not an official IRS form - it's their summary of your transactions. You'll use this information to fill out the actual Form 8949 section in FreeTaxUSA. Here's what worked for me: Go to the "Income" section in FreeTaxUSA, then "Investment Income," then "Capital Gains and Losses." You'll see options for entering 1099-B info, but since Coinbase doesn't issue actual 1099-B forms for crypto, you'll select the option for transactions "not reported on 1099-B." Don't stress too much about getting audited - as long as you report everything accurately and keep your records, you'll be fine. The IRS mainly cares that you're reporting your gains and losses honestly. Take your time with it and double-check your numbers against the Coinbase summary before submitting.

I went through something very similar with my son last year when he worked at a Pizza Hut for just a few days. Here's what ended up working for us: First, definitely start by calling the specific Taco Bell location where she worked. Even if she was only there 3 days, they're legally required to provide a W2 if any wages were paid. Ask for the manager and explain the situation - sometimes W2s get returned to sender if there was an address issue. If the local store can't help, try the corporate route. Since Taco Bell is owned by Yum! Brands, you can contact their employee services. Many locations also use ADP or another payroll company, so ask the store who handles their payroll processing. One thing that really helped us was having my son's employee ID number and exact dates of employment ready when making these calls. If she has any paystubs, that information should be on there. The IRS deadline for employers to send out W2s was January 31st, so at this point Taco Bell is actually late in providing it. If you don't get anywhere with the employer by next week, definitely contact the IRS directly. They can intervene on her behalf and often that gets employers to act quickly. Even though it's a small amount, it's worth getting the proper W2 rather than estimating on Form 4852 if possible. Good luck!

I work in tax preparation and see this situation frequently with short-term employment. Here's the most efficient approach I recommend: 1. **Start with the store directly** - Call the specific Taco Bell location and ask for the general manager. Have your daughter's full name, dates of employment (October), and last known address ready. Sometimes W2s are returned due to address changes. 2. **Check for electronic delivery** - Many Taco Bell locations now use electronic W2 delivery through their employee portal. Ask the manager if they use Workday or another system where she might be able to access it online. 3. **Get the payroll company info** - If the store can't help immediately, ask who handles their payroll (often ADP, Paychex, or similar). You can contact them directly with her employee information. 4. **Document your attempts** - Keep records of when you called and who you spoke with. The IRS will ask for this if you need their help later. Since it's already past the January 31st deadline for employers to mail W2s, Taco Bell is technically non-compliant. If you don't get resolution within a week, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. They can issue a formal request to the employer, which usually gets quick results. Even for a small amount like $200, it's worth getting the actual W2 rather than estimating. Plus, if any taxes were withheld, she'll want that refund!