Check if the 1099-MISC has her correct taxpayer ID/SSN at least! I once received a 1099 with the wrong SSN and it created a HUGE mess when I filed. The IRS computer systems kept flagging a "mismatch" and I got a scary letter about unreported income. Took months to straighten out.

This is definitely confusing, but you're right to want to get it sorted out! Before calling the employer, take a close look at which specific box has the amount - that'll help you ask the right questions. Also double-check that all the identifying information is correct (your wife's name, SSN, the employer's info). Sometimes these forms get generated with errors that can cause bigger headaches down the road. When you do contact them, ask specifically what type of payment this represents - was it a final paycheck adjustment, unused vacation payout, expense reimbursement, or something else? The nature of the payment determines how you'll need to report it on your tax return. Most employers' HR or payroll departments should be able to explain this pretty quickly once you have them on the phone. If you can't reach anyone at the old employer or they can't provide a clear answer, you might need to call the IRS for guidance on how to handle reporting this income properly.

Document EVERYTHING. Every call, every letter, every case number. You'll need it all later trust me

This exact thing happened to me last year! The key is getting your IP PIN from the IRS - call the Identity Protection PIN line at 800-908-4490. Once you have that, you can file your return even while the fraud investigation is ongoing. Also make sure to file a police report - some states require it for identity theft cases and it strengthens your documentation trail.

lol meanwhile im still waiting on my 2022 return... pain 🥲

Thanks for sharing this update! It's really helpful to know the timeline. I filed my Kansas return about 3 weeks ago and it's been stuck on "processing" - this gives me hope that things might be moving behind the scenes even when the website doesn't reflect it. Did you e-file or mail yours in?

Random question - does anyone know if Robinhood reports cost basis to the IRS or just the sales amount? I've heard different things and I'm not sure if the IRS will know if the numbers are wrong.

Don't stress too much about this! You're definitely not the first person to forget about small investment accounts when filing taxes. The key thing is that you're addressing it now rather than ignoring it. For the Robinhood 1099-B showing $28, that's likely the gross proceeds from sales, not necessarily your taxable gain. If you bought stocks for $30 and sold them for $28, you'd actually have a $2 loss to report, not $28 in income. Same principle applies to your Cash App bitcoin - the $4.75 is probably what you received when you sold, but your actual gain/loss depends on what you originally paid. The IRS definitely receives copies of these 1099s, so filing an amended return is the right move. Given the small amounts involved, any additional tax owed will be minimal - probably less than $10 total. The peace of mind is worth it, and if you actually had losses on these transactions, you might even get a slightly bigger refund. File Form 1040-X once your original return finishes processing. Most tax software can handle this easily for such straightforward additions.

Has anyone used the free file fillable forms on the IRS website with zero income? Wondering if there are any special instructions or if it gets confused when you put zeros everywhere.

Great question! As others have mentioned, you can absolutely file with zero income, and there might actually be some good reasons to do so in your situation. Since you mentioned being a student, here are a few things to consider: Even if your parents claim you as a dependent, you might still qualify for education-related credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit if you paid for qualified education expenses (tuition, fees, required books). This can potentially get you money back even with no income. Also, filing establishes a paper trail with the IRS that can be helpful for future financial aid applications, loan applications, or other situations where you need to prove your tax filing history. Some programs require tax returns even if you had no income. The filing threshold for someone your age who can be claimed as a dependent is pretty low anyway - if you had even a small amount of income from odd jobs, interest, or other sources during the year, you might need to file regardless. Since you're graduating soon and entering the workforce, getting familiar with the tax filing process now (when it's simple) isn't a bad idea either. Better to learn when there's less at stake!