Influencer here! Don't panic, but definitely start tracking everything. I use a simple spreadsheet with: - Product name - Estimated retail value - Date received - Company name - What content I created for it At the end of the year, add it all up. If it's substantial, you'll need to report it. The companies likely won't send 1099s for products, so the responsibility falls on you. Also, start tracking EXPENSES related to content creation! Your phone, any lighting equipment, props, percentage of your living space used for filming, etc. These can offset the income from the products.

As someone who just went through their first tax season with brand ambassador income, I want to emphasize how important it is to start organizing NOW rather than scrambling in March like I did! One thing that caught me off guard was that some of the smaller beauty brands I worked with didn't have clear systems for tracking what they sent me. I ended up having to go back through months of DMs and emails to piece together what products I received and when. Also, don't forget about affiliate commission income if you're using discount codes or referral links - that's separate taxable income on top of the product values. I had to dig through multiple affiliate dashboards to get those numbers. The good news is that once you get into a routine of tracking everything monthly, it's really not that bad. Just don't put it off thinking "I'll figure it out later" because you definitely won't remember the details of every PR package you received six months ago!

I'm confused, I called today and they told me it was currently paused. But it could become active at any time.

I work in federal student aid and can clarify - the offset program officially resumed in October 2024, but there's been some confusion because different servicers are implementing at different speeds. @Chelsea Sanders you might have talked to someone who wasn't fully updated. The key thing is if you're in default, you NEED to act fast. Fresh Start enrollment ended December 31st 2024, so that window is closed. Your best bet now is to contact your loan servicer immediately to discuss rehabilitation or consolidation options before your refund gets processed. Don't wait!

URGENT FOR ANYONE WITH DELAYED REFUNDS: The IRS just updated their operational status page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations) yesterday noting a processing delay affecting direct deposits scheduled between 2/22-2/28! They're working through the backlog but not sending individual notifications. According to the TaxPro forum I follow, most affected refunds are being released this week in batches. Check the IRS2Go app for the most current status as the website updates less frequently. If you need to reach a human ASAP, call right when they open at 7am Eastern for shortest wait times.

I'm dealing with the exact same situation! Filed early, got accepted immediately, transcript shows DDD of 2/26, and still nothing in my account. What's really frustrating is that I planned my quarterly payment schedule around getting this refund by now. I called my bank twice to confirm there are no pending deposits, and they assured me nothing is coming through their system. Has anyone successfully gotten through to the IRS phone lines recently? I'm wondering if I should wait the full 21 days they recommend or if being self-employed gives me any priority for getting answers sooner. The uncertainty is killing me more than the actual delay at this point!

Anyone know if the IRS has a program for servers specifically? My tax guy mentioned something called the "Voluntary Disclosure Program" but wasn't sure if it applies to simple tip reporting issues.

I'm going through something similar right now and wanted to share what I've learned from my tax attorney. The most important thing is to act quickly but methodically. Here's what worked for me: 1. **Gather ALL your records** - bank statements, work schedules, even old pay stubs. You'd be surprised how much you can reconstruct from these. 2. **Calculate conservatively** - The IRS expects servers to report at least 8% of food sales as tips. If you can't prove exact amounts, use this as your baseline but try to be as accurate as possible. 3. **File Form 1040-X for each year** - Don't try to lump everything together. Each year needs its own amended return. 4. **Write a clear explanation** - Include a statement explaining this was an honest mistake, not intentional fraud. The IRS appreciates transparency. For your mortgage situation, consider asking your lender about a "bank statement loan" program if they offer it. Some lenders will accept 12-24 months of bank statements showing regular deposits instead of tax returns for self-employed or commission-based workers. The amendment process typically takes 3-4 months, so your 45-day timeline might be tight. But being proactive about fixing this now is absolutely the right move. Good luck!