As someone who's been through multiple IRS audits with gig work, I can confirm that reasonable estimates ARE acceptable when you don't have contemporaneous records, but you need supporting documentation and a consistent methodology. The key is being able to show HOW you calculated your estimates. If you use your delivery history to calculate average miles per delivery, then apply that to your missing months, that's defensible. Just document your process clearly. For going forward, I'd honestly recommend investing in a good tracking app. Yes, it costs money, but think of it this way - if you drive 15,000 business miles in a year, that's nearly $10,000 in deductions at the current rate. A $5-10/month app subscription is a tiny fraction of that potential tax savings. The biggest mistake I see drivers make is trying to save $60 on an app subscription and then losing thousands in deductions because they forgot to track consistently. Your future tax savings will far outweigh the app costs. Whatever system you choose, just pick one and stick with it religiously. The IRS cares more about consistency and reasonable documentation than perfection.

Just want to echo what others have said about not getting too stressed about the missing months - you're definitely not the first dasher to face this situation! One thing I'd add is to check if your car insurance or phone has any location tracking data you could use as backup documentation. Some insurance companies track mileage for usage-based discounts, and your phone's location history might show your delivery patterns even if you weren't actively tracking. Also, don't forget that your phone and any mileage tracking app subscriptions are tax-deductible business expenses too! So even if you do pay for a premium app, you can write off that cost. The most important thing is just picking a system that works for YOUR habits and sticking with it. Whether it's a fancy app, a notebook, or just odometer photos on your phone - consistency beats perfection every time. You've got this!

Check if you're eligible for the Fresh Start program. Even if they took your refund, you might be able to get your loans out of default and potentially recover some of the offset funds. The program is still available through 2024.

I'm sorry this happened to you! This is really frustrating when you're counting on that money. Just to add to what others have said - when you call the Department of Education, ask specifically about the "injured spouse" provisions if you're married and filed jointly. Sometimes the non-debtor spouse can recover their portion of the refund. Also, keep all documentation about the offset - you'll need it if you decide to pursue any appeals or hardship requests. The whole system is confusing and they don't make it easy to understand your rights.

Have you tried reaching META through their investor relations department? Sounds weird but it worked for me with a similar issue. They're much more responsive because they deal with actual humans and money questions. Also check your wage and income transcript from the IRS (you can get it online through their website) to see if there are any other surprise 1099s or W-2s you don't recognize. If someone has your SSN they might be using it with multiple companies.

This is such a frustrating situation, but you're getting some great advice here! I went through something similar with a different company and want to add a few things that helped me: First, when you contact META (however you manage to reach them), ask specifically for their "Tax Document Error Resolution" department. Don't let them transfer you to general customer service - be very specific about needing to correct an erroneous 1099-MISC. Second, consider filing a complaint with your state's Attorney General's office. Many AGs have consumer protection divisions that will contact companies on your behalf, especially for identity theft cases. It's free and sometimes gets faster results than individual attempts. Third, document EVERYTHING with timestamps - every phone call, email attempt, chat session, even the failed ones. The IRS wants to see you made good faith efforts to resolve this before filing. One more thing - when you do get this resolved, ask META to send you a corrected 1099-MISC showing $0 income. Don't just accept their word that they've "fixed it internally." You need paper proof for your records in case this ever comes up again in an audit. Stay strong - identity theft cases like this do get resolved, it just takes persistence and the right documentation!

I feel your pain! I've been battling the IRS phone system for years and it's gotten progressively worse. What finally worked for me was a combination approach: First, I tried calling exactly at 7:00 AM Eastern when they open - set multiple alarms because that first few minutes window is crucial. Second, I learned that if you get the "we're experiencing high call volume" message, don't hang up immediately. Sometimes if you wait through the entire message, it will actually put you in a queue instead of disconnecting you. Third, I started keeping a detailed log of every call attempt with timestamps - this helped me identify patterns in when I was more likely to get through. For property tax deduction questions specifically, you might also want to check if your local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center offers walk-in appointments. I know it's not ideal, but sometimes face-to-face is the only way to get complex issues resolved. Hang in there - the system is broken but persistence usually pays off eventually!

I've had success using a different approach - calling the IRS Practitioner Priority Service line at 866-860-4259 even though I'm not a tax professional. When they ask for your PTIN, just explain you're a taxpayer with a complex question that the regular lines can't handle. About 60% of the time, they'll transfer you to the appropriate department instead of hanging up. Also, try calling on Wednesdays around 2:30 PM - I've noticed that's when they seem to have more available agents, probably because it's mid-week and most people call on Mondays or Fridays. For property tax deduction questions specifically, make sure you have your Form 1098 handy and know your exact question before calling. The agents can help much faster when you're prepared with specific details rather than general confusion.

Has anyone considered that Toyota might accept alternative documentation? When I worked with Nissan, they initially asked for a Form 6166, but when I explained the delay in getting one, they accepted a combination of: - Copy of my Social Security card - Passport copy - Notarized statement of US residency - Copy of most recent tax return (which in your brother's case might be the parents' return showing him as dependent) It's worth asking Toyota's contracting department if they have any alternative documentation options while the actual 6166 is being processed.

I've been through this exact scenario with my nephew last year when he got his first job after college. The key thing to understand is that being claimed as a dependent doesn't disqualify you from getting a Form 6166 - it just changes how you fill out Form 8802. When your brother completes Part II of Form 8802, he should select the box indicating he hasn't filed a U.S. tax return and then clearly explain in the attached statement that he was claimed as a dependent on your parents' returns. Include the tax years and your parents' names/SSNs where he was listed. One thing I'd add to the other advice here - make sure he includes his Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number consistently throughout all documentation. The IRS is very particular about matching identifiers. Also, given Toyota's timeline pressures, I'd strongly recommend paying for expedited processing upfront. It's worth the extra cost to avoid losing the contract opportunity. Japanese companies like Toyota are notoriously inflexible on documentation requirements, so having that Form 6166 in hand is really the only path forward.