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Has anyone dealt with this but for a larger amount? My business property had significant damage from a delivery truck ($15,000+) and they're also demanding a W9. I'm concerned that much money reported as "income" could seriously impact my taxes.
The principle is exactly the same regardless of amount - property damage reimbursement isn't income! But with that much money, it's definitely worth pushing back hard. You might want to have your accountant write a letter explaining why this isn't reportable income. If they insist, consider consulting with a tax professional before signing anything.
Great outcome on getting them to drop the W9 requirement! This is actually a textbook example of why it's important to understand your rights when dealing with insurance and liability claims. For anyone else facing this situation, here are a few key points to remember: 1. Property damage reimbursements that simply restore you to your previous financial position are NOT taxable income 2. Companies often have blanket W9 policies for payments over $600 without considering the nature of the payment 3. You have every right to push back and explain why a W9 isn't appropriate If you're ever in doubt, ask yourself: "Am I better off financially than before the incident?" If the answer is no (which it should be for legitimate damage claims), then it's likely not taxable income. The key is being polite but firm, and having your documentation ready to show this is genuine damage reimbursement, not some kind of payment for services or income-generating activity.
Just wanted to share what I learned from my accountant about this exact issue. For nearly all 1099-NECs from businesses (including Google/YouTube): 1. The Payer's Federal Tax ID is always an EIN for businesses 2. It should follow the xx-xxxxxxx format 3. Google often prints it without the dash, but it's still an EIN 4. Only individual payers (like if a person hired you directly) would use an SSN If you're making decent money on YouTube, consider getting an accountant who specializes in creator income. There are so many deductions available that most people miss! I was able to write off a portion of my internet, my editing software, equipment, and even part of my home as a studio space.
Thanks for this info! Did your accountant mention anything about how strict the IRS is about getting this specific field right? Like if I accidentally pick the wrong format but the actual numbers are correct, is that a big deal?
The IRS cares about the accuracy of the actual digits more than the format selection. If you entered all 9 digits correctly but selected the wrong format type, it's unlikely to trigger any issues since the underlying number is correct. That said, it's still best to get it right if you can. Selecting EIN vs SSN does matter for their internal matching systems. If you've already filed with the wrong format but correct numbers, it's not usually worth amending just for that. But since you haven't filed yet, definitely select the EIN option for Google/YouTube.
Another creator here - wanted to add that Google's EIN is actually publicly available information. Their EIN is 77-0493581, so you can verify your 1099-NEC has the right info. Most big tech companies' EINs can be found online.
You might want to consider pursuing a Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance (Form 911) rather than immediately filing an amendment. The Internal Revenue Code section 7811 provides for expedited handling when there's an IRS error causing significant hardship. The definition of "significant hardship" includes situations where IRS procedures weren't followed correctly, which seems applicable in your case. This approach could potentially resolve your issue in 4-6 weeks rather than the 20-week amendment timeline, especially since the error originated with the IRS rather than your filing.
As someone who went through a similar situation last year, I'd strongly recommend getting everything in writing before proceeding. When the IRS agent told you there was an error on their end, did they provide you with a specific explanation of what went wrong? I've found that different agents sometimes give conflicting information, so having documentation is crucial. Also, before filing the amendment, you might want to explore the Form 911 route that Zara mentioned. I initially started the amendment process but then switched to requesting Taxpayer Advocate assistance when I realized the error was clearly on the IRS side. It saved me about 12 weeks of waiting time. One more thing - if you do proceed with the amendment, make sure to include a cover letter explaining that this amendment is being filed due to an IRS processing error, not a mistake on your original return. This can sometimes help expedite the review process.
This is really solid advice! I'm dealing with a similar IRS error situation right now and hadn't thought about requesting documentation of exactly what they messed up. The point about getting conflicting information from different agents is so true - I called twice last month and got completely different explanations each time. @Zara Khan @Freya Christensen - do you know if there s a'specific way to word the request for written documentation of their error? I want to make sure I m asking'for the right thing when I call back. Also curious about the cover letter approach - is there standard language that works best for explaining it s their'mistake, not ours?
FYI - there's another issue ppl aren't mentioning. SBTPG sometimes has a diff processing date than the IRS. My WMR showed approved on 4/2 but SBTPG didn't receive it til 4/4. Then they take 1-2 biz days to process. So even if you get the right amt entered, the status might not show anything if you check too early. Also, if you paid for audit defense or any other add-ons, those fees get taken out too, not just the prep fees.
I went through this exact same frustration last month! You definitely need to use the full $3,247.00 amount (before fees). The SBTPG system matches against what the IRS originally approved, not what you'll actually receive. A few tips that helped me get through: make sure you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your return (with or without dashes - try both ways), and double-check that you're using the same ZIP code. Their system times out frequently too, so if you get an error, wait about 10 minutes before trying again. Also, since it's been 16 days and your IRS status shows approved, SBTPG should definitely have received it by now - their processing usually only takes 1-2 business days once they get it from the IRS.
Elijah Brown
For context, the IRS is currently processing approximately 2.4 million returns per day, with joint returns taking on average 17% longer to process than individual returns. Based on current processing metrics, a transcript showing no return filed for 4 days is well within normal parameters, especially during peak filing season (January 29 to April 15). The system typically updates transcripts in batches, with the highest volume of updates occurring Wednesday through Friday.
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Isabella Costa
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Filed on March 5th and my transcript has been stuck on "no tax return filed" since then. This is also my first year filing jointly after getting married last fall, so it's reassuring to hear that joint returns can take longer to process. I've been checking obsessively every morning, but based on what everyone's sharing here, it sounds like I just need to be patient and wait for the weekly processing cycles to catch up. Thanks for posting this - it's really helpful to know I'm not the only one experiencing this delay!
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