Thanks for mentioning this! Do you know which form specifically I need to look for? And would I need to file separate returns for each year to get the different stimulus payments?

You'll claim the Recovery Rebate Credit directly on your Form 1040 for each year. There's a specific line for it on each year's tax return. And yes, you'll need to file a separate return for each tax year to claim the stimulus payments from that year. Each stimulus payment is tied to a specific tax year. So for example, the first two payments from 2020 would be claimed on your 2020 tax return, while the third payment from 2021 would be claimed on your 2021 return. Make sure you're using the correct year's tax forms when you file!

This is actually really important advice. I had a similar issue with a family member using my info. Without a police report, it was much harder to clear things up with credit bureaus and the IRS. They often require an official report for identity theft cases.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Did you also report the fellowship stipend as "Other Income" like someone suggested above? And did you need to provide any additional documentation with your tax return?

Yes, we reported it as "Other Income" on Schedule 1 and labeled it as "Research Fellowship Stipend" in the description. This is the correct way to report it. We didn't need to attach any additional documentation to the tax return itself, but we did keep the letter from the university in our records in case of any questions. Most universities that regularly deal with international students and researchers have standard language they use for these letters that clearly explain the fellowship is not an employment relationship. Your husband should be able to request this from the international student/scholar office if you want extra peace of mind.

I used TurboTax last year for a similar situation and there was definitely an option to override. It's usually something like "I understand but want to continue without filing this form" somewhere on that screen. They make these warnings look scary but many are just precautionary.

Wait, so even if we don't get a 1099 we still have to report the income? How would the IRS even know how much I made if there's no form?

Yes, all income is legally required to be reported regardless of whether you receive a tax form for it. The IRS might not know immediately, but if you're ever audited and they discover unreported income, you could face penalties and interest. If you made under $600 with Instacart, just add up your earnings from the app and report the total on Schedule C along with any other self-employment income. It's better to be honest than risk problems down the road!

What did you do when you found errors? Did you contact them to get a corrected form?

I contacted their shopper support through the app and explained the specific errors. It took about two weeks, but they eventually issued a corrected 1099-NEC. If you find any errors, take screenshots of your weekly earnings summaries as evidence before contacting them. While waiting for the corrected form, I delayed filing my taxes. If you're up against the April deadline and still don't have a corrected form, you can either file for an extension or file with the information you have and then submit an amended return later when you get the correct form.

IRS2Go is the same database as the website "Where's My Refund" tool, they update at the same time. The app is just a mobile interface to the same system.

Thanks for sharing this. Did your mom have to pay the amount while disputing it? I'm tempted to just pay the $97 to make this go away, but I'm also upset about potentially taking a credit hit for something I never knew about.

Yes, she did pay it while disputing. The IRS representative told her that paying it wouldn't be seen as admitting fault, but would stop additional interest and penalties from accruing while the dispute was being processed. She still fought to have the collection mark removed from her credit report though, which was the more important part. The Taxpayer Advocate helped her file the right paperwork to show she never received proper notice. If you can prove you updated your address and the IRS still sent notices to the old one, you have a strong case to get the collection removed from your credit report even if you pay the bill.

True! My cousin ignored a small IRS debt and ended up with a tax lien that showed up when he tried to refinance his house. Cost him thousands in higher interest rates. Even small amounts matter to the IRS!