The collective wisdom around here is that persistence pays off, but with strategy. The IRS actually publishes their call center metrics, and Mondays and Tuesdays are statistically the worst days to call (who knew tax problems strike on weekends? 😏). Thursdays between 10-11am and 2-3pm Eastern tend to have the lowest volume. One trick that's worked for several folks here: if you have a specific form question, call the forms ordering line (800-829-3676) which usually has humans answering, then politely explain your situation and ask to be transferred to the appropriate department. The forms people are often the unsung heroes of the IRS phone system. Just be patient and unfailingly polite - these folks deal with frustrated people all day.

I've had success with a hybrid approach that combines several strategies mentioned here. First, I use the callback feature on the main line (800-829-1040) - press 2 when they offer callback instead of waiting on hold. This preserves your place in queue while you go about your day. Second, I've found that calling exactly at 12:00 PM ET often works because that's when they return from lunch and queues temporarily clear. For 1099 discrepancies specifically, you might also try the Automated Underreporter (AUR) unit directly if you've received any notices - they have a dedicated line that's less congested than general inquiry. The key is having all your documentation ready before calling: the 1099 in question, your filed return, and any related correspondence. I've noticed agents can resolve these issues much faster when you have everything at hand rather than having to call back multiple times.

I'd strongly recommend reporting the $500 even though it's a small amount. Here's why: the IRS has been increasing their data matching capabilities, and many online platforms are required to report payments to them even if they don't send you a 1099. If you use PayPal, Venmo, CashApp, or similar services, they're now reporting transactions over $600 total per year to the IRS. Even if your feet pic income stays under that threshold, it's better to be transparent. The good news is that for $500 in self-employment income, you likely won't owe any self-employment tax (since that kicks in at $400 net income, and you can deduct legitimate business expenses). You'd just report it as other income on your tax return. My advice: keep detailed records of all transactions, set aside about 20-25% of what you earn for taxes just in case, and consider any expenses you can legitimately deduct (portion of phone/internet bills, any equipment, etc.). Better to over-report than under-report when it comes to the IRS.

I've been following this thread and wanted to add something that might help. As someone who works in tax preparation, I see situations like this all the time. The $500 threshold is actually pretty common for people testing out online side gigs. Here's what I tell my clients: even though $500 seems small, reporting it correctly from the start establishes good habits and protects you down the line. The IRS has gotten much better at cross-referencing data from payment processors, social media platforms, and other digital sources. For your specific situation, since you're planning to stop after making $500, you're probably looking at reporting this as "Other Income" on Schedule 1 of your Form 1040, assuming your net earnings stay under $400 after any legitimate business deductions. Keep receipts for anything related to this activity - even small expenses like a portion of your internet bill or phone costs can help reduce your taxable income. The key is documentation. Screenshot every transaction, keep records of any expenses, and track dates. Even if you never get audited, having clean records makes filing so much easier. And honestly, for $500 in additional income, you're probably looking at maybe $50-75 in extra federal taxes depending on your bracket, so it's not going to break the bank. Good luck with the car repair fund!

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your spouse is a citizen of a country that has a tax treaty with the US, there might be additional considerations. I'm married to a Canadian citizen who lives in Toronto while I'm in Boston, and we discovered some specific treaty benefits. Check if your spouse's European country has a tax treaty with the US - it could affect your filing options and potential tax benefits. The IRS Publication 901 (U.S. Tax Treaties) has more info on this.

Has anyone in this thread actually just filed as Single despite being married to someone overseas? I mean what's the realistic chance of the IRS finding out if your spouse has no US presence, income, or SSN/ITIN? Asking for a friend...

Make sure you're using a good tax software that can handle self-employment income if you're filing yourself. I use FreeTaxUSA for this exact situation (W-2 job plus side income). Also, regarding deductions, the general rule is that an expense must be "ordinary and necessary" for your business to be deductible. Transportation passes this test easily. Gym membership probably doesn't unless explicitly required. Subscriptions are a gray area - you'd need to prove they're ordinary and necessary for sperm donation specifically. Don't push the boundaries too much here. The amount you'd save on questionable deductions isn't worth triggering an audit. Transportation costs alone will still reduce your taxable income nicely.

Just a heads up - if you're using rideshare for transportation, make sure you're saving those receipts in the app! Both Uber and Lyft let you download annual summaries that break down all your rides, which makes it super easy to filter out just the business trips to the clinic. For the gym membership, I'd be really careful there. The IRS has consistently ruled that general fitness expenses are personal even when they might benefit your work. Unless the sperm bank specifically requires a gym membership in writing, I'd skip trying to deduct it. One thing I haven't seen mentioned - you might be able to deduct costs for any required medical screenings or tests that aren't covered by the clinic. Also, if you had to take time off your regular job for appointments, that lost income isn't deductible, but any parking fees or other direct costs from those visits would be. The key is keeping detailed records of everything. Even if an expense seems questionable, having good documentation puts you in a much better position if you ever get audited.

Has anyone tried ProSeries for 1065s? My accountant friend suggested it might be good for my situation (3 investment LLCs with about 30 investors total), but I haven't found many reviews from people using it specifically for investment partnerships with lots of K-1s.

I've been using TaxSlayer Pro for my investment partnership returns for the past two years and it's been solid for my needs. I manage 4 LLCs with about 60 K-1s total across them, so similar volume to what you're dealing with. The main advantages I've found: reasonably priced (especially compared to UltraTax/Lacerte), good member database that carries forward year to year, and pretty intuitive K-1 batch processing. It handles the allocation calculations well and makes it easy to review all K-1s before finalizing. One thing to note - the state filing support isn't as comprehensive as some of the higher-end options, so if you have members in obscure states that might be a consideration. But for federal 1065s and common state filings, it's been reliable. The e-filing has worked smoothly too. For SPVs with straightforward financials but lots of partners, I think it hits the sweet spot between functionality and cost. Worth checking out their trial version to see if the interface works for you.