I've been following this thread closely because I just received a similar deposit yesterday - $62.18 from TPG PRODUCTS ENTRY: SBTPG LLC ORIG GREEN DOT BANK. Like everyone else, I was completely confused since I didn't use any tax prep services that I thought would involve SBTPG this year. After reading all these experiences, I'm now realizing I used H&R Block online in 2022 and chose to have their fees taken from my refund. The amount and timeline match perfectly with what everyone else is describing. It's incredible how many people are going through this exact same situation with zero explanation from SBTPG. I'm definitely going to skip their customer service entirely and call Green Dot Bank directly based on all the positive feedback here. It's honestly shocking that their own processing bank has better information about these adjustments than SBTPG's customer service representatives do. This thread has been such a relief - I was actually worried this might be some kind of banking error or fraud attempt. Now I understand it's just part of SBTPG's poorly communicated fee reconciliation process. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions! This has become an incredibly valuable resource for anyone dealing with these mysterious deposits.

I just want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough discussion! I received a $49.33 deposit from TPG PRODUCTS ENTRY: SBTPG LLC ORIG GREEN DOT BANK three days ago and was completely panicking about it. I had no memory of using SBTPG recently and was worried it might be some kind of mistake or even fraudulent activity. After reading through all these experiences, I now realize I used TurboTax in 2021 and opted to have their fees deducted from my refund, which fits perfectly with the pattern everyone's describing. The amount with cents and the timeline all make sense now. Like so many others here, I initially called SBTPG's customer service and got nowhere - the representative seemed genuinely confused and kept saying they had no record of any adjustments. It's really frustrating that their own staff can't explain their fee reconciliation process. Based on all the overwhelmingly positive feedback about Green Dot Bank's customer service, I'm going to call them tomorrow morning instead of wasting more time with SBTPG. It's amazing that the processing bank has better records and explanations than the company that initiated these adjustments! This thread has been such a lifesaver - it's transformed what was a really stressful mystery into something I can understand and feel confident about. The community really came together to help each other figure out what SBTPG should have clearly communicated from the start. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions!

Yes, absolutely! Using your PO box as your mailing address on your tax return is totally fine and actually a smart move given your mail delivery issues. The IRS just needs a reliable address where they can reach you, and since TurboTax is specifically asking for your "mailing address" rather than residential address, your PO box is exactly what they want. I've seen so many people have problems with important tax documents getting lost or delivered to wrong addresses, especially in apartment complexes. Your PO box will ensure you actually receive any IRS correspondence, refund checks (if you're not using direct deposit), or notices that might need your attention. Just make sure to be consistent with using your PO box address throughout your tax documents this year, and consider keeping it active year-round since the IRS can send notices at any time, not just during tax season. You're definitely making the right call here!

You're absolutely making the right choice! I've been using my PO box for tax filing for over 5 years now, and it's been one of the best decisions I've made for managing my tax documents securely. Since TurboTax specifically asks for your "mailing address" (not your residential address), your PO box is exactly what they're looking for. The IRS processes thousands of returns with PO box addresses every day - they just want to make sure they can reliably communicate with you, which is exactly what your PO box provides. Given your apartment complex's mail delivery issues, this is definitely the smart move. I had similar problems years ago with important documents getting misdelivered or lost, and switching to a PO box eliminated all that stress. Now I never have to worry about missing crucial IRS notices or having my refund check stolen from an unsecured mailbox. One tip: make sure to keep your PO box active throughout the year, not just during tax season. The IRS can send notices at any time, and you'll want that reliable address available year-round. Good luck with your filing!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who recently went through this exact same situation! I was also totally confused when my potential employer asked for a "gross income redacted tax return" - had never heard of it before either. What worked for me was creating a simple checklist of what to redact vs. what to keep visible. I redacted all the dollar amounts showing my actual income (wages, salary, AGI, taxable income) but kept visible things like my name, address, filing status, employer names and EINs, and the tax year. The key is that employers want to verify you've been filing taxes and see your employment history, but they don't need to know your exact salary. I used the PDF editor that came with my computer to add black rectangles over the income numbers, then saved it as a new file. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I figured out what needed to be covered. My employer accepted it without any questions and I got the job! Don't overthink it - it's really just about protecting your financial privacy while still showing you're a responsible taxpayer. Good luck with your interview!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! As someone who works in accounting, I just wanted to add a few professional tips that might help: 1. Always work with a COPY of your tax return, never the original. Save the original in a safe place and make multiple copies for redaction purposes. 2. If you're uncomfortable doing it yourself, many local tax preparation offices (H&R Block, etc.) will help you create a redacted version for a small fee - usually around $25-50. 3. Some employers might also accept just your W-2s with income amounts redacted instead of the full return, which can be simpler since there are fewer forms to deal with. 4. Pro tip: After you redact everything, do a final check by covering the visible parts with your hand and asking yourself "could someone figure out my income from what's still showing?" Sometimes things like tax owed/refund amounts can give away income ranges. 5. Keep a copy of what you submit for your records - some companies take a while to get back to you and you might forget exactly what you sent. Hope this helps and congrats on getting the interview! The fact that they're asking for this documentation usually means they're seriously considering you for the position.

One resource that hasn't been mentioned yet is checking with your local assessor's office for any "improvement cards" or building cards from when the home was constructed. These cards often contain detailed information about the original construction including square footage, materials used, and sometimes even contractor estimates that were filed with the building permits. Also, if your aunt and uncle have any old checkbooks or bank statements from 1988-1989, those could provide valuable evidence of construction-related expenses. Even if they don't show the full construction cost, payments to contractors, material suppliers, or construction loans can help establish a minimum baseline for your cost basis calculation. Another angle to consider is contacting local architects who were practicing in the late 1980s. If the home was custom-designed, the architect might still have records of the project including cost estimates and specifications. Many architectural firms maintain project archives for decades. For the improvements over the years, try to think seasonally - roof work is often done in summer, HVAC replacements in spring/fall, etc. This might help jog memories about when major improvements were made, which can help you research appropriate costs for those time periods. The key is building a comprehensive file that shows your thorough good-faith effort. Even if individual sources don't provide complete answers, the cumulative evidence from multiple sources creates a strong foundation for your basis reconstruction.

As a tax professional who has handled numerous similar cases, I wanted to add one more crucial resource that's often overlooked - your state's Department of Labor or Employment Security office. Many states collected detailed wage and cost data from the construction industry throughout the 1980s for unemployment insurance and prevailing wage determinations. These reports often include regional construction cost breakdowns that can provide excellent supporting documentation for your basis reconstruction. The data is particularly valuable because it comes from an independent government source with no incentive to inflate costs. Also, don't forget to check if your aunt and uncle ever took out a home equity loan or line of credit over the years. The appraisals required for these loans often separate land value from improvement value and can provide multiple data points showing how the property's basis evolved over time. One practical tip: when documenting all those improvements over 35+ years, consider creating a visual timeline with photos if available. The IRS responds well to organized presentations that clearly show the evolution of the property and justify the basis adjustments you're claiming. Remember that the IRS's primary concern is that taxpayers make reasonable good-faith efforts to determine correct basis. The comprehensive approach outlined in this thread demonstrates exactly that kind of diligence. Your aunt and uncle should feel confident that they're taking the right steps to handle this situation properly.

Isn't there a hobby loss rule or something too? I thought if you make money selling stuff regularly, even personal items, the IRS might consider it a hobby and there are different rules for that vs a business vs just selling your personal junk?

This is a great question that many people face when transitioning from business to personal sales! Based on your description, you're absolutely right to treat these current sales as personal property rather than business income. The key factors working in your favor are: 1) You're not actively running a reselling business anymore, 2) These are items you've owned for many years (15+ years for some), 3) You have no receipts because they were gifts or personal purchases from long ago, and 4) You're likely selling them for less than their original value. Even though you'll receive a 1099-K if you exceed $600 in sales, you should report this on Schedule 1 (Line 8z - Other Income) with a description like "Personal items sold at loss" rather than on Schedule C. This shows the IRS you're properly accounting for the 1099-K without incorrectly categorizing it as business income. Just make sure to keep good records showing these were long-term personal possessions - photos of items before selling, notes about when you acquired them, any old emails showing they were gifts, etc. This documentation will be valuable if the IRS ever questions why you had Schedule C income one year but not the next.