Help! Got 1099-MISC from META/Facebook for $40k income I never earned or received!

This definitely sounds like a case of identity theft that needs to be addressed quickly. Here's what you should do: First, report this to the IRS by completing Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit). You can find this on the IRS website. This alerts them that someone may be using your SSN fraudulently. The IRS has a dedicated Identity Theft department that can help mark your account. Next, file a report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. They'll create a personal recovery plan for you and provide documents you can use to show you've been a victim of identity theft. You should also check your credit reports from all three bureaus to see if there's any other suspicious activity. You're entitled to free weekly reports through AnnualCreditReport.com. For META specifically, try reaching out through their business help center instead of regular customer service. Sometimes explaining it's a tax document issue can get you to a different department. Also try reaching their tax department directly by email at tax@fb.com or through their corporate headquarters. Keep detailed records of all your attempts to contact them. You'll need this documentation when you file your taxes to explain the discrepancy.

After dealing with a similar nightmare with incorrect 1099s last year, I found this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me resolve the whole mess. I was getting bounced between different departments until someone on another forum recommended it. Basically, you upload your tax documents and transcripts, and their AI analyzes everything to identify discrepancies and generate the proper documentation you need for the IRS. It spotted several issues I didn't even know about and created a perfect paper trail showing I wasn't responsible for that phantom income. The best part was that it drafted all the letters I needed to send to both the IRS and the company that issued the incorrect 1099. Saved me hours of research and stress during an already stressful situation.

Update on my situation with the false META 1099-MISC: I decided to try taxr.ai after all and I'm actually shocked at how helpful it was. The system immediately flagged the META 1099 as a high-risk document based on my other tax filings and income patterns. It generated a complete paper trail including a formal dispute letter to META, documentation for the IRS, and even identified which specific IRS form I needed (not just the identity theft affidavit, but also Form 8949 with a specific code). The system walked me through exactly what to file and how. I finally got a response from META after sending the system-generated letter to their legal department address (which I never would have found on my own). They've opened an investigation and put a hold on the tax reporting while they investigate. The IRS also accepted my documentation package without questions. Still waiting for final resolution but at least things are moving now!

Since you're dealing with what looks like identity theft AND having trouble reaching META, I'd strongly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to the IRS directly. After spinning my wheels for weeks with a similar issue, I used their service to actually speak to a human at the IRS without waiting on hold for hours. They basically call the IRS for you, wait through all the hold times, and then call you once they have an agent on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was super suspicious at first but it actually worked exactly as advertised. The IRS agent I spoke with was able to flag my account for potential identity theft immediately and gave me specific instructions on how to handle the incorrect 1099 when filing. They also told me exactly what documentation I needed to provide with my return. Way more helpful than I expected!

Ok I need to eat my words and apologize. After another week of failed attempts to reach the IRS myself (disconnected THREE times after waiting 45+ minutes), I broke down and tried Claimyr. I'm honestly shocked - it actually worked exactly as advertised. Got a call back within about 3 hours saying they had an IRS agent on the line. The agent was super helpful and walked me through the exact process for disputing an incorrect 1099-MISC. They put notes in my account about the potential identity theft and gave me a specific reference number to include with my tax return. The agent explained I should still file on time but include a statement explaining the situation along with documentation of my attempts to resolve it with META. They also suggested sending everything via certified mail rather than e-filing in this specific situation. Now I at least have a clear plan of action instead of just panicking. Worth every penny for the mental relief alone!

This happened to a friend of mine last year with a different tech company! Turned out someone had created an account using his info and was getting paid for some kind of content creation. Have you checked if there are any Facebook accounts or META-related accounts using your name? Might give you clues about what's happening. Also, reach out to your state's department of revenue or tax office. Sometimes they can help pressure companies to fix these issues since they also have an interest in proper tax reporting. My friend eventually got his sorted out but it took almost 6 months.

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.