IRS claims I owe $148,000 from Stripe account that isn't mine - how to dispute?

This sounds like a case of incorrect information reporting. You're taking the right steps, but you need to be more strategic about resolving this. Skip H&R Block for this issue - they're better for routine tax preparation than complex disputes. You need to request a meeting with your local Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), which is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems. They can often cut through red tape more effectively than regular IRS channels. For documentation, gather: 1) Employment records showing your end date at the previous company, 2) Any communications with the former employer about this issue, 3) Your personal Stripe account statements showing the account you actually control, and 4) Your tax returns from 2021-2022 showing the income you actually reported. Also request a "wage and income transcript" from the IRS for 2022, which will show exactly what was reported to them under your SSN. This will help identify where the incorrect reporting originated.

I went through something similar last year - not with Stripe but with a 1099-K from Square that wasn't mine. The back-and-forth with the IRS was making me lose sleep. I finally used this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that specializes in handling documentation issues with the IRS. They have a document analysis tool that helped me identify exactly what was reported incorrectly and build a proper case. They drafted a formal dispute letter that included all the right terminology and references to tax code that I wouldn't have known to include. The best part was they helped me understand exactly what documentation would prove my case. Much better than trying to figure it out alone or getting generic advice from tax prep places.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. I was dealing with an IRS notice claiming I hadn't reported income from a business partnership I was never actually part of. The document analysis was surprisingly thorough - they found details in the IRS notice I completely missed that pointed to exactly when the mixup happened. They helped me put together documentation that specifically addressed each point in the notice. The dispute letter they helped create was way more professional than what I would have written on my own. Got confirmation from the IRS last week that the case is resolved and I don't owe anything! Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with income incorrectly attributed to you.

Dealing with the IRS directly might be your best bet, but good luck getting through to them on the phone. I spent literally weeks trying to reach someone about a similar issue. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at the IRS. They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when an actual agent is on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Once I actually got to speak with someone, I was able to explain my situation and get guidance on exactly what documentation I needed to submit. The agent also put notes in my account showing I was disputing the charges, which helped pause some collection activities.

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After struggling for another week trying to reach the IRS on my own about a tax lien issue, I broke down and tried Claimyr. It actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back about 1.5 hours after setting it up, and there was a real IRS agent on the line. They hadn't been notified about my previous correspondence at all, which explained why I kept getting automated notices. The agent was able to put a temporary hold on collections while I submit my documentation. If I'd known about this sooner, I could have saved myself months of stress and those certified mail costs for letters that apparently went nowhere. Sometimes it's worth getting help navigating the system.

Be careful with going directly to an IRS office. I made that mistake. They made me fill out a bunch of forms, which seemed helpful at the time, but then I got even MORE confused notices afterward. Your situation sounds like a classic case of incorrect income reporting. Someone (probably your former employer) submitted a 1099-K with your SSN attached to their account. The fact that Stripe won't help is unfortunately typical - they usually require the account owner to make any changes. Document EVERYTHING. Every call, email, letter. Keep copies of your employment termination paperwork. Get an official employment verification letter if possible. You might even need to file a Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) if your former employer doesn't fix this.

Don't waste your time with H&R Block for something this complex. You need a CPA who specializes in tax controversy or a tax attorney. The IRS has a procedure called "substitute for return" where they create a tax return for you based on income reported under your SSN if they think you didn't file. They probably got a 1099-K from Stripe with your SSN and assumed that income was yours. Get a CP2000 transcript and wage/income transcript from your IRS online account. This will show exactly what was reported and by whom. Sometimes the business name will be listed and that might help confirm it's your former employer.