Received a 1099-MISC from Meta Platforms showing $51K income I NEVER earned?!

This definitely sounds like a case of mistaken identity or potentially identity theft. Don't panic, but do act quickly. Here's what you should do: First, double-check that this is actually from Meta and not a scam attempting to look like an official tax document. Real 1099-MISC forms from Meta will have their corporate information and tax ID number. If it's legitimate, you should immediately contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. Explain the situation and that you've never worked for Meta. Also file Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) with the IRS. You should also try reaching Meta through alternate channels - their corporate headquarters, investor relations department, or try contacting them through their social media business pages. Sometimes these big companies have specialized departments for tax document issues that aren't well-advertised. Keep documentation of all your attempts to resolve this. When you file your taxes, you'll need to address this discrepancy since the IRS will be expecting you to report this income.

I went through something similar with an incorrect 1099 last year. After weeks of getting nowhere with the company, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a game changer. They have this cool document analysis tool that helped me figure out exactly what was wrong with my 1099 and guided me through the dispute process. Their system flagged that my 1099 had been issued with the wrong TIN/SSN, which was causing all the problems. They generated all the documentation I needed to submit to both the company and the IRS to prove I wasn't the right recipient. Saved me hours of research and probably thousands in potential tax headaches.

Just wanted to update - I actually tried taxr.ai after posting my question and I'm shocked at how helpful it was! The system immediately identified that my case was likely a TIN matching error where Meta had somehow attached their payments to my tax ID instead of the actual recipient. They guided me through filing a Form 3949-A (Information Referral) with precise language explaining the error, plus generated a formal dispute letter to Meta's tax department (completely different from their customer service, which is why emails weren't working). I got a response from Meta within 4 days, and they're issuing a corrected 1099-MISC. The best part is the documentation package I can provide to the IRS showing I took immediate action to correct the error. Such a relief!

If you're still struggling to get through to Meta, I've been in your shoes trying to reach the IRS about a similar issue. After being on hold for HOURS with no luck, I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with walked me through the exact process for disputing an incorrect 1099 and told me which forms to file to protect myself. They even put notes in my account about the disputed 1099 so there wouldn't be automatic flags on my return. Seriously worth it for the peace of mind.

Update on my situation - I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try anything and decided to give it a shot. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes who was incredibly helpful. They confirmed this is actually a common issue with several big tech companies this year due to some database error. The agent put a special indicator on my tax account noting the disputed 1099 and gave me the exact procedure to follow. You need to still file your taxes on time, but include a statement explaining the situation and file Form 8275 Disclosure Statement. The agent also recommended I send a certified letter to Meta's tax department (gave me the exact address) and said this should prevent any automatic underreporting penalties while the issue gets sorted. Worth every penny for the stress relief alone!

Check if the 1099-MISC has your correct SSN/TIN on it. There's a possibility they've mixed you up with someone who has a similar name. I had a similar issue with Uber last year where they somehow attached payments to my tax ID that were meant for someone else. I had to: 1. Contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service 2. File a police report for potential identity theft 3. Place a fraud alert on my credit reports 4. Submit a written statement with my tax return explaining the discrepancy The whole process took about 3 months to resolve, but eventually Uber issued a corrected 1099 to the right person and a zero-amount 1099 correction to me.

Could this be from Meta Creator payments or Facebook Gaming? Some people have family members using their personal info to set up accounts. Maybe check with family to see if anyone might have used your SSN to set up a creator account? My nephew used my sister's SSN for his gaming stuff and she got a surprise 1099 last year.

This is a really stressful situation, but you're not alone - incorrect 1099s happen more often than you'd think, especially with large tech companies. Here's what I'd recommend as immediate next steps: 1. **Verify the document is legitimate** - Check that all the Meta corporate information matches their official tax ID number (you can verify this through their SEC filings). 2. **Document everything** - Take photos of the 1099, keep records of all your communication attempts, and start a timeline of events. 3. **Try Meta's business support channels** - Regular customer service won't help with tax documents. Look for their "Business Help Center" or try reaching out through LinkedIn to their corporate tax department. 4. **Contact the IRS proactively** - Don't wait for them to come to you. Call the general taxpayer assistance line at 1-800-829-1040 and explain the situation. They can put notes on your account about the disputed income. 5. **File your taxes on time regardless** - Include only your actual income, but attach a statement explaining the discrepancy and what steps you're taking to resolve it. The key is being proactive and documenting your good faith efforts to resolve this. The IRS is generally understanding when taxpayers make genuine efforts to correct errors, especially when you can show you acted quickly once you discovered the problem. Don't lose sleep over this - it's fixable, just requires some persistence!