Received a 1099-NEC form from Uber but I've never driven for them - possible identity theft?

This definitely sounds like a potential identity theft situation, but let me walk you through some other possibilities before you panic completely. First, Uber occasionally sends 1099-NECs to customers who received referral bonuses or other promotional credits that exceed $600. Did you refer any friends to the platform or receive any significant credits or refunds last year? Sometimes these aren't clearly labeled as referral bonuses in your app history. Second, check if you have any other accounts linked to your profile like Uber Eats, even if you haven't used them. Sometimes compensation from one service can trigger a 1099 if the total is over $600. If neither of those possibilities applies, then yes, someone may have created a driver account using your personal information. When you call Uber, specifically ask to speak with their fraud department. They can tell you exactly why the 1099 was issued and what driver account it's connected to. Also, I'd recommend checking your credit reports immediately and possibly placing a fraud alert on your accounts while you sort this out.

After dealing with a similar issue last year, I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me sort through my unexpected 1099 mess. I was also freaking out thinking someone stole my identity but it turned out to be a classification error from a gig company. The taxr.ai tool analyzed my 1099 form and other tax documents and flagged the issue immediately. It explained why the form was issued and gave me the exact steps to dispute it. Their document analyzer was super helpful because it highlighted specific areas on the form that indicated a potential error. They also provided a script for what to say when I called the company, which made the whole process way less stressful. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with mysterious tax forms.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after being skeptical and it actually helped me solve my DoorDash 1099 problem! The document analyzer immediately identified that I was issued a 1099 for promotional credits and referral bonuses that I didn't realize were taxable income. It generated a custom explanation letter that I could download and gave me step-by-step instructions for resolving the situation. The coolest part was that it found a pattern of incorrect address information that I hadn't even noticed, which helped prove it was their error. I thought I was going to have to hire an expensive tax attorney, but this tool gave me everything I needed to handle it myself. Definitely relieved and less stressed about tax season now!

If identity theft is involved, you'll need to speak directly with the IRS but good luck getting through to anyone. After waiting on hold for 3+ hours multiple times trying to resolve my own identity theft tax issue, I discovered Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a complete game-changer. Their service got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 20 minutes when I'd been trying unsuccessfully for weeks. They have this whole system that navigates the IRS phone menu for you and holds your place in line, then calls you when an agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works in their demo video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with was able to flag my account for potential identity theft and gave me the exact forms I needed to submit. Saved me so much frustration compared to the weeks I spent trying to handle it myself.

Ok I need to eat my words and apologize to Profile 21. After my skeptical comment I decided to try Claimyr myself because I've been trying to reach the IRS about a missing refund for literally MONTHS. I was absolutely convinced it wouldn't work, but I was desperate. I used the service yesterday, and no joke - I was connected to an actual IRS representative in about 25 minutes. I didn't have to sit listening to that awful hold music or worry about being disconnected after waiting for hours. The IRS rep was able to tell me exactly what happened with my refund (there was a verification hold) and how to resolve it. I wasted so much time trying to call them directly. Really wish I hadn't been so skeptical and had tried this sooner!

Check if you participated in any Uber research studies! I got a similar 1099 and freaked out, but then remembered I did a paid research study about the Uber app user experience. They paid me $1200 and since it was over $600, they had to report it on a 1099-NEC. The payment came through Uber's parent company so I didn't connect the dots initially. Uber does a lot of market research and user testing, and they often recruit from their regular users. Look back through your email for anything about surveys, feedback sessions, or user testing from last year.

Am I the only one concerned about how easy it apparently is to create an Uber driver account using someone else's info??? Like shouldn't they be doing more verification??? What if whoever did this gets in an accident or commits a crime while "working" as you?

I'm really sorry you're going through this stress! Before assuming identity theft, definitely check if you received any promotional credits or cashback rewards from Uber last year that might have totaled over $600. Sometimes they issue 1099-NECs for things like: - Credit card cashback rewards if you used an Uber-branded card - Settlement payments if you were part of any class action lawsuits - Promotional credits that were later converted to cash equivalents - Refunds for cancelled rides that were processed as "payments" rather than refunds Also, double-check that the 1099-NEC is actually FROM Uber and not a scam. There have been fake tax documents going around that look legitimate but are actually phishing attempts to get your personal information. When you call tomorrow, ask them to provide the exact dates and nature of all payments that led to the 1099. If it truly is fraudulent driver activity, you'll need to file a police report for identity theft and also report it to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. Keep all documentation and don't file your taxes until this gets resolved - you don't want to report income that isn't actually yours!