Received a 1099-NEC from Uber but never drove for them - what's going on?

Thanks for explaining! The 1099-NEC shows an amount of $347.50 which I definitely never received. I'm guessing this might be from those rides the shop arranged for me? But why would I get a 1099 for rides I didn't give but actually took as a passenger? Would these rides the shop arranged somehow count as me using my "driver" account even though I was just a passenger? I'm wondering if somehow those passenger rides got mixed up in their system.

The amount ($347.50) makes me think there's definitely a mix-up in Uber's system. This wouldn't be related to rides you took as a passenger - those wouldn't generate a 1099-NEC for you. It sounds like either someone used your account to drive, or there's a system error at Uber. You need to contact Uber's support immediately through their driver app or website. Explain that you've never driven for them and request details about what these earnings supposedly represent. Ask for dates, times, and locations of the alleged driving activity. If the shop arranged rides for you, that transaction would be between Uber and the shop, or between Uber and whoever paid for those rides. You as a passenger wouldn't receive a 1099 for being driven around.

Does taxr.ai actually connect you with real tax professionals or is it just some AI thing? I'm dealing with a similar issue with DoorDash and their customer service is absolutely useless.

I'm curious - how much did this service cost? I've got a 1099 issue with Instacart showing almost $2K I never earned. Their support keeps telling me they'll "escalate" but nothing happens.

It connects you with tax professionals who review your situation, but they use AI to handle the initial analysis which makes the process super efficient. The tax pros review the AI recommendations and customize them to your specific situation. They helped me identify exactly which IRS rules applied to my case. It was surprisingly affordable considering what I was facing. I don't remember the exact amount, but it was way less than what my local CPA wanted to charge me for handling the same issue. And definitely cheaper than potentially paying taxes on income I never earned or dealing with an audit later. They offer different service levels depending on how much help you need.

Wait, how does this actually work? Does it just keep redialing for you or something? I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks about an identity theft issue.

Sounds like a scam. No way anyone's getting through to the IRS that fast. I've been calling for months about my refund and can never get a human.

It basically navigates the IRS phone tree for you and holds your place in line. When they get an agent, the system calls you and connects you directly to the IRS agent. It's not redialing - it's just doing the waiting for you so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music for hours. They use a legitimate enterprise calling system that businesses use for customer service. I was able to talk to an actual IRS agent who confirmed exactly what I needed to do with my incorrect 1099 situation. It saved me hours of frustration.

Omg you might be onto something! I remember now - the service manager did ask to see my phone when he was ordering one of the rides. I thought he was just showing me how to use the app to track when my ride would arrive. Could he have somehow logged in as me on the driver side of things?? But still, how would that generate income that would need a 1099? I'm so confused about how taking rides would somehow show as me earning money.

That's almost certainly what happened! The manager probably used your driver account (which was still active from when you signed up in 2021) to arrange rides. When a driver account is used to order rides, the system might incorrectly log that as "earnings" even if you weren't the one driving. Here's what likely happened: The shop manager used your phone, saw you had a driver account, and accidentally used that profile to order the rides. In Uber's system, this might look like you were providing rides to yourself (which obviously makes no sense, but computer systems don't always catch these logical errors). To fix this, you'll need to contact Uber support specifically explaining this unusual situation. Tell them the exact dates you had rides arranged by the shop and ask them to check if those correspond to the "earnings" on your 1099-NEC.

That's terrifying! Did Lyft help you resolve it or were they difficult? How did you prove you weren't the one driving?

This is excellent advice! I just wanted to add that if you do find unauthorized activity on your account, you should also file a police report for identity theft. This creates an official record that can be helpful when dealing with both Uber and the IRS. Also, when you contact Uber support, specifically ask them to put a security hold on your account to prevent any future unauthorized use while they investigate. Make sure to get everything in writing - don't just rely on phone conversations. If Uber gives you the runaround or takes too long to respond, you might also want to consider filing a complaint with your state's attorney general office. Companies tend to respond faster when there's regulatory pressure involved.

This is all really solid advice! I just want to emphasize how important it is to act quickly on this. The tax filing deadline is approaching fast, and resolving 1099 disputes can take weeks. One thing I'd add - when you contact Uber support, ask them to escalate your case immediately to their tax documents department or a supervisor. Regular customer service reps often can't access the detailed records you'll need to resolve this properly. Also, keep detailed notes of every interaction - date, time, rep name, case number, and exactly what they told you. If this drags out, you'll need this documentation trail. And definitely follow the advice about securing your account right away - change that password and check for any linked payment methods you don't recognize. The good news is that $347.50 is a relatively small amount, so if worst case scenario you do have to report it while disputing, the tax impact won't be huge. But still worth fighting to get it corrected properly!

This is really helpful to know that the IRS accepted your explanation! I'm glad it worked out for you in the end. Just to clarify - when you reported it as "Other Income" and then subtracted it, did you use any specific form or just include it in the miscellaneous income section? I'm worried about doing this wrong and creating more problems for myself. Also, how detailed did your explanation letter need to be? Did you include copies of all your support communications with Uber or just summarize the situation? Thanks for sharing your experience - it's reassuring to know there's a path forward even if Uber doesn't get their act together before the filing deadline!

I used Form 1040 Schedule 1 for the "Other Income" section - reported the $280 on line 8i and then subtracted the same amount on line 24a as an "adjustment to income" with the explanation "Disputed 1099-NEC - see attached statement." My explanation letter was about one page and included: (1) A clear statement that I never worked for Uber as a driver, (2) The specific amount and dates on the 1099-NEC, (3) A summary of my attempts to resolve it with Uber (with dates), and (4) A statement that I was reporting the income to comply with IRS requirements while disputing its accuracy. I didn't attach all the support communications - just included the key dates and reference numbers in my summary. The important thing is showing you made a good faith effort to resolve it with the company first. My tax preparer said this approach shows the IRS you're being transparent and following proper procedures, which is what they really care about. Just make sure to keep all your Uber correspondence files separately in case you ever need them later!