Ticketmaster requesting my SSN for ticket resale tax reporting - Is this legit?

This is actually standard practice for most platforms that facilitate sales transactions. Ticketmaster, like other companies, is required to report payments to sellers to the IRS if they exceed certain thresholds (currently $600 per year) using Form 1099-K. They need your SSN to complete this reporting requirement. The good news is that this doesn't necessarily mean you'll owe taxes on the money. When you file your taxes, you can report both what you originally paid for the tickets and what you sold them for. Since you sold them for less than you paid, you'd report a loss, not taxable income. The 1099-K just reports the gross payment to you - it doesn't determine your tax liability. Think of it this way: Ticketmaster is just reporting that they paid you $120. They're not claiming you made a profit. It's up to you to show on your tax return that this was actually part of a transaction where you lost money overall.

After dealing with a similar situation with concert tickets, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which really helped clear things up. I was confused about how to handle the 1099-K I got for selling tickets at a loss, and their system analyzed my situation and explained exactly how to report it properly. Their document analysis tool scanned my Ticketmaster receipts (both purchase and sale) and automatically calculated the loss for tax purposes. It also generated the language I needed to include on my return to explain the situation. Saved me tons of headache trying to figure out if I was doing it right!

Just wanted to follow up - I ended up trying taxr.ai and it was actually legit. I uploaded my Stubhub and Ticketmaster transactions plus my crypto stuff and it organized everything perfectly. It showed me exactly how to report the ticket sales as a capital loss to offset some crypto gains I had. The best part was the audit protection guidance. It explained exactly what documentation I needed to keep and how to explain the transactions if questioned. Really helped me feel confident about filing with these weird 1099-K situations. Definitely worth checking out if you're dealing with the Ticketmaster SSN request issue.

If you're still struggling with Ticketmaster, I had a similar problem and couldn't get any real answers from their customer service. I tried calling the IRS directly to ask about the reporting requirements but kept getting stuck on hold for literally hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c that shows how it works. The agent confirmed that Ticketmaster is required to collect SSNs for payments, but also explained how to report it properly on my return to show I actually took a loss.

I need to eat crow here. After my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr because I couldn't get an answer about a similar 1099-K issue. It actually worked exactly as described - got me through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent explained that companies like Ticketmaster are now required to issue 1099-Ks even for smaller amounts (the threshold changed recently), but confirmed I only need to report the actual profit if any. Since I sold tickets at a loss like the OP, I just need to document both the purchase and sale prices on my return. Definitely worth the time saved from waiting on hold all day!

FYI, the rules around 1099-K reporting have been a mess lately. Originally the threshold was going to drop to $600 for 2023, but the IRS delayed it and kept it at $20,000. Then they announced it would be $5,000 for 2024, but now that might change again. Companies like Ticketmaster are being cautious by collecting SSNs anyway.

Has anyone actually been audited over ticket resales? I sold a bunch of tickets last year across different platforms and got a few 1099-Ks. I just reported the gross income and didn't bother with trying to document all my losses cuz it seemed like so much work.

This is definitely legitimate - Ticketmaster is required by law to collect your SSN for tax reporting purposes. The $600 threshold for 1099-K reporting has been changing, but many companies are being proactive about collecting this information now. The key thing to understand is that receiving a 1099-K doesn't automatically mean you owe taxes. It just reports the gross payment amount. Since you sold the tickets for $120 but originally paid $330, you actually have a $210 loss on this transaction. When you file your taxes, you'll report both the sale proceeds AND your original cost basis, which will show the IRS that this was a loss, not taxable income. Keep your original purchase receipt from Ticketmaster - you'll need it to document your basis if you get a 1099-K. Even though it's frustrating to hand over your SSN for what feels like a small transaction, it's better to comply than to forfeit the $120 entirely. Just make sure to report it correctly on your tax return to avoid any issues down the road.

I went through this exact same situation with Ticketmaster last year. Yes, it's completely legitimate - they're required to collect your SSN for tax reporting under federal law. The frustrating part is that even though you're taking a loss, they still need to report the payment to the IRS. Here's what I learned: you won't actually owe taxes on this since you lost money overall. When you file your taxes, you'll report the $120 as proceeds but also show your original cost of $330, resulting in a $210 loss. Keep your original purchase receipt - that's your proof of what you paid. The SSN requirement isn't Ticketmaster being shady (well, not MORE shady than usual) - it's actually federal tax law. Companies that process payments have to collect this info for anyone they pay, regardless of the amount, because the reporting thresholds keep changing. I'd recommend just giving them the SSN and getting your $120. It's not worth forfeiting the money, and you can properly document the loss on your tax return. Just make sure to keep all your receipts organized in case you ever need to prove the transaction details.

Just wanted to add my experience here - I dealt with this exact same Ticketmaster SSN request last month. Initially I was super suspicious too, but after doing some research I found out it's completely legit. The IRS has been cracking down on payment reporting, and companies like Ticketmaster are now required to collect SSNs for anyone they pay money to, regardless of amount. The silver lining is that since you're selling at a loss ($330 original cost vs $120 sale price), you actually have a $210 capital loss that you can report on your taxes. This could potentially offset other gains you might have. I'd recommend just providing the SSN and getting your money - $120 is still better than nothing, and you can properly document the loss when you file. Make sure to keep your original purchase receipt as proof of what you paid. That's going to be your evidence if the IRS ever questions the transaction. The 1099-K will only show the $120 payment, so you need your own records to prove you actually lost money on the deal.

I completely understand your frustration - I was in the exact same boat last year with StubHub and had the same reaction. The SSN request is absolutely legitimate, even though it feels invasive for what should be a simple transaction. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: yes, they legally need your SSN for tax reporting, but since you're selling at a loss ($330 original cost vs $120 sale), you won't owe any taxes on this. In fact, you'll have a $210 capital loss that you can report on Schedule D when you file your taxes. The key is keeping that original purchase receipt - that's your proof of the $330 cost basis. The 1099-K they might send will only show the $120 payment, so your receipt is what proves to the IRS that this was actually a loss, not taxable income. I'd recommend just providing the SSN and taking the $120. It's frustrating, but it's better than forfeiting the money entirely, and you can properly document the loss on your return. Most tax software will walk you through reporting it correctly if you do receive a 1099-K.

I went through this exact situation with Vivid Seats earlier this year and had the same concerns. The SSN request is completely legitimate - it's not Ticketmaster trying to scam you, it's actually federal tax law requiring them to collect this information for payment reporting. The good news is that since you're selling at a significant loss ($330 purchase vs $120 sale), you won't owe any taxes on this transaction. When you file your return, you'll report this as a capital loss on Schedule D, which could actually help offset other gains you might have. Here's my advice: just provide the SSN and get your $120. Keep your original Ticketmaster purchase receipt as proof of your $330 cost basis - that's what you'll need to document the loss properly. Even if you receive a 1099-K showing $120 in "income," you can show the IRS that this was actually a $210 loss once you factor in what you originally paid. I was initially paranoid about giving my SSN too, but after researching the tax law and talking to a tax professional, I realized it's standard practice now. The alternative is forfeiting money that's rightfully yours, which seems worse than dealing with some extra paperwork come tax time.

I just went through this same exact situation with Ticketmaster about two months ago and can confirm it's 100% legitimate. I was selling Taylor Swift tickets I couldn't use anymore - paid $280 originally and sold them back for $95 through their resale platform. Like you, I was super suspicious when they asked for my SSN, especially since I was already taking a huge loss. But after some research, I found out this is actually required by federal tax law - they have to collect SSNs for anyone they pay money to because of IRS reporting requirements. The key thing to understand is that even though they'll report the $120 payment to you (and possibly send you a 1099-K), you won't actually owe taxes since you sold at a loss. When you file your taxes next year, you'll report both the $120 you received AND the $330 you originally paid, which results in a $210 capital loss on Schedule D. My advice: just give them the SSN and take your $120. Keep that original purchase receipt though - you'll need it as proof of what you paid if you ever have to document the loss to the IRS. I was hesitant too, but $120 is better than nothing, and the tax reporting actually worked in my favor since I could use the loss to offset some other gains I had. It sucks that we have to jump through these hoops for what should be a simple refund, but unfortunately it's just the reality of how payment reporting works now.

This is definitely a legitimate request from Ticketmaster, even though I totally understand why it feels sketchy! They're required by federal law to collect SSNs for tax reporting purposes, regardless of the transaction amount. The silver lining here is that since you're selling at a major loss ($330 original cost vs $120 sale price), you won't owe any taxes on this. In fact, you'll have a $210 capital loss that you can report on Schedule D when you file your taxes, which might actually help offset other gains. My recommendation: go ahead and provide your SSN to get your $120. Just make sure to keep your original purchase receipt - that's your proof of the $330 cost basis. Even if you receive a 1099-K showing the $120 as "income," your receipt will prove to the IRS that this was actually a loss when you factor in what you originally paid. It's frustrating to deal with extra paperwork for what feels like getting ripped off by Ticketmaster, but $120 is still better than nothing. The tax law isn't Ticketmaster's fault in this case - they're just following IRS requirements that apply to all payment platforms now.

I completely understand your frustration - this exact situation happened to me with SeatGeek last year and I had the same reaction! The SSN request is absolutely legitimate, even though it feels invasive and suspicious when you're already losing money on the transaction. Here's what's actually happening: Ticketmaster (and other resale platforms) are required by federal tax law to collect SSNs for payment reporting, regardless of whether you made or lost money. The IRS has been tightening up on payment reporting requirements, so companies are being extra cautious about compliance. The good news is that since you're selling at a loss ($330 vs $120), you won't owe any taxes on this transaction. When you file your return, you'll report it as a capital loss on Schedule D - the $120 as proceeds and $330 as your cost basis, resulting in a $210 loss that could potentially offset other capital gains you might have. My advice: just provide the SSN and get your $120. Make absolutely sure to keep your original Ticketmaster purchase receipt though - that's your proof of what you paid originally. Even if they send you a 1099-K showing $120 in payments, your receipt proves this was actually a loss. I know it's annoying to deal with tax paperwork when you're already getting screwed by their resale prices, but $120 is better than nothing, and the loss might actually help you come tax time!

I had this exact same situation with Vivid Seats earlier this year! Initially I was super suspicious too, but after doing some research I found out it's completely legitimate. The SSN request is actually required by federal tax law - payment platforms have to collect this info for anyone they pay, regardless of the amount. The good news is that since you sold at a loss, you won't actually owe taxes on this. You'll report it as a capital loss on Schedule D when you file - $330 cost basis minus $120 proceeds equals a $210 loss that could even help offset other gains you might have. My advice: just give them your SSN and take the $120. Keep your original purchase receipt though - that's your proof of what you originally paid. Even if you get a 1099-K showing the $120 payment, your receipt will prove to the IRS this was actually a loss, not taxable income. It's annoying to deal with extra paperwork when you're already getting ripped off, but $120 is definitely better than nothing!

I totally get your frustration - this happened to me with StubHub last year and I was convinced it was some kind of scam at first! But after going through it myself, I can confirm that the SSN request is completely legitimate. Payment platforms are required by federal law to collect this information for tax reporting purposes. The silver lining is that since you're selling at a significant loss ($330 original cost vs $120 sale), you definitely won't owe any taxes on this transaction. In fact, you'll have a $210 capital loss that you can report on Schedule D, which might actually help reduce your tax burden if you have other capital gains. My recommendation is to go ahead and provide your SSN to get your $120. Just make absolutely sure to keep your original Ticketmaster purchase receipt - that's going to be your proof of the $330 cost basis if you ever need to document the loss. Even if you receive a 1099-K showing $120 as income, your receipt will prove this was actually a loss once you account for what you originally paid. It's definitely annoying to deal with extra tax paperwork when you're already getting screwed by their resale prices, but $120 is still better than forfeiting it entirely. The tax reporting requirements aren't Ticketmaster's fault in this case - they're just following IRS regulations that now apply to all payment platforms.