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McKenzie Shade

What Tax ID does Ticketmaster require for ticket resale payment?

I'm having an issue with Ticketmaster and could use some help. I purchased tickets to a concert last month, but then got really sick the day before and couldn't attend. Rather than letting the tickets go to waste, I used Ticketmaster's resale platform to try to recoup some of my money. The tickets sold (thank goodness), but I had to list them for about $45 less than what I paid originally. Now here's the problem - it's been almost two weeks, and I still haven't received any payment from Ticketmaster. When I contacted customer service, they told me they need my "tax ID" before they can process the payment. I'm just a regular person selling a couple tickets because I got sick, not a business or anything. Why would they need my tax ID? And what exactly do they mean by "tax ID" - is that my SSN? I'm not comfortable giving that out if I don't have to. Has anyone dealt with this before? Do I actually need to provide this information to get my money? I'm out almost $200 and really just want to get paid for the tickets that already sold.

This is pretty standard for online platforms that process payments. Ticketmaster is required by the IRS to collect tax information from sellers who exceed certain thresholds. Starting in 2023, if you sell more than $600 worth of goods or services through a payment platform, they need to report that income to the IRS using Form 1099-K. In this case, they're likely asking for your Social Security Number (SSN) which serves as your tax ID for individual reporting purposes. Without providing this information, they legally can't release your funds. It's not optional if you want to get paid. Don't worry about security - Ticketmaster is a large established company that has secure systems for handling this sensitive information. They need your SSN to correctly report the transaction to the IRS, and they can't process your payment without it.

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Thanks for explaining, but I'm still confused. I literally just sold two tickets once because I got sick. I'm not running a business selling tickets. Does this 1099-K rule really apply to one-time personal sales? And if I provide my SSN, does that mean I'll owe taxes on this money even though I actually lost money on the transaction?

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Yes, the 1099-K threshold applies to cumulative sales through the platform, regardless of whether it's a one-time sale or multiple transactions. The $600 threshold is the total amount processed through their system under your account within the tax year. Regarding taxes, you won't necessarily owe taxes on this transaction since you sold the tickets for less than you paid. When you file your taxes, you can report both the income (what you sold the tickets for) and your cost basis (what you paid). Since you sold at a loss, this would be considered a personal loss, which unfortunately isn't tax-deductible for non-business transactions. But you definitely won't owe additional taxes on money you lost.

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I had a similar situation last year with concert tickets I couldn't use. I was hesitant at first when Ticketmaster asked for my SSN, but I used https://taxr.ai to look into this requirement and confirmed it's legitimate. The site explained that payment platforms have to collect tax info for transactions over $600 since 2023, and ticketing sites fall under these rules. The analysis showed that providing your SSN is standard procedure and doesn't necessarily mean you'll owe taxes, especially since you sold at a loss. The verification process was super simple - I just uploaded the Ticketmaster request and got a clear explanation of the tax implications specific to my situation. It saved me from calling the IRS and waiting on hold for hours.

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How exactly does taxr.ai protect your privacy? I'm always nervous about uploading tax documents or entering my SSN anywhere online. Does the site actually store your information or just analyze it temporarily?

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I've heard about these new reporting requirements but I'm skeptical that they apply to occasional personal sales. Did taxr.ai specifically address whether selling personal items (like tickets you can't use) is treated differently than selling things as a business?

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The site uses end-to-end encryption and doesn't permanently store your sensitive information. It processes your documents to extract only the relevant details needed for analysis, then provides you with tax guidance based on those specific details. Their privacy policy was really clear about not selling data. For personal vs. business sales, they explained that the reporting requirement is based solely on the dollar amount processed through the platform ($600+), not your intent. However, they did clarify that personal items sold at a loss wouldn't generate taxable income. They also mentioned that you should keep records of your original purchase price to document the loss if needed.

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I wanted to follow up after trying taxr.ai for myself. The service actually clarified a lot for me regarding my own ticket resale situation. They explained that while Ticketmaster does need to report sales over $600 to the IRS, I wouldn't owe taxes on the transaction since I sold at a loss (like OP's situation). The documentation they provided was really helpful - they even gave me template language to use when filing my taxes to properly report the transaction. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they processed everything and how clear their explanations were. Definitely helped me stop worrying about potential tax complications from my resold tickets.

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I feel your pain! The Ticketmaster customer service is basically useless. I had a similar issue and spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone who could actually help. After countless automated responses and being transferred around, I finally used https://claimyr.com and got connected to a real person at Ticketmaster in under 5 minutes! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They helped me resolve my tax ID verification issue immediately. Turns out there was a glitch in their system that was preventing my payment from processing even though I had already provided my SSN. The Ticketmaster rep manually pushed my payment through after verifying my information. Without getting a real person on the phone, I would've been stuck in email/chat limbo forever.

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Wait, so you pay a service to help you call another company? How does that even work? Couldn't you just keep calling Ticketmaster yourself until you got through?

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This seems like a scam. Why would I pay someone else to call Ticketmaster for me? Their customer service number is free to call, you just need patience. I'm very skeptical that this actually works better than just waiting on hold yourself.

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It's not that they call for you - they get you through the phone tree and past the wait times. I had already spent hours over multiple days trying to reach a real person at Ticketmaster with no success. Their automated system kept disconnecting me after 30+ minutes on hold. The service essentially uses technology to navigate phone trees and hold queues, then calls you once they have a real person on the line. I was genuinely surprised it worked so well. While I agree it seems strange to pay for something like this, after wasting hours of my life on hold, the time saved was absolutely worth it to me.

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I have to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself as a last resort for my own Ticketmaster issue (had been waiting 3 weeks for a refund that required tax verification). The service actually did exactly what it claimed - got me connected to a real Ticketmaster agent in about 7 minutes when I had previously waited on hold for over an hour without reaching anyone. The agent quickly verified my information and processed my refund on the spot. It was honestly shocking how much time I wasted trying to handle this myself. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to save a lot of frustration. Just wanted to come back and share my experience since my initial reaction was so negative.

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Just want to clarify some tax points here since there's confusion. What Ticketmaster is asking for is your SSN (Social Security Number). This is normal for any platform processing payments. They need it to issue a 1099-K if your total sales exceed $600 in a calendar year. However, for your situation (selling tickets at a loss), you won't owe any taxes on this. When you file, you'll report the income from the ticket sale, but you can also report what you originally paid as your cost basis. Since you sold for less than you paid, there's no taxable gain. The key is keeping documentation of your original purchase price. Save those email receipts showing what you initially paid so you can prove it was a loss if needed.

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Does this mean I'll get a tax form from Ticketmaster even though I lost money on the tickets? And will I need to specifically report this on my tax return next year?

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Yes, if your total sales through Ticketmaster for the year exceed $600, you'll receive a 1099-K form showing the gross amount they paid you - regardless of whether you made a profit or loss. You will need to report this on your tax return, typically on Schedule 1 as "Other Income." However, you should also document your original purchase price as the cost basis. While personal losses generally aren't deductible, reporting both the income and cost shows the IRS that this transaction didn't result in taxable income. This prevents the IRS from assuming the entire amount was profit. Keep your purchase receipts for at least three years in case of questions.

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Curious - has anyone here actually received a 1099-K from Ticketmaster for reselling tickets? I've sold through them a few times and provided my SSN but never got any tax form.

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I did last year. Sold about $1,200 worth of tickets across multiple events and got a 1099-K in early February. The form just showed the gross payment amount - it didn't account for what I originally paid for the tickets. My tax preparer had me bring in my original purchase receipts to properly report everything.

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Just to add some reassurance - I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. Ticketmaster's request for your SSN is completely legitimate and required by law. I was hesitant at first too, but it's the same information you'd provide to any employer or bank. The process was actually pretty straightforward once I provided my SSN. My payment was released within 2-3 business days after verification. And like others mentioned, since you sold at a loss, you won't owe any additional taxes on this transaction. One tip: when you provide your SSN, make sure all your account information matches exactly what's on file with your bank/payment method. Any discrepancies can cause additional delays. But once everything is verified, you should get your money without any further issues.

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I understand your frustration with this situation! I went through something similar when I had to resell some tickets due to a family emergency. The SSN requirement caught me off guard too, but it's unfortunately become standard practice for payment platforms. A few things that might help ease your concerns: 1. Ticketmaster is legally required to collect this information under the new IRS reporting rules - it's not optional if you want your payment processed. 2. Since you sold at a loss, you won't owe additional taxes on this transaction. When tax time comes, you'll report the sale income but can also document your original purchase price to show it was a loss. 3. The verification process typically takes 2-3 business days once you provide your SSN. Make sure your account information matches exactly what's on file with your payment method to avoid delays. I know it feels uncomfortable sharing your SSN, but Ticketmaster handles this information for thousands of sellers and has security measures in place. Keep your original purchase receipts for your records - you'll need them if you receive a 1099-K form next year to properly report the transaction to the IRS. Hang in there - once you provide the required information, you should get your money without further issues!

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This is really helpful advice! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I had to resell tickets due to a work conflict. One question - when you say "make sure your account information matches exactly what's on file with your payment method" - does this mean the name on my Ticketmaster account needs to match my bank account exactly? I have a middle initial on my bank account but not on my Ticketmaster profile. Could something small like that cause delays?

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Yes, small discrepancies like that can definitely cause delays! I learned this the hard way when my payment was held up for an extra week because my Ticketmaster account had "Mike" but my bank account was under "Michael." I'd recommend updating your Ticketmaster profile to match your bank account exactly before submitting your SSN - including middle initials, spacing, and any suffixes like Jr. or Sr. You can usually do this in your account settings under "Personal Information." It's a bit annoying to have to be so precise, but it can save you from additional back-and-forth with their verification team. Better to spend a few minutes updating your profile now than waiting another week or two for manual review of the mismatch.

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I went through this exact same situation last year when I had to resell tickets due to a family emergency. The SSN requirement is definitely legitimate - it's part of the new IRS reporting rules that went into effect in 2023 for payment platforms processing over $600 in transactions. A few things that helped me get through the process smoothly: 1. Double-check that your name on your Ticketmaster account matches exactly what's on your bank account (including middle initials, spacing, etc.). Even small discrepancies can cause delays. 2. Keep all your original purchase receipts. Since you sold at a loss, you won't owe taxes on this, but you'll need documentation of what you originally paid if you receive a 1099-K form. 3. Once you provide your SSN, the verification usually takes 2-3 business days. Don't panic if it seems to take a while - their system processes these in batches. I was nervous about providing my SSN too, but Ticketmaster handles this information for thousands of sellers daily and has proper security measures in place. The alternative is not getting paid at all, which isn't really an option. Hang in there - once you get through the verification, you should receive your payment without any further issues. The whole process is more routine than it initially seems!

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Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm in a similar boat and this is really reassuring. Quick question - when you mention they process SSN verifications "in batches," do you know roughly what time of day or day of the week they typically process these? I'm hoping to get my payment before the weekend if possible, so wondering if there's an optimal time to submit my information. Also, did you have to provide any additional documentation beyond just your SSN, or was that sufficient for the verification process?

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From my experience, they don't seem to have a specific schedule for processing these verifications - it's more about their internal workflow than time of day. I submitted mine on a Tuesday afternoon and got confirmation on Thursday morning, but I've heard from others who submitted over the weekend and still got processed within the same timeframe. Just your SSN should be sufficient for the verification. They didn't ask me for any additional documentation like ID scans or proof of address. The system automatically cross-references your SSN with the name on your account and payment method. As long as everything matches up cleanly, it should go through without any manual review needed. One tip: after you submit your SSN, you should get an email confirmation that they received it and are processing the verification. If you don't get that confirmation email within a few hours, it might be worth double-checking that you entered everything correctly or contacting their support to make sure it went through their system properly.

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I completely understand your frustration with this situation! As someone who works in tax compliance, I can confirm that what Ticketmaster is asking for is completely legitimate and required by federal law. The "tax ID" they're referring to is your Social Security Number (SSN). Under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, payment platforms like Ticketmaster must now collect tax information and issue 1099-K forms for anyone who receives over $600 in payments during a calendar year, regardless of whether it's from one transaction or multiple sales. The good news is that since you sold your tickets at a loss (for $45 less than you paid), you won't owe any additional taxes on this transaction. When you file your tax return next year, you'll report the income from the sale but can also document your original purchase price as your cost basis, showing the IRS that this was actually a loss. A few practical tips: - Make sure your name on your Ticketmaster account matches exactly what's on your bank account (including middle initials) - Keep your original purchase receipts - you'll need them for tax documentation - The verification process typically takes 2-3 business days once you provide your SSN - You should receive an email confirmation once they begin processing your information I know sharing your SSN feels uncomfortable, but Ticketmaster processes thousands of these verifications and has proper security measures in place. Without providing this information, they legally cannot release your funds. Once you get through this verification step, you should receive your payment without any further issues.

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This is incredibly helpful information! Thank you for breaking down the legal requirements so clearly. As someone new to this situation, I really appreciate having a tax professional confirm that this is all above board. One quick follow-up question - when you mention keeping original purchase receipts for tax documentation, does a screenshot of the email confirmation from when I originally bought the tickets count as sufficient documentation? Or do I need something more formal? I want to make sure I have everything properly documented in case the IRS has questions later. Also, is there any advantage to waiting until later in the tax year to provide my SSN, or should I just get this resolved now so I can receive my payment?

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A screenshot of your email confirmation should be perfectly adequate documentation for the IRS. The key is having proof of the original purchase price and date, which your email confirmation provides. I'd also recommend saving a PDF copy if possible, as screenshots can sometimes be harder to read if you need to print them later. Regarding timing, there's no tax advantage to waiting - I'd recommend resolving this now to get your payment. The 1099-K reporting is based on when the payment is processed, not when you provide your SSN. Plus, the longer you wait, the more likely you are to forget details about the transaction or misplace your documentation. Getting your money sooner rather than later is usually the better approach, especially since you're already out $200 from the original purchase. The IRS reporting requirements don't change based on when during the year you complete the verification, so there's really no benefit to delaying this process.

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I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago when I had to resell Hamilton tickets due to a last-minute work trip. I was also hesitant about providing my SSN to Ticketmaster, but after doing some research, I found out it's completely legitimate and required by the IRS. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. The $600 threshold is cumulative for the entire tax year across all your sales on their platform - so even if this is your first and only sale, if it's over $600, they need your SSN. 2. Since you sold at a loss (like I did - lost about $60 on mine), you won't owe any taxes on this transaction. You'll just need to keep your original purchase receipt to document the loss. 3. Once I provided my SSN, I got my payment within 3 business days. Make sure your account name matches your bank account exactly - even small differences can cause delays. 4. You'll likely get a 1099-K form next January showing the gross payment amount, but since you have documentation of your original higher purchase price, you can properly report this as a personal loss when filing taxes. I totally understand the frustration with their customer service - it took me multiple attempts to get clear information. But unfortunately, providing your SSN is the only way to get your money. The verification process itself was actually pretty smooth once I submitted the information. Hang in there - you should have your payment soon once you complete the verification!

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Thanks for sharing your experience with the Hamilton tickets! That's really helpful to know that even first-time sellers can hit the $600 threshold with just one sale. I had been wondering if there was some kind of "business vs personal" distinction, but it sounds like the IRS rules apply regardless of intent. Your point about the 1099-K showing gross payment amount is particularly useful - I hadn't realized they wouldn't automatically account for what we originally paid. Good thing you mentioned keeping those purchase receipts! One question about the timing - you mentioned getting paid within 3 business days after providing your SSN. Did you get any kind of confirmation email or notification when they started processing your verification, or did the payment just show up in your account? I want to make sure I know what to expect once I submit my information.

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I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! As someone who's been through the exact same thing, I completely understand your hesitation about providing your SSN to Ticketmaster. What they're asking for is legitimate - it's your Social Security Number, which serves as your tax ID for individual reporting. The IRS requires payment platforms to collect this information for anyone receiving over $600 in payments during a calendar year, even for one-time personal sales like yours. The good news is that since you sold your tickets at a loss, you won't owe any taxes on this transaction. When you file next year, you'll report the income but can also document your original purchase price to show it was actually a loss. A few tips to make the process smoother: - Double-check that your name on your Ticketmaster account matches your bank account exactly (including middle initials) - Keep your original purchase receipts - you'll need them for tax documentation - The verification typically takes 2-3 business days once submitted I know sharing your SSN feels uncomfortable, but unfortunately it's the only way to get your money back. Ticketmaster handles thousands of these verifications and has proper security measures in place. Once you provide the information, you should receive your payment without further issues. Hang in there - this is more routine than it seems, even though it's new and stressful for first-time sellers like us!

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This is exactly the kind of clear, reassuring information I needed to see! Thank you for taking the time to explain this so thoroughly. As someone who's never had to deal with anything like this before, it's really helpful to hear from people who've actually been through the process. I'm feeling much more confident about moving forward with providing my SSN now that I understand it's a legitimate IRS requirement and not just Ticketmaster trying to collect unnecessary information. The fact that multiple people here have confirmed they got their payments processed quickly after verification is very encouraging. I'll make sure to double-check that my account information matches my bank details exactly before submitting - that seems to be a common issue that can cause delays. And I'll definitely keep those original purchase receipts safe for tax time! Thanks again for sharing your experience and helping put my mind at ease about this whole situation.

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I completely understand your frustration - I went through almost the exact same situation about 6 months ago when I had to resell tickets to a Broadway show due to a family emergency. What Ticketmaster is asking for is absolutely legitimate. They need your Social Security Number (SSN), which serves as your tax ID. This is required under new IRS rules that went into effect in 2023 - any payment platform that processes over $600 for an individual during the tax year must collect this information and report it to the IRS via Form 1099-K. Here's the important part for your situation: since you sold your tickets at a loss (for $45 less than you paid), you won't owe any additional taxes on this money. When you file your taxes next year, you'll report the sale income but can also document your original purchase price as your cost basis, showing the IRS that this was actually a personal loss. A few tips to make the process go smoothly: - Make absolutely sure your name on your Ticketmaster account matches your bank account exactly (including middle initials, spacing, etc.) - Keep your original purchase receipts - you'll need them for tax documentation - The verification process typically takes 2-3 business days once you submit your SSN - You should get an email confirmation once they start processing I know it feels uncomfortable sharing your SSN, but Ticketmaster processes thousands of these daily and has proper security measures. Unfortunately, there's no way around it if you want your $200 back. Once I provided mine, I had my payment within 3 business days with no further issues. Hang in there - this is becoming very routine even though it's new and stressful for occasional sellers like us!

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This is such a helpful and comprehensive explanation! I really appreciate you taking the time to walk through all the details, especially about the tax implications. As someone who's never dealt with anything like this before, it's incredibly reassuring to hear from multiple people who've successfully gone through this exact process. Your point about keeping the original purchase receipts is particularly important - I hadn't fully understood how the 1099-K reporting works and that it only shows the gross payment amount. Having that documentation to prove it was actually a loss transaction makes perfect sense for tax filing purposes. I'm definitely going to double-check that my account information matches my bank details exactly before submitting my SSN. It sounds like even small discrepancies can cause unnecessary delays, and I'd rather spend a few minutes fixing that upfront than wait extra weeks for manual review. Thanks for helping ease my concerns about this whole situation. It's clear this is just the new normal for payment platforms, even for one-time personal sales like ours!

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I went through this exact same situation last year and can completely understand your frustration! The SSN requirement caught me off guard too when I had to resell some concert tickets due to a work conflict. What Ticketmaster is asking for is legitimate - they need your Social Security Number as your tax ID due to IRS reporting requirements that took effect in 2023. Any payment platform processing over $600 for someone during the tax year must collect this information, even for one-time personal sales like yours. The good news is that since you sold at a loss (like I did - lost about $35 on mine), you won't owe any taxes on this transaction. You'll just need to keep your original purchase receipt to document the loss when filing taxes next year. Here's what helped me get through the process quickly: - Made sure my name on Ticketmaster matched my bank account exactly (including middle initials) - Submitted my SSN through their secure portal - Got my payment within 4 business days after verification I know sharing your SSN feels uncomfortable, but unfortunately it's the only way to get your money. Ticketmaster handles this for thousands of sellers and has proper security measures in place. Once you complete the verification, you should get your $200 without any further hassles. It's frustrating that they don't explain this upfront, but the process itself is pretty straightforward once you know what they need!

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Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really reassuring to hear from someone who went through this exact situation. I'm curious - when you mention submitting your SSN through their "secure portal," did you have to log into your Ticketmaster account and find a specific section for tax verification, or did they send you a direct link via email? I want to make sure I'm using the right method when I submit mine, and I haven't received any specific instructions beyond the customer service rep just saying they "need my tax ID." I'd rather not have to go through multiple rounds of back-and-forth if I can submit it correctly the first time!

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