vince Wrote:
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> last april, i requested a tax extension, so that
> my 2011 tax forms aren't due now until november
> 2012. i just want to make sure that i'm filing
> everything correctly.
>
> so anyway, i was sent a 1099 from one mystery
> shopping company (research services group) that
> shows an amount paid to me for the year 2011.
> however, no other mystery shopping companies have
> sent me 1099s. why not?
>
> therefore, i went to my local IRS office directly
> to get a print-out of all 1099s that they have in
> their records that were sent to me. apparently,
> 10 other mystery shopping companies that i have
> worked for were not recorded as having paid me
> anything for 2011. only 1 in 10 of the companies
> that i have worked for sent me a 1099.
>
> i have a paper record that shows all 2011 payments
> to me from companies that are recorded with the
> IRS. are mystery shopping companies required to
> report these payments to the IRS? or maybe it's
> just somehow specific to my home state?
Do not confuse payments with reimbursement.
If you buy tools (food you must purchase to give a client a report on the experience) for example, It is not taxable income as you had to buy and consume the food to properly report. You did not get enjoyment as you were working and most likely had restrictions on the food you had to buy.