MF 1099 Form

Has anyone received their 1099 form from MForce? I'm more than ready to file my taxes but they are the only hold up, and to make it more interesting I stopped shopping for them in August of 2014 so I hope I don't have any problems receiving it. Thanks!

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Perhaps you didn't earn more than $600?

I earned between $2,000 and $2,500. I can't log into their website to get the correct amount because my login is deactivated. It stinks having to wait!! I've already received my 1099 forms from 2 other companies that I currently still work for.

was that 2k cash or including reimbursement.....they only send the 1099 if is 600 cash

They deactivated me when I hit $5000, but I got my 1099 earlier this week.

You don't need the 1099 to file your taxes, just the total fees and reimbursements.

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It was $2,500 for just the fees they paid out. I did a ton of shops for them and then "my services was no longer needed". But I was fine with it, wasn't bitter at all, I had been reinstated and everything before but I was like oh well, time for us to really part ways now.

If I can find my last payment print out I did off their website I will be good to go but I think I shredded it all with excitement of no more paperwork when they deactivated me, lol.

I got mine, a week ago.

I received mine yesterday.

I received mine on Tuesday. MF indicated they were being mailed out on the 3lst.

Now would be a good time to start a spreadsheet and keep track of all your fees, reimbursements and payments. Otherwise you don't really have anything to compare if their records are wrong.

@ajohnson2012 wrote:

If I can find my last payment print out I did off their website I will be good to go but I think I shredded it all with excitement of no more paperwork when they deactivated me, lol.

LisaSTL is correct. You don't need the 1099 to file your taxes but you do need your own accurate records. NEVER rely on a MSC for your bookkeeping records. Many of my 1099s are not 100% accurate so I rely on my Excel spreadsheets.

ETA: LisaSTL cross-posted with similar thoughts. Lisa, get out of my head; it is a scary place.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2015 01:49AM by Sybil2.

I received mine last week.

the problem with relying on your own records is that what gets reported to IRS is the 1099.....so if you get audited..IRs will take the easy way and agree with the 1099

My husband got his last week.

I don't understand how it could be an issue unless you only work for one or two companies, or you only report the income from companies who send you a 1099.

@jmitw wrote:

the problem with relying on your own records is that what gets reported to IRS is the 1099.....so if you get audited..IRs will take the easy way and agree with the 1099

@LisaSTL wrote:

I don't understand how it could be an issue unless you only work for one or two companies, or you only report the income from companies who send you a 1099.

@jmitw wrote:

the problem with relying on your own records is that what gets reported to IRS is the 1099.....so if you get audited..IRs will take the easy way and agree with the 1099

Isn't that illegal to only report income earned on a 1099? Aren't we supposed to report every single dime even if it wasn't over $600.00 with every single MSC we work for? Or did the rules change from past years?

You are correct Sybil2. We are supposed to report all earnings.

What some people are having a problem understanding is that some MSC's will include the reimbursements in the 1099 totals. They don't understand that the reimbursements are then deducted as a business expense. For example, I go to Five Guys for a shop. I can get up to $11 reimbursed. I spend $9.50, so I'm reimbursed $9.50. That $9.50 is a business expense so it is deductible. So, at the end of the year, let's say that I've been paid $575 in fees for Five Guys shops, and I've been paid $200 in reimbursements for the same shops. The 1099 will say that I was paid $775. But $200 of that is reimbursements for business expenses, meaning that I will be taxed on what I was paid in fees, or $575 [$775-$200=$575].

That is why it is so important that you keep track of your own income and expenses.

.
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When I worked for them in 2013 and I did my taxes last yr it only showed the fees they paid, they didn't include what they reimbursed me for the food I purchased. I emailed the company and hopefully someone will reply, I'm not very fond of them anymore after they reinstated me and deactivated me again. Hopefully I won't have any problems getting it so I can say goodbye forever this time.

I got my first 1099 from a shopping company the other day. This was a msc where I shop a high end store and am reimbursed up to $300 for a purchase...no fee but it is fun to shop and buy something like that. The clothing does look nice and somewhat better than Walmart clothes. So my 1099 includes all the $275 pieces of clothing I picked up last year. I am certainly not going to accept the word of the msc that those were my earnings and have no problem discussing the issue with the IRS if need be.
You must keep your own good records and back up for them such as the receipts. I probably will not keep receipts for inexpensive items but these receipts I will keep for several years.
Don't bother asking who the msc is as I am not telling.
As for Market Force they are required by law to send a 1099 if over $600 even if you don't work for them anymore. Hopefully it is on the way or your email to them will get them working on it. It is up to you to know if it is correct.

Sybil, of course it is illegal. I just can't figure out why that poster said it would be such a problem. If I have two 1099 forms showing $600 a piece and another $800 of income from multiple sources I will be reporting $2,000. Plus if we have our records in order showing $200 in business purchases against $600 of income why would the IRS ignore our business records?

I've been through an audit (before MS) twice--and the auditors take the easy way out and make up their own rules....a 1099 form is more official than personal business records.....they would likely assume your records are wrong...

THE ISSUE IS IF YOUR RECORDS ARE DIFFERENT than the 1099...of course you can use your own records only if a 1099 is not required.

I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT NOT REPORTING OTHER INCOME THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPORTED ON A 1099. THIS IS ONLY FOR WHEN THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN the 1099 and your records.....if the MSC doesn't produce a 1099, there is no chance for discrepancy and your records are what you use.

if is just that the MSC included reimbursements...that is more likey that the IRS will accept your records...but if the MSC said you made $1000 cash and $500 reimbursment...and you say you only made $800 cash and $500 reimbursment...they will go with what is on the 1099.

but expect a fight from the IRS---trust me.....

if the 1099 is wrong, is there a way to get it corrected?

Yes, you contact the company and tell them why it is wrong. Send the your recap of the money you received in 2014.

Keep in mind, if you did a shop in 2013 and did not get paid until 2014, they will put that on the 2014 1099. If you claim your income based on when you did the shop, not on when you got paid, then you will have a discrepancy between their records and yours.

Likewise if you did a shop in late 2014 and didn't get paid until 2015, don't include it in 2014. 1099's and W-2's are based on when you got the check, not on when you did the work.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

not to mention...if there is a discrepancy between what you report to the IRS and the 1099s (especially if you report less income)....it is more likely to trigger an audit.

When you work for no fee and just the reimbursement, the full reimbursement amount is *most definitely* income and must be reported as such. Think about it this way: If you are claiming that the $300 reimbursement was a deductible business expense, what was the business activity that required you to incur that expense? There isn't one, because you received no cash compensation for your services. You can't deduct expenses for gratis work, unless you are doing charitable work for a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

In your case, the $300 is technically considered "barter income" -- the fair value of goods received in return for your services. This income is absolutely required to be reported to the IRS in full, and you could eventually find yourself in considerable trouble for failing to report it if you are audited. You report barter income on Schedule C just like your other mystery shopping income, and you can deduct legitimate expenses like mileage.

The above applies to all mystery shopping that involves reimbursement only (Aveda, Ugg, Red Robin, etc.)

i've asked around...and it is likely that if the 1099 lists the combined cash plus reimbursment as income...you should be reporting the income as it is on the 1099 and then subjecting business expenses in the deductions.....

If you don't receive it and are not able to get the info from MF, you can call the IRS to ask what companies have filed a 1099 for you and what the reported income amounts are.

Thanks Rainy, i wasn't aware I could do that.

Maybe they got your address wrong.

Kim

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