Working a tax prep shop, and telling them about your mystery shopping income?

Has anyone done a tax prep shop and claim your mystery shopping income during these shop? I've been tempted to sign up for these tax prep shop, but I don't know what they would think of me when I tell them about the other income. Thoughts?

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That is why I haven't ever done one of those, as well. I'm curious to see the feedback here.

I did one a few years ago and liked the tax consultant so much, we just kept going to him. It's a mom-and-pop local business and the tax preparer is self-employed himself, so is accurate on what he advises us.

No problem. I tell them I'm a self-employed customer service consultant. And on the ones that require that you declare NO 1099 income, I just come home and do an Amended Return.

I have yet to disclose to a tax preparer that I "mystery shop". They don't seems to be interested with the name on the 1099, only the State ID and the amount being claimed. And if there is no 1099, then it is a case of self employed income amount.

I have had my taxes prepared over the past 5 years by Jackson Hewitt, H&R Block, and Liberty. The name on the 1099 did not mean a thing to them. and they were tax prep shops.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2016 10:24PM by sojo917.

@ceasesmith wrote:

No problem. I tell them I'm a self-employed customer service consultant. And on the ones that require that you declare NO 1099 income, I just come home and do an Amended Return.

So to be clear... to make money... you intentionally file a fraudulent return with the IRS and cause extra work (regardless if you intend to correct it later, it is fraudulent to do so - whether to make money or not).

We are all self-employed and we are all customer service consultants. Where is the fraud?

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

The fraud is filing the return with the tax preparation office and excluding your 1099 income intentionally and then going home and amending it, which also causes double work for the IRS.

Hopefully, excluding the 1099 was one of the questions on the shop. Then it is not Fraud it is doing what you agreed to do.

@grille wrote:

So to be clear... to make money... you intentionally file a fraudulent return with the IRS and cause extra work (regardless if you intend to correct it later, it is fraudulent to do so - whether to make money or not).

This unlike YOU, whom tend to hide the tabs on a DIM shop----->"If possible, I fold the box tabs so that the dimensions do not show. Also, I will put my label on the bottom rather than the top to conceal the dimensions." <----- I guess if it is about making money, you want to get paid.

If the IRS is not crying foul, then is it really fraud

You stalked her threads? smh

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

smh???

shaking my head

Shopper in California's Bay Area

Ahh. Thanks CaliGirl. I had come up with lots of possibilities, but none seemed to fit.

Per the USPS Dim Weight guidelines from the MSP, they state "If you use an existing box, it must be the correct size and CANNOT HAVE ANY MARKINGS ON IT EXCEPT THE TO/FROM ADDRESS FOR THIS SHOP". So if you are not covering the size you are not following the shop guidelines.

As for the IRS, underreporting your income is fraud, end of story. If you choose to look at it as a gray area, that is your choice. Either way, it causes the IRS double work which in itself is wrong. Most posters whine and complain when an MSP causes them extra work, this is no different.

**edited to add the word 'to"

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2016 12:01AM by grille.

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Working a tax prep shop, and telling them about your mystery shopping income?

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