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Tax Preparation Shops

February 09, 2026 05:51PM
I’m not really interested in one of these shops but have been curious about this for years. Is it a true mystery shop? If I were to take one of these shops, I would need to reveal that I am a mystery shopper on Schedule C.
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February 09, 2026 06:11PM
Why would you need to reveal that?
You give them a list of income and state a general 'consultant' business type.
I do my own taxes but in the past have completed these shops (when the bonus would be too good to pass up)

1. I've never paid attention to any 1099 sent to me. They don't matter. My records are accurate and used to report income and deduct required purchases (reimbursements).
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February 09, 2026 06:34PM
You don't have to say you're a mystery shopper, even if the company on the 1099 would give it away. you can say you're an auditor, did an IT project, all kinds of reasons. The 1099 doesn't state what kind of job you did and the tax people normally don't really care, from my experience.
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February 09, 2026 06:35PM
@viv0412 wrote:

Why would you need to reveal that?
You give them a list of income and state a general 'consultant' business type.
I do my own taxes but in the past have completed these shops (when the bonus would be too good to pass up)

1. I've never paid attention to any 1099 sent to me. They don't matter. My records are accurate and used to report income and deduct required purchases (reimbursements).

I understand not using them and using your own records, I would probably still look at it and make sure it is accurate.
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February 09, 2026 09:15PM
And if it's not? I'd rather just show my records to the IRS if I'm ever questioned.


@joanna81 wrote:

@viv0412 wrote:

Why would you need to reveal that?
You give them a list of income and state a general 'consultant' business type.
I do my own taxes but in the past have completed these shops (when the bonus would be too good to pass up)

1. I've never paid attention to any 1099 sent to me. They don't matter. My records are accurate and used to report income and deduct required purchases (reimbursements).

I understand not using them and using your own records, I would probably still look at it and make sure it is accurate.
Reply
February 09, 2026 11:05PM
I did one when I still got refunds.. I told them that I'm a mechanic, because that's the truth. I AM a mechanic, I have been for nearly 40 years. What I do for side money doesn't have anything to do with my career. Now that I'm retired, I put in the box that I'm an indedpent contractor. But I also don't do tax return shops because I don't get refunds anymore.
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February 10, 2026 08:25PM
One reason to look at the 1099 is because it (is being provided to the IRS as income associated with you, and) would be the basis for a challenge from the IRS to you. If the amount matches your records versus knowing that you will have to account for the difference (now or later). Of course It is a personal choice as to comfort level with the potential flag on one's tax record.
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February 13, 2026 03:14PM
@viv0412 wrote:

And if it's not? I'd rather just show my records to the IRS if I'm ever questioned.


@joanna81 wrote:

@viv0412 wrote:

Why would you need to reveal that?
You give them a list of income and state a general 'consultant' business type.
I do my own taxes but in the past have completed these shops (when the bonus would be too good to pass up)

1. I've never paid attention to any 1099 sent to me. They don't matter. My records are accurate and used to report income and deduct required purchases (reimbursements).

I understand not using them and using your own records, I would probably still look at it and make sure it is accurate.

If it's grossly inaccurate, they should issue a corrected one. It can be way less time consuming to deal with a company to correct a 1099 than to file taxes and have to deal with the IRS.
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February 13, 2026 04:35PM
Many years some companies have included reimbursements. That makes an INSANE difference and I've never contacted a company to change it.


@joanna81 wrote:

@viv0412 wrote:

And if it's not? I'd rather just show my records to the IRS if I'm ever questioned.


@joanna81 wrote:

@viv0412 wrote:

Why would you need to reveal that?
You give them a list of income and state a general 'consultant' business type.
I do my own taxes but in the past have completed these shops (when the bonus would be too good to pass up)

1. I've never paid attention to any 1099 sent to me. They don't matter. My records are accurate and used to report income and deduct required purchases (reimbursements).

I understand not using them and using your own records, I would probably still look at it and make sure it is accurate.

If it's grossly inaccurate, they should issue a corrected one. It can be way less time consuming to deal with a company to correct a 1099 than to file taxes and have to deal with the IRS.
Reply
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