Mystery Shopping Taxes

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It's that time of year again, the World Happiness Report has been released.

For 2026, the top 25 happiest countries in the world. Finland, has held the top spot for 9 out of the past 10 years. 1. Finland 2. Iceland 3. Denmark 4. Costa Rica 5. Sweden 6. Norway 7. Netherlands 8. Israel 9. Luxembourg 10. Switzerland 11. New Zealand 12. Mexico 13. Ireland 14. Belgium 15. Australia 16. Kosovo 17. Germany 18. Slovenia 19. Austria 20. Czechia 21. United Arab Emirates 22. Saudi... Continue Reading

Would you do this?

Posted thus morning: Hotel overnight with 5 separate “integrity” shops onsite (with time stamps, narratives, and multiple photos each). $6-700 in required cash/credit expenses (and crappy tip allowances) reimbursed several weeks later. Located in a major US city notorious for its high crime rate…for a total fee of…$40.... Continue Reading

1099 tax from Reality Based Group

Am I correct in seeing that the amount included in this 1099 includes payment from shops done with Sinclair Customer Metrics?... Continue Reading

Gig workers and Mystery Shoppers: what would you want in a job & payment tracking app?

I’m building a gig worker tracker app for myself and I’m curious what other people would want in something like this. I know yall can come up with things I haven’t thought of yet. Right now it tracks: • company name • job type • job date • report deadline • expected pay date • pay amount •... Continue Reading

Intellishop slow payments?

Anyone else finding them slow to pay? Usually they pay on the 20th. Yesterday I received pay for only one of six jobs I did last month. I also see two jobs that are showing zero fees and zero expenses yet my rating for those jobs was a 10. Sent... Continue Reading

Elite CXS Payments

Hi everyone, I wanted to ask if anyone else is currently experiencing severe payment delays or total radio silence from Elite CXS? I've been shopping for 15+ years with over 100 companies, so I know how the cycle works, but this is a new one for me. I have an outstanding payment... Continue Reading

Then Vs. Now

Cooldude's post gave me pause for thought. I first joined here in 2017 at the same time I got into shopping. In over 8 years time, I have watched not only this forum, but MSing, change a bunch. Seems like the pandemic was the turning point for change. When I first joined here, there... Continue Reading

1099 Ipsos

Does IPSOS mail us our 1099s for Sassie and Shopmetrics? I didn't see anything on the websites.... Continue Reading

BARE 1099 NEC form

Anyone else get an email from noreply@efile1.com ? Bare Associates International Inc recently hired us to file their tax information reporting forms for 2025 on Efile4biz, an IRS‑approved transmitter. You’re receiving this email so that you can securely access your 1099-NEC form online by visiting Efile4biz and logging in. I would... Continue Reading

Oddest or Unique thing you've done for $$$?

Over the years, I've become boring in terms of income.... but not that long ago or farther back, I could be found doing some nutty or dicey or maybe even clever type work, depending on your perspective - lol.... You as well? I was just remembering the time that one of the... Continue Reading

Grocery Stores and profit - or lack, thereof

I was raised in a small, somewhat rural hometown. Maybe 7,000 people at last count. My siblings still live there and I keep in touch with happenings in the town. The hometown has 4 grocery stores. Walmart, Aldi and two chain locations. Yesterday, one of the two chains announced it is shutting down... Continue Reading

Shops with high spend

If some day, I need to spend much money to get a credit card signup bonus in a few months, what mystery shops require expenses of more than $1000? I saw a casino shop with 2 hotel nights, casino games and food, and it requires $2100 expenses. I'm not a casino... Continue Reading

2026 IRS Mileage Rate

CORRECTION: As of 4 PM on December 29th, the 2026 IRS business milage rate is $0.725. Why this changed eludes me. Here is a current link: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-sets-2026-business-standard-mileage-rate-at-725-cents-per-mile-up-25-cents Effective January 1, 2026, the IRS mileage rate will be $0.68 per mile. This is a $0.02 per mile drop compared to 2025. According to... Continue Reading

Expense tracking

I have been mystery shopping for nearly 30 years and have never had an issue with filing my taxes and my 1099 forms in the past. Now the IRS is pulling reports from paypal and declaring that I made more in income than was reported in my filed taxes. The... Continue Reading

Dear editor

Dear editor. Thank you for your comments regsrding my shop. Since you like to deduct points from me, I would like to return the favor. For reference, below are your shop comments. Shop Grade: 8 Comments: CONTACT: We had to contact you for updates/clarification on your report; this contact resulted... Continue Reading

Shoppers Needed in USA & Canada – Get Paid Monthly!

Want extra cash on top of your fixed income? Join our Mystery Shopper Network for USA & Canada! ✅ Flexible assignments ✅ Paid every 20th of the month ✅ Work with top brands Sign up now: https://gapcentral.gbw.solutions/xec/CountryLanguageSelection.aspx DM me for details, let’s make mystery shopping fun & rewarding!... Continue Reading

Social Security Disability

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Social Security Disability

Hello everyone, I started mystery shopping and I'm on SSDI, when I call SS to tell them I need to report my wages, I tell them I get paid thru PayPal, they don't know or give me any information on how to do that. Is there anyone here that is... Continue Reading

Public Donations?

Do you have any thoughts or opinions about online donations - using websites like GoFundMe? What gave me pause to consider it all was a recent case in the state I live in. Earlier this year, someone was murdered in this state under unusual circumstances. The deceased had traveled here from another state... Continue Reading

Frustrating emails with jobs xxx miles from my home...

This is the mileage I looked up for one of the 40 or so shops I was sent in an email that said they pulled all the shops within 30 miles of my home. I shook my head at 30 miles to Palmdale and more to over half the... Continue Reading

Recent Mentions of Mystery Shopping Taxes

They do not take well to being questioned about this when trying to get an accurate answer to a question or problem. (Source). April 19, 2026

I wonder if I uninstall the app and then reinstall the app may help. (Source). April 19, 2026

My daughter loves that place, so we will being going shop or not :O) (Source). April 19, 2026

Not seeing stuff in my area. (Source). April 19, 2026

You have had issues with editors and not being paid. (Source). April 19, 2026

The first three months of this year have been quite busy for me with a lot of worthwhile shops. (Source). April 19, 2026

The owner knows about the issue, and short of sending the troublemakers to live elsewhere (two of them do this as they're being bullied by the biggest cat), it's going to keep happening. (Source). April 19, 2026

This was my second place, which I joined the instant I finished my first shop with my first place, Personally Recommended, just to compare the two, and Shopper Now wins in every comparison mode. (Source). April 19, 2026

au/ This was my first mystery shopping place, which I joined about 6 or 7 months back. (Source). April 19, 2026

Yesterday was my first time doing the Jensen Beach location. (Source). April 19, 2026