This is a really tough situation, and I feel for you. Based on what you've described, you're essentially caught between a rock and a hard place - the employer is trying to retroactively change the terms of your working arrangement, possibly to cover themselves. Here's what I'd recommend: Don't just ignore the W-9 request entirely. Instead, respond in writing (text or email) acknowledging that you received the request but remind them of your original verbal agreement about the work being "under the table." Ask them to clarify exactly what amount they plan to report and why they're changing the arrangement now. If they insist on issuing a 1099, make sure you have documentation of what you actually received ($8,500) versus what you were owed ($11,000). You'll want to report only the income you actually received on your tax return. Keep all your records - text messages, payment receipts, anything that shows the original agreement and actual payments. The reality is that if they're determined to issue a 1099, they can do so regardless of whether you sign the W-9. But having a paper trail of your objections and the actual payment amounts will help protect you if there are discrepancies. You might also want to consult with a tax professional who can advise you on the best way to handle this specific situation. Most importantly, don't let them intimidate you into accepting responsibility for taxes on money you never received.

This situation highlights something really important that I don't see mentioned yet - you may want to consider filing your taxes accurately regardless of what your employer does. Even if he never sends you a W-9 or 1099, you're still technically required to report the $8,500 you actually received as income. The best approach might be to report it as "other income" on your tax return with a note about the nature of the work. This protects you if the IRS ever questions the unreported income, and it establishes your version of events in their records before any potential 1099 discrepancies arise. Also, regarding the unpaid $2,500 - you might want to document that you're owed this money but never received it. If your employer reports the full $11,000 on a 1099 (including the unpaid portion), you'll have clear evidence that you only received $8,500 in actual income. The IRS cares about what you actually received, not what someone claims they paid you. Consider this an expensive lesson about getting work agreements in writing, even for cash jobs. Verbal agreements might feel simpler, but they leave both parties vulnerable to exactly this kind of situation.

Don't overthink this mate! I'm also from the UK (25) and have been investing in US stocks for 3 years. The W8-BEN is standard for any non-US investor. Just fill it out, it takes 5 mins. The only consequence of NOT signing is paying more tax on dividends!

As a UK resident who went through this exact same confusion, I can confirm that signing the W8-BEN is absolutely the right move! I was also worried about getting entangled with US tax authorities when I first started investing in American stocks at 23. The form is actually your friend - it's what tells the US government "I'm not a US person, so please don't tax me like one." Without it, you'd be subject to the full 30% withholding tax on dividends. With it, you get the reduced 15% rate thanks to the UK-US tax treaty. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: keep a copy of your completed form for your records. You'll need to renew it every few years, and having your previous version makes it much easier to fill out the new one. Also, double-check that your broker has processed it correctly - I once had dividends withheld at the wrong rate because there was a processing error on their end. Don't let the fear of US tax forms stop you from diversifying internationally. The W8-BEN is a standard part of investing in US markets as a foreign investor, and once it's done, you can forget about it for years!

This discussion has been incredibly enlightening for someone new to understanding IRS collection procedures! I'm currently dealing with similar tax debt issues from freelance work I mismanaged several years ago, and reading through everyone's real experiences has provided more clarity than any official IRS guidance I've found. What really stands out to me is how the "currently not collectible not due to hardship" status appears to be more strategically advantageous than I initially understood. Unlike the hardship-based CNC status where the IRS actively monitors your financial situation expecting eventual payment arrangements, this status seems to indicate they've essentially stepped back from active collection efforts for operational reasons. @Ethan Davis, your timing situation is fascinating - if your 2014/2015 tax years were indeed assessed in 2015, you could potentially be just months away from those critical 10-year collection statute expiration dates. The fact that you're already protected by CNC status while this timeline plays out could be incredibly fortuitous. @Eve Freeman's firsthand account of actually experiencing a tax year expire was particularly valuable. Knowing that the debt simply disappears from your transcript without formal notification makes the 10-year collection statute feel much more tangible for those of us navigating these situations. I'm planning to get my own transcripts professionally analyzed based on the advice shared here. The concept of "strategic patience" that several members have described - sometimes avoiding action when time is working in your favor - is such a counterintuitive but apparently effective approach to tax debt management.

This entire discussion has been absolutely invaluable for understanding these complex IRS collection situations! As someone who's been dealing with similar tax debt from freelance work I completely botched in my late twenties, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing their real experiences here. What really stands out to me from reading through all these responses is how the "currently not collectible not due to hardship" status might actually be a hidden blessing, especially when combined with favorable timing on the 10-year collection statute. @Ethan Davis, your situation sounds potentially incredible - if those 2014/2015 assessments are truly from 2015, you could be looking at collection statute expiration dates coming up in just a few months while already being protected by CNC status. @Eve Freeman's firsthand account of actually having a tax year expire was such a revelation. Knowing that it just quietly disappears from your transcript without any fanfare makes the whole 10-year rule feel much more real and achievable for those of us in similar situations. The "strategic patience" approach that @QuantumQuest and others have described really resonates with me. As someone who typically wants to jump in and "fix" problems immediately, the idea that sometimes the best strategy is careful inaction when timing is working in your favor has been a complete mindset shift. I'm definitely going to get my own transcripts professionally analyzed to understand my assessment dates and timeline better. This community has provided more practical insights than I've found anywhere else - thank you all for being so generous with sharing your experiences!

I'm sort of in the same boat but I did multiple apps - DoorDash, UberEats and Instacart all under $600 each. Do I combine them all on one Schedule C or do separate ones for each app?

Great question! I was in a similar situation a couple years ago with small gig earnings. Just to add to what others have said - when you file your Schedule C, make sure to keep good records of everything even for small amounts. The IRS doesn't care if you made $50 or $5000, they want to see it reported correctly. One thing that helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, platform (DoorDash), gross earnings, and miles driven. Even if you're reconstructing this after the fact, having it organized makes filing much easier. Also worth noting - if your net profit after expenses ends up being under $400, you won't owe self-employment tax, but you still report the income on Schedule C and it flows to your 1040. The income might still be subject to regular income tax depending on your total income and tax situation. Keep all your records for at least 3 years in case the IRS has questions later!

I'm going through this exact same nightmare right now! Been using TurboTax for years and decided to switch to FreeTaxUSA to save money, but now I'm stuck on this AMT prior depreciation too. I have one rental property that I've owned for about 5 years, and I know there were some depreciation differences for AMT purposes, but finding the actual number is like searching for a needle in a haystack. Reading through all these responses is super helpful - I had no idea about the difference between the "taxpayer copy" and "full tax return" from TurboTax. I've definitely been looking at the wrong documents! Going to try downloading the complete returns with all the worksheets and see if I can locate Form 6251. Has anyone here actually calculated what they've saved by switching away from TurboTax? I'm curious if the annual savings really add up to enough to justify this headache. TurboTax quoted me $189 this year for my situation, while FreeTaxUSA is only $25. That's $164 in savings just this year, so I guess it's worth pushing through this frustration!

I've been through this same transition and want to add one more thing that might help - if you're having trouble locating Form 6251 in your old TurboTax returns, try searching the PDF for "6251" or "Alternative Minimum Tax" using Ctrl+F. Sometimes these forms are buried deep in the document and easy to miss when scrolling through manually. Also, if you discover that your AMT prior depreciation amount is significant (like several thousand dollars), double-check your math by comparing it to your rental property's total accumulated depreciation. The AMT depreciation difference shouldn't exceed your total depreciation claimed over the years - if it does, you might have the wrong number. One last tip: once you complete your 2025 return in FreeTaxUSA, print out or save a copy of your new Form 6251. Next year you'll need the updated AMT prior depreciation amount from this year's return, and you'll know exactly where to find it. Breaking the cycle of software dependency feels great, and the money you save adds up fast!