This discussion has been incredibly helpful! I've been using receipt scanning apps for about a year and was always uncertain about the tax implications. The consensus here around these being "rebates of purchase price" rather than taxable income makes so much sense. What really clarified it for me was the cost basis reduction explanation - when I buy groceries for $75 and get $2 back through Fetch, I've effectively paid $73 for those groceries. It's no different from using a manufacturer coupon or store discount. The IRS Publication 525 reference about cash rebates not being taxable income is particularly reassuring, especially combined with multiple people's direct confirmations from IRS representatives. The distinction between "getting paid for services" (surveys = taxable) versus "getting money back on purchases" (receipt scanning = rebate) is such a clear way to think about it. I also appreciate the tool recommendations like taxr.ai for analyzing terms of service - that's exactly the kind of resource that can provide peace of mind when evaluating new apps. Thanks to everyone who shared their research and experiences. This thread should be the go-to resource for anyone with questions about receipt app tax treatment!

This has been such an incredibly comprehensive discussion! As someone who's been using Fetch for about 8 months and recently started using GoodRx with prescription scanning, I was getting really anxious about potential tax implications as my gift card rewards approached $400. The "rebate of purchase price" explanation that keeps coming up throughout this thread has been a huge relief. It makes perfect sense when you think about it - I'm getting partial refunds on money I've already spent, not earning new income. The IRS Publication 525 reference really drives this home with the official backing. What I found particularly helpful was the clarification about prescription discount cards. Since I'm still making actual purchases (buying medications) even with the GoodRx discount, those Fetch points are still considered rebates on my healthcare spending. It's essentially two different types of discounts on the same purchase - the upfront GoodRx discount and the backend Fetch rebate. I also appreciate everyone sharing their experiences with tools like taxr.ai and direct IRS conversations through services like Claimyr. It's great to know there are resources available when you need that extra official confirmation. One practical tip I'll add - I've started keeping screenshots of my app earnings summaries and the terms of service, just for documentation purposes. Even though these aren't taxable, having that paper trail seems like good practice in case any questions ever come up. Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this the most thorough discussion I've seen on this topic! This thread should definitely be bookmarked as the go-to resource for anyone wondering about receipt app tax implications.

Did you check for any data entry errors? I was in the exact same boat - owed $12 despite making less than estimated - and it turned out I had accidentally transposed two numbers when entering info from one of the columns on my 1095-A. Double-check all the numbers you transferred from your 1095-A to Form 8962!

This is actually more common than you'd think! I had a similar experience where I owed a small amount despite lower income. In my case, it came down to the specific way the premium tax credit calculation works with income brackets. The key thing to understand is that the premium tax credit isn't just based on your income alone - it's also tied to the cost of the "benchmark plan" (second-lowest cost Silver plan) in your area. If that benchmark plan cost changed between when you enrolled and when you're filing taxes, it can affect your final credit amount even if your income was lower. Also, the calculation uses very specific percentages of the Federal Poverty Level, and sometimes a lower income can actually push you into a different calculation bracket that results in owing a small amount. It's counterintuitive but happens when you're near threshold boundaries. For $4, it's probably not worth spending too much time investigating, but definitely double-check that all your 1095-A numbers were entered correctly on Form 8962. Small transcription errors can cause these kinds of minor discrepancies.

I went through this exact same identity verification process about 6 weeks ago and can definitely relate to the confusion! FAGI stands for Federal Adjusted Gross Income, and what tripped me up initially was understanding that they want this number from your PREVIOUSLY filed tax return, not the current one you're waiting on. So if you're dealing with your 2024 return now, they need the FAGI from your 2023 tax return that you filed earlier this year. You'll find it on line 11 of your Form 1040. The key is entering it EXACTLY as it appears - if your return shows whole dollars without cents, don't add decimal points. One thing that really helped me was realizing that if you used tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or even FreeTaxUSA, you can usually log back into your account and access your previous year's return online. This saved me hours of searching through old paperwork when I was in full panic mode! The verification process itself is actually pretty quick once you have the right information - mine was completed within about 36 hours and my refund started processing again immediately. Just make sure to respond within whatever timeframe is specified in your letter to avoid any additional delays. Don't stress too much about this - it seems way more complicated than it actually is when you're staring at that letter for the first time!

I went through this exact same identity verification process about 2 months ago and completely understand your confusion! FAGI stands for Federal Adjusted Gross Income, and the key thing that initially confused me was understanding that they want this number from your PREVIOUSLY filed tax return, not the current one you're waiting on. So if you got this letter about your 2024 return, they need the FAGI from your 2023 tax return that you filed earlier this year. You'll find it on line 11 of your Form 1040. The most important thing is to enter it EXACTLY as it appears on your filed return - if it shows whole dollars without cents, enter it that way for a perfect match with their system. If you can't locate your physical copy of last year's return, try logging into whatever tax software you used (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA, etc.) - they typically keep your returns accessible online for several years. This saved me when I was frantically searching through old paperwork! The actual verification process is pretty quick once you have the right information - mine was completed within about 48 hours and my refund started processing again. Just make sure to respond within the deadline specified in your letter. I know it feels overwhelming when you first get that verification letter, but you're almost at the finish line - just need to find that FAGI number and you'll be all set!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I'm trying to help my elderly parents with their estate planning, and the Form 709 terminology has been driving me crazy. What really clicked for me after reading everyone's explanations is that the IRS basically makes you calculate what the tax WOULD be on all your lifetime gifts, then gives you a credit that's big enough to cover the tax on $13.61M worth of gifts. So you're not actually paying tax until you've used up that credit. It's like they're saying "here's a $5.389M credit in your account that you can use to pay gift taxes" rather than "you get to give away $13.61M tax-free." Same result, but the mechanism is unnecessarily confusing. One follow-up question though - when people talk about the lifetime limit going back down in 2026, does that mean the credit amount changes too, or just how much gift value that credit can cover?

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a tax preparer and I've been struggling to explain this concept to clients for years. The way everyone broke down the relationship between the $13.61M exemption and the $5.389M credit finally gave me the language I needed. What I find most frustrating is that the IRS could easily redesign Form 709 to be clearer. Instead of making people calculate a tax and then apply a credit, they could just have a simple "lifetime exemption used" tracker. But I guess that would make too much sense! One thing I'd add for anyone reading this - make sure you keep copies of ALL your Form 709 filings, even from years ago. The IRS relies on your records to track your cumulative lifetime gifts, and if you can't prove what you've already used, they might not give you credit for previous exemption usage. I've seen situations where people lost track of old 709s and ended up paying tax on gifts that should have been covered by their remaining exemption. Also, don't forget that gifts between spouses who are both US citizens are unlimited and don't count against these limits at all - that's a separate unlimited marital deduction.

Does anyone know if TurboTax Premium can help with preparing Form 709? I already pay for the premium version for my rental properties, but I'm not sure if it includes gift tax returns.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I helped my grandson with his student loans. The separate filing approach you're planning is totally fine - that's exactly what I did. One thing I'd suggest is keeping good records of both filings. I created a simple folder with copies of both my 1040 (after e-filing) and my mailed Form 709, along with all the supporting documentation for the gift. This made it super easy when I had a follow-up question from the IRS months later (nothing scary, just a routine clarification request). Also, don't forget that if your gift exceeds the annual exclusion amount, you're not necessarily paying any tax - you're just using up part of your lifetime exemption. That was the part that confused me the most initially. The Form 709 is more about tracking your lifetime gift totals than actually owing money in most cases. Good luck with your filing! It's really not as complicated as it seems once you get through it the first time.