I've been dealing with this exact same Michigan verification nightmare for the past week! After reading through everyone's experiences here, I tried the early morning approach (around 6:30 AM) and it finally worked. The site seems way more stable before regular business hours. Also want to echo what others said about using different browsers - Safari on my Mac kept timing out, but switching to Edge did the trick. One thing I noticed that hasn't been mentioned yet: make sure you're entering your SSN exactly as it appears on your return (with or without dashes - the system is picky about formatting). Hope this helps someone avoid the frustration I went through!

I've been struggling with the same Michigan verification issue for weeks! After reading all these helpful tips, I finally got through yesterday using a combination of strategies mentioned here. What worked for me: cleared my cache, used Firefox instead of Chrome, and accessed the site at 6 AM. The SSN formatting tip from Mei was crucial - I had been including dashes when the system wanted it without. For anyone still having trouble, I also discovered that if you're using a VPN or corporate network, try switching to your phone's hotspot. The Michigan Treasury system seems sensitive to certain network configurations. Don't give up - with patience and the right approach, you can get through this frustrating process!

This is a pretty common situation with online gambling and PayPal 1099-Ks. The key thing to understand is that the 1099-K just shows your gross payment transactions through PayPal - it doesn't distinguish between deposits you made to gambling sites versus actual winnings you withdrew. Since you're a dependent but received a 1099-K, you do need to file your own return. The good news is that if you truly had a net loss of $2,500, you shouldn't owe any taxes on the gambling activity itself. However, you'll need to report it properly to match what the IRS has on file. I'd recommend using tax software that can handle gambling income (TurboTax Deluxe should work). You'll report your actual gambling winnings as "Other Income" and then you can deduct your losses up to the amount of winnings on Schedule A if you itemize. Since you had a net loss, your gambling income would essentially be zero for tax purposes. Make sure you keep detailed records of all your deposits and withdrawals from these platforms - screenshots, bank statements, anything that shows the money flow. The IRS may want to see documentation if they have questions about how a $14,000 1099-K resulted in zero taxable gambling income.

I went through something very similar last year as a college student with sports betting withdrawals to PayPal. The 1099-K reporting can be really confusing because it shows gross transaction volume, not actual winnings. Here's what I learned: Even as a dependent, you do need to file your own return when you receive a 1099-K. The tricky part is that you want to report your actual gambling activity accurately while avoiding an IRS mismatch with the 1099-K they have on file. Since you had a net loss, you technically don't have taxable gambling income. However, you'll want to be careful about how you report this. Some people report the net result (zero in your case) with documentation, while others report gross winnings and itemize losses. The itemizing route usually isn't worth it for college students since you'd give up the standard deduction. My advice: Use tax software that handles this properly (TurboTax Deluxe worked for me), keep excellent records of all your deposits vs withdrawals from the gambling sites, and consider having a tax professional review before filing if the amounts are significant. The documentation is key - you want to be able to clearly show how the $14,000 in PayPal transactions breaks down into deposits vs actual winnings if the IRS ever asks.

I went through something very similar with my S-corp last year - had a massive negative adjustment that made me panic. Turns out it was due to inconsistent tracking of shareholder loans and distributions over multiple years. The key thing I learned is that this adjustment is essentially the IRS form trying to force your balance sheet to balance when there are discrepancies between your books and tax reporting. In my case, we had been treating some owner draws as distributions when they should have been recorded as loan repayments, which created a snowball effect over time. My advice: Don't just ask your CPA to explain it - ask them to show you a detailed reconciliation of every component that makes up that -$1,015,382. They should be able to break it down line by line. If they can't or won't do that, it might be time to find a new CPA who specializes in S-corp taxation. Also, this is a good reminder to track your shareholder basis carefully going forward. That large negative adjustment could potentially impact your basis calculation, which affects how much you can take in distributions without tax consequences.

I've been through this exact scenario with my S-corp and that negative adjustment definitely warrants attention. In my experience, these large adjustments usually stem from one of three main issues: (1) distributions that weren't properly tracked as reducing shareholder basis, (2) inconsistent depreciation methods between book and tax records, or (3) shareholder loans that weren't correctly classified. The good news is this adjustment itself won't directly impact your current year tax liability since S-corp income flows through to your personal return via K-1. However, it could significantly affect your shareholder basis calculation, which is crucial for future distributions and loss deductions. I'd strongly recommend requesting a detailed breakdown from your CPA showing exactly what transactions or discrepancies are creating that -$1,015,382 figure. A competent CPA should be able to provide a line-by-line reconciliation. If they can't explain it clearly, that's a red flag about either their S-corp expertise or the quality of your underlying bookkeeping. Also, consider having them prepare a comprehensive shareholder basis schedule going back to when you elected S-corp status. This will help ensure you're properly tracking your basis for future tax planning and distribution decisions.

One thing I'd add is to consider opening a separate bank account just for your skin trading business. It makes tracking so much easier when tax time comes around, and it helps establish that this is a legitimate business activity rather than just a hobby. You can deposit your trading profits there and pay for new inventory purchases from that same account. Also, since you're dealing with digital assets that can be volatile in value, consider taking screenshots or saving records of market prices when you make transactions. This can help justify your purchase and sale prices if the IRS ever questions your reported profits. Steam's market history is helpful but having your own backup documentation never hurts. The business bank account will also make it crystal clear how much you're actually withdrawing for personal use versus reinvesting, which will help with your bookkeeping and Schedule C reporting.

Great advice already in this thread! One additional thing to consider is quarterly estimated tax payments. Since you're essentially running a small business, you might need to make estimated payments throughout the year rather than waiting until tax time. The general rule is if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes when you file, you should be making quarterly payments to avoid penalties. Given that you mentioned reinvesting most profits to grow the operation, it's easy to forget that you still owe taxes on those profits even if the cash isn't sitting in your personal account. I'd recommend setting aside about 25-30% of your net profits for taxes (income tax + self-employment tax) and making those quarterly payments if your annual profit looks like it'll be substantial. The due dates are usually mid-January, mid-April, mid-June, and mid-September for the following year's taxes. Also, since you're dealing with Steam's mandatory 7-day hold period, make sure you're tracking when each transaction actually completes for tax purposes - it's the sale date that matters for when you recognize the income, not when you first list the item.

I'm also new to this community and dealing with a very similar situation! My husband and I got married in the Philippines in 2021, and I've been so anxious about whether we're filing our taxes correctly. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's advice is - whether you got married in the Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Mexico, or anywhere else, the rule seems to be the same: if your marriage was legally valid where it was performed, the IRS recognizes it for tax purposes. No special US registration required. I think what might be confusing some people (like your friends who gave you conflicting advice) is that there are different requirements for different purposes. Immigration has its own rules, some states might have different recognition requirements, but for federal taxes, it's straightforward - legal foreign marriage equals married filing status with the IRS. Your accountant was definitely right, and it sounds like you should stick with filing as married. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and resources like the IRS publications and various services - this community is so helpful for navigating these confusing situations!

Welcome to the community! I'm also dealing with a foreign marriage situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My wife and I got married in France in 2020, and I've been filing as married ever since based on my CPA's advice, but I was always in the back of my mind worried about whether it was correct. What really strikes me from reading all these responses is how universal this situation is - people getting married all over the world and then being confused about their US tax obligations. It's reassuring to see the consistency in everyone's advice and experiences. One thing I'd add for anyone still feeling uncertain: I found it helpful to actually read through some of the IRS guidance myself rather than just relying on what others told me. IRS Publication 501 (which Jessica mentioned) really does spell it out clearly - they recognize valid foreign marriages for federal tax purposes, period. Sometimes seeing it directly from the source helps calm those nagging doubts. Your accountant was absolutely right, and you should definitely continue filing as married. Don't let your friends' confusion throw you off - they probably mean well but are mixing up different legal contexts. Stick with the professional advice you received!