I'm new to this community but have been dealing with a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned after spending way too much time researching this! After reading through all these responses, I ended up calling the IRS directly (using that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it actually worked great and saved me hours of hold time). The agent I spoke with confirmed that social casino winnings are technically taxable as "other income" regardless of amount, but they also gave me some helpful context. They explained that for amounts under $1000 without corresponding 1099 forms, the IRS typically focuses their enforcement efforts on cases where there are other red flags or audit triggers. That said, they strongly recommended reporting it to avoid any potential issues down the line. What really helped me was keeping it simple: I reported my total winnings ($720 across multiple platforms) on Schedule 1 as "Social casino sweepstakes winnings" and kept records of what I spent playing in case I ever need them. The actual tax impact was only about $150 for my bracket, which felt worth it for the peace of mind. For anyone still on the fence about reporting smaller amounts - the process is way easier than it seems, especially with modern tax software, and having everything above board just removes one more thing to worry about during tax season!

I've been lurking in this community for a while and finally decided to join because this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in almost the exact same situation as the original poster - won about $920 across several social casino platforms last year and have been stressed about reporting it properly. After reading through everyone's experiences and advice, I feel much more confident about moving forward. The distinction between sweepstakes winnings vs traditional gambling that some folks mentioned really helped clarify things, and hearing about actual tax impacts from people who've been through this process is invaluable. I especially appreciate those who shared their experiences calling the IRS directly and using tax software to handle the reporting. It sounds like the process is much more straightforward than I was imagining. I think I'm going to go ahead and report my winnings as "Other Income" on Schedule 1 to stay compliant and avoid any future headaches. One quick question for the group: for those who reported social casino winnings, did any of you ever get follow-up questions from the IRS about it, or did it just process normally like any other income? I'm probably overthinking this, but curious about others' experiences after filing. Thanks again to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - this community is amazing for navigating these tricky tax situations that don't have clear-cut answers elsewhere!

Welcome to the community, @Luca Esposito! I'm glad this thread has been helpful for you as you prepare your application. Based on my experience working with foreign national PTIN applications, I can answer your questions: **Two Documents Requirement:** An Indian passport plus Aadhaar card should work perfectly as your two government-issued documents. The key is that one must have a photograph (passport) and both must verify your identity and foreign status. Aadhaar cards are widely recognized as official Indian government identification, so you should be good there. **Timeline Clarification:** The 6-8 weeks I mentioned is specifically from when the IRS receives your complete, correctly prepared application package. The document gathering phase in India (notarization, apostille, translation) typically adds another 3-4 weeks depending on your location and local processing times. **Consulate Route:** You're right to check with the Indian consulate, but as others have noted, you'll likely still need the apostille from India. Indian consulates in the US can usually notarize documents, but the apostille authentication still goes through the Ministry of External Affairs in India. **Pro Tip for India:** Make sure your notarization is done by a First Class Magistrate or Notary Public registered under the Indian Notaries Act. The apostille should come from the designated authority in your state or the MEA in New Delhi, depending on who issued your passport. The investment in getting everything right upfront is definitely worth it. I've seen Indian applicants get approved in under 6 weeks when all documentation is properly authenticated. Best of luck with your application!

As a newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! I'm currently in the early stages of preparing my own PTIN application as a foreign national from the UK, and the level of detail and real-world experience shared here has been invaluable. What strikes me most is how consistent the issues seem to be across different countries - incorrect notarization, missing apostilles, and inadequate translations appear to be the main culprits for rejections. It's clear that the IRS is very strict about these requirements, but the rejection letters don't always provide the specific guidance needed to fix the problems. I'm particularly grateful for the cost breakdowns and timeline estimates various members have shared. Knowing that I should budget around £40-60 for notarization, £10-15 for apostille, and £80-120 for certified translation helps me plan financially. The 9-12 week total timeline (including document preparation) is also crucial for planning when to start this process. For other UK nationals who might be reading this, I plan to: 1. Use a UK solicitor or certified notary public for the passport notarization 2. Get the apostille through the FCO Legalisation Office 3. Have any non-English text translated by a certified translator registered with the Institute of Translation and Interpreting The services mentioned like Claimyr for reaching the IRS and taxr.ai for document analysis seem like they could be really helpful too, especially given how specific these requirements are. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - this community support makes navigating these complex requirements so much more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this comprehensive discussion on social casino taxation! I've been dealing with a similar situation and was completely overwhelmed until I read through everyone's experiences and advice. I had about $3,200 in social casino winnings last year with roughly $2,100 spent on coin purchases across two platforms. Like many others here, I was initially confused about whether to report this as gambling income, prize income, or something else entirely. This thread has been absolutely invaluable in clarifying several key points: 1. **Proper categorization** - Understanding that social casino winnings should be reported as "Other Income" rather than gambling income makes perfect sense given how these platforms are structured to avoid gambling regulations. 2. **Documentation importance** - The emphasis throughout this discussion on immediate documentation is spot-on. I'm taking screenshots of all my account histories today before any data gets purged. 3. **Contest entry vs. entertainment distinction** - This concept was completely new to me but makes logical sense. I can see how purchases made specifically for high-value promotional contests would have different tax treatment than general entertainment spending. 4. **State considerations** - I hadn't even thought about potential state-specific rules until reading @Abigail Spencer's professional insights. While my amounts are below the $5,000 consultation threshold mentioned, the complexity of properly documenting contest-related expenses across multiple platforms has me considering professional guidance anyway. The peace of mind might be worth the cost. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences, especially those who provided actual results like @ShadowHunter. This community has transformed a confusing tax situation into something manageable with clear action steps!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by the depth and quality of this discussion on social casino taxation! I've been lurking and reading every single comment, and this thread has been more educational than anything I could find from official IRS sources or tax preparation websites. I'm dealing with a very similar situation - about $5,800 in social casino winnings last year with approximately $3,900 spent on coin purchases across multiple platforms. Before finding this discussion, I was completely lost and getting contradictory advice about how to handle this on my taxes. What I find most valuable is how this conversation has evolved to address the real practical challenges we face: **The documentation reality check** - The emphasis on taking screenshots immediately really hit home. I just discovered that one of my platforms only keeps transaction history for 90 days! If I hadn't read about this issue here, I would have lost crucial records. **The professional consultation threshold** - @Abigail Spencer's guidance about the $5,000 threshold is incredibly helpful. My situation is right at that line, and seeing @ShadowHunter's real results (55% of purchases documented as contest entry costs, $2,860 in deductions) really demonstrates the potential value of expert guidance. **The evolving nature of this tax area** - What strikes me most is how the IRS hasn't provided comprehensive guidance yet, but is paying increased attention. This creates both opportunities for legitimate tax optimization and risks for those who don't document properly. I'm implementing the systematic approach several people have outlined: immediate documentation, email archaeology for promotional timing, research of state-specific rules, and professional consultation given my amounts. Thank you to everyone who shared real experiences and professional insights. This community has transformed what felt like an impossible tax puzzle into a manageable situation with clear next steps!

Filed mine about the same time as you! The transcript route is definitely your best bet for getting the real status. WMR can be pretty vague with just "processing" but your transcript will show specific codes that tell you exactly where things stand. Usually takes 24-48 hours after filing to show up in the system. Don't stress too much - if you got a confirmation from your filing software, you're probably good to go!

Another option is calling the IRS automated line at 1-800-829-1040, but honestly the transcript method is way faster. Once you get your account set up, you can check anytime without waiting on hold. Just make sure you have your AGI from last year's return handy for the verification process - that trips up a lot of people!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this exact situation. I'm a veteran who transitioned from active duty to civilian life mid-tax year, so I had both Tricare and employer insurance coverage. When I filed through TurboTax, I simply selected that I had qualifying coverage for the full year and didn't attach any 1095 forms. My return was accepted immediately and I received my refund within the normal timeframe. The key thing to remember is that Tricare is explicitly recognized by the IRS as minimum essential coverage under the ACA. Even if you don't have your 1095-B form in hand (which seems to be a common issue based on other comments here), you can still file confidently knowing you had qualifying coverage. The IRS isn't going to reject your return over this - they're mainly concerned with accuracy in reporting income and deductions these days. For your small business situation, focus on getting those business expenses and deductions documented properly since that's likely where you'll see the biggest impact on your refund amount. The health insurance question is really just a checkbox at this point.

I completely understand your concern about getting this right - nobody wants their refund delayed, especially when cash flow is tight for your business! The good news is that Tricare absolutely qualifies as minimum essential coverage, so you're all set there. When TurboTax asks about health insurance, just select that you had qualifying coverage through a government program for the full year. You don't need to worry about attaching any 1095 forms to your return, even if you haven't received them yet (DEERS has been notoriously slow with these lately). The health insurance reporting requirement is really just a formality now since there's no penalty for being uninsured. The IRS is much more focused on income and deduction accuracy these days. Your return won't be rejected or delayed because of the Tricare coverage - it's one of the most straightforward types of qualifying coverage to report. Since you mentioned your business had a rough year, make sure you're capturing all your eligible business expenses and deductions - that's likely where you'll see the biggest impact on your refund amount. The insurance question is honestly the easy part of your return!