I'm dealing with a similar situation and it's so frustrating how unclear the social casino companies are about tax reporting! I've been playing on Slotomania and Global Poker and won around $1,200 total this year. From what I've gathered reading through everyone's experiences here, it sounds like I should report it as "Other Income" on my tax return regardless of whether I get a 1099 or not. The inconsistency between platforms is maddening though - some follow the $600 rule, others use $5,000, and some apparently don't report at all. @Keith Davidson - thanks for the clarification about the virtual currency vs. real money distinction. That makes a lot more sense now. I was confused about why playing with "fake" coins could be taxable, but you're right that it's the cash-out that creates the taxable event. Has anyone had issues with the IRS questioning these types of winnings during an audit? I want to be compliant but I'm also worried about drawing unnecessary attention by reporting income that maybe other people aren't reporting.

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in a similar situation with about $2,100 in social casino winnings this year. After reading everyone's experiences, I decided to be proactive and contacted my tax preparer directly. She confirmed what @Keith Davidson mentioned - all gambling income needs to be reported regardless of whether you receive tax forms. She also said that social casino winnings should go on line 8z of Form 1040 as "Other Income" with a description like "social casino winnings." One thing she emphasized that I haven't seen mentioned much here is keeping detailed records. She recommended creating a spreadsheet with dates, platform names, amounts deposited, amounts withdrawn, and any fees. Even if the platforms don't give you official statements, having your own organized records will be crucial if the IRS ever asks questions. For anyone worried about reporting income that others might not be reporting - my preparer said it's always better to err on the side of compliance. The penalties for unreported income are much worse than just paying the tax upfront. Plus, these platforms are becoming more regulated, so it's likely they'll start issuing proper tax forms in the future anyway.

19 Don't forget about state-level requirements too! Depending on where you live, you might also need to withhold for state unemployment insurance. In my state, I had to register as a household employer with both the IRS (for federal taxes) AND with the state workforce agency. The whole nanny tax thing is honestly a paperwork nightmare. I eventually broke down and hired a nanny payroll service that handles all the withholding, tax payments, and filings for about $50/month. Totally worth it to avoid the headache and potential mistakes.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can confirm that FICA withholding is absolutely mandatory - there's no legal way around it. When I hired my nanny last year, she also asked me not to withhold anything, but after researching it thoroughly, I realized we had to follow the law. What helped me was explaining to her that the 7.65% she pays actually benefits her in the long run - it goes toward her Social Security credits and Medicare eligibility. Many nannies don't realize that working "under the table" means they're missing out on building their Social Security work history. I'd recommend being upfront with your nanny that this isn't negotiable, but you can work with her on the overall compensation to make sure she's happy with her take-home pay. The penalties for not complying just aren't worth the risk, especially since the IRS has been cracking down on household employer compliance.

I just went through this same situation! Filed my return electronically 4 days ago and was getting anxious about the lack of acceptance notification, especially since this is my first year filing with solely retirement income (pension and 401k distributions). After reading through everyone's experiences here, I feel much better about the timeline. It sounds like 7-10 days is completely normal, and weekend filings definitely seem to take longer. I used H&R Block's software and have been obsessively checking both their tracker and the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool multiple times daily. One thing I noticed is that their system shows "transmitted successfully" but still waiting on "IRS accepted." Based on what Miguel and others shared about the distinction between transmission and acceptance, I think I just need to be more patient. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines - it's so helpful to know what's actually normal versus what we expect!

I'm new to this community and dealing with my first tax filing since becoming self-employed! I submitted my return electronically 3 days ago and have been anxiously checking for acceptance. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like I'm still well within the normal timeframe. I used TaxAct and can see that my return was "transmitted successfully" but I'm still waiting for the IRS acceptance notification. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone noticed if returns with Schedule C (business income) take longer for acceptance than simpler returns? My situation changed this year from W-2 employee to freelance work, so I have both 1099s and business expenses to report. Thanks to everyone for sharing their timelines and experiences - it really helps newcomers like me understand what's normal versus what might be cause for concern!

You're getting excellent advice here, Aaron! Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through this exact scenario. When my spouse and I got married, we had the same privacy concerns and decided to file separately. The good news is that your mom can absolutely prepare your return without needing your wife's income information (assuming you're not in a community property state, which it sounds like you're not). She'll just need your wife's name and Social Security Number for your return. One small tip that saved us some headaches - create a simple shared document or note where you and your wife can quickly coordinate on the key decisions: standard deduction vs. itemizing, and how you're splitting any shared deductible expenses like mortgage interest or charitable donations. You don't need to share detailed financial info, just the coordination points. We've been filing separately for three years now and it works great for maintaining financial privacy while staying compliant. Your approach sounds perfectly reasonable, and it's nice that your mom can help with the tax prep while still respecting your wife's privacy preferences!

Aaron, you've received some excellent advice here! Just to summarize the key points for your situation: Since you're not in a community property state, your mom can absolutely prepare your tax return using only your income information. Your wife's income details won't be needed - just her name and SSN for the return. The main coordination points you and your wife should discuss are: 1. Both of you must either itemize deductions OR both take the standard deduction 2. Any shared deductible expenses (like mortgage interest) need to be split appropriately between your returns 3. If you have children, decide who claims them as dependents Your wife's desire for financial privacy is completely reasonable, and married filing separately is designed exactly for situations like yours. You can maintain that privacy while still being tax compliant. Just make sure you've actually calculated whether filing separately vs. jointly saves you money overall - sometimes the lost credits and deductions make joint filing more beneficial even when you prefer the privacy of separate returns. It sounds like you and your wife have thought this through well, and your mom should be able to handle your return without any issues!

Has anyone here done the Master of Science in Taxation program online? I'm looking at the ones from Northeastern and Golden Gate University but can't decide if the cost is worth it compared to just getting an EA designation.

Coming from a business management background myself, I'd recommend starting with the EA route first. It's the most direct path to tax specialization and you can begin working in the field while you decide if you want to pursue additional credentials later. The EA exam covers individual, business, and representation topics - all essential for tax strategy work. Study materials from Gleim or Becker are solid, and most people pass within 3-6 months of focused study. The credential lets you represent clients before the IRS immediately, which is huge for building credibility. Once you're working and have real experience, you can always add a CPA or pursue an MST if you want to move into more complex corporate work. But EA gets you started fastest and the knowledge directly applies to tax strategy. Plus, you'll have a better sense of which direction you want to specialize after working with actual clients. I'd also suggest volunteering for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs to get hands-on experience while you're studying. It's a great way to practice what you're learning and build your resume.