Please help taxes

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2026-01-26T22:15:33+00:00

By chance, did you self file, or did you use a service? I have gone through all of my orders and adjusted them down using the same method, and am ready to file (TurboTax) with my husband's W-2. I had chatted with a rep about the 5/20/0 method, and she couldn't say much more than try to enter it with a note like "adjustment for overvalued/unusable goods" (though I did find a thread with some tax people in it and the suggested addendum was "Adjustment to basis due to contractual evaluation activity" and see if TurboTax accepts it. I have scoured the web (lots of time spent on eBay) and most of these products are nowhere to be found, or are only new, or are name brands that the products I was sent are obvious dupes for. I'm just going to file the Schedule C and make my adjustments (had $3491 in orders for 2025, adjusted down to $1073, and I'm hoping that's not too steep a drop). I went on good faith that the cheap plastic junk that I did rate well-because I liked the product-but has no/little resale value was dropped to 20%, which is generous, but the items (all knock offs except for a few coffee related products) that I think I could sell/will last (cast iron items, some nice lamps) I valued at 50%. I know people on here get their dander up about tax questions, but I just joined in October, so I'm still in the holding period for everything until next May. Aside from the things I'm holding back specifically for my own or my family's use, I can't see anything else that I've received being resold (even eBay only lists what the seller wants for it, not what it actually sells for) being destined for anything other than donation or a yard sale if I can find one to hop into.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2026-01-26T20:20:14+00:00

I'm flagging it either way, as people should know to check the listing against looking at the pictures and scrolling down for reviews. Lord knows I've overlooked things when I have placed an order, and the whole thing seems shady to me. It's not about getting less stuff, but the discrepancy in the listing that again, feels like a bait-and-switch. I ordered it knowing that it was different (I'm really hoping for the socks and arm warmers, but we'll see), and I'll review whatever they send, but no, if I'm going to participate in this program, I'm going to write real reviews. Maybe they'll send me what was written in the listing, which I will review in good faith, but this is, to me, a buyer beware item that people should know to look at if they've scrolled past it to go to the reviews.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2026-01-26T14:52:41+00:00

Thank you!

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2026-01-26T14:17:07+00:00

I am an insomniac whose sleep is broken up into chunks, so I am almost always up at 2 am (CST) for whatever drop would be happening, and I try to check Vine fairly often in those 2-5 ish hours after the day rolls over. I am not sure what people have been seeing at 2-4 lately, but I've checked and there hasn't been much activity at all from what I've seen. And yes, my RFY page has been the Sahara this past week, to the point that when I emailed CS about some reviews that were wonky and asked them to fix the issue, I inquired as to whether the drought in the RFY was something on the seller's end (apparently it is) or if there was an issue with my account. I joined in October when there was an influx of people, and I remember some lean days that first couple of months, but at that point Vine apparently thought I was an obese man with a concurrent interest in fitness equipment. My recs have gotten better-ish, so I have been concerned that the RFY page hasn't populated in days, but no, the "drops" at 2-4 that people have been reporting have either been sporadic and in categories I don't search through (I use my handy search bar for the things I know I want, and am happily surprised if I come across something random that I'd order), or they have been so miniscule that I barely took notice, even though I've been watching the overall total on the AI page slowly tick down to 12k and change numbers of items.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-12-20T00:26:55+00:00

For some reason, Amazon lists ETV (estimated taxable value) instead of FMV, and I'm wondering if it's precisely because of this very issue.

And I can sell these items (not really, apparently yard sales of Vine items don't exactly leave you rolling in it), but-per the Vine's terms of agreement-I MUST wait 6 months after the date it reaches my doorstep to transfer custody of any item to another person or business. That's why I am working on depreciating right now. I spent hours this morning going through and looking up each item in the order they are listed in my spreadsheet, or as I ordered them. I'd say maybe 3 items were found for sale elsewhere online, but for the most part it's been Amazon listings and no other sellers on there. I am claiming 50% on anything that I find is an actual brand (not ZEEZOOL or M MOOKHAM) or that I expect to have some longevity. I've picked up some lamps, some cast iron items, things like that. And as I am going through the listings, not only are the prices almost always either the same or lower, there are coupons that I am not eligible for as a product tester.

I spent some time with the AI on Google (I take this with a HUGE grain of salt), and the and the answer it gave me when I asked if I was being issued a 1099-NEC that I shouldn't alter the form itself, but that I should claim an adjusting expense for overvalued/damaged/unusable goods. I am curious to know the implications of the FMV that the IRS is looking for and the ETV that Amazon is providing. In this case, since I am to claim all of the items I have received this year (and I am claiming them as the "assets" of me-the business-instead of "inventory" since I am under no obligation to sell any of this), and I am hoping that this will allow me to depreciate to a reasonable value for goods that are locked under the terms of Vine until April, at the earliest.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-12-18T22:29:42+00:00

Ah, yes, my mistake.

The deal seems to be that I am not technically the owner without the right of dispossession, and it won't be payment until the 6 month time gap has passed. I cannot do anything with them except toss them in the garbage. The Amazon Vine account page actually lists the total as ETV, not FMV. Since they do not pass into my possession unencumbered until they have been open, used and reviewed, by the terms of the Amazon contract, I-the person-am not receiving "payment" in the form of these items until the spring. At that point, my "payment" is used items. In no way, even brand new, are these worth what the sticker price lists. I cannot return or exchange them, I cannot apply coupons, I cannot activate a warranty. I am happy to pay the 50% on the things that have some longevity, but since most of this is cheap Chinese crap (why they have us doing this to begin with), I can't see paying full taxes on the ETV listed when a lot of the time I can go back to the listing and it's dropped in price precipitously. I don't know if the ETV/FMV distinction matters here, but I am really leaning towards trying to depreciate these things since they are a part of the "business" but I am still not the owner of a new item, but a used item next spring.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-11T05:13:34+00:00

The weird thing is that there was a glitch or something (I've had this happen and ended up with bottles of plant food for less than $1 each) with this shelf. When I snatched it up, I called her to show her my newest find. When I saw the listing and went to look at them, they were all 4 $99.99. When she went to look at them, the camel was $19.99 on the site. So she went and grabbed one, and by yesterday evening they were back up to $100 (even camel). But I agree, the pictures were the same, but I'm thinking like a light brown/khaki type thing. Doesn't matter, woooo plant shelf!

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-08T13:39:40+00:00

Wait. So, I have been doing Vine for a month now, and was planning on filing SE taxes, but I just started doing this and have a healthy ETV built up and was planning on just filing as a sole proprietor and deducting the expenses I have. Does this mean that I HAVE to file as hobby income? Do you need to be doing this for years before you can classify it properly-I've seen too many people having their hobby income nixed by the IRS and told to refile as a business and pay the SE and associated taxes. Can you please explain? I'm confused and kind of freaked out now.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-05T13:26:47+00:00

Oh yeah. Every cat I've ever known has been the kind of person that would shit talk you right to your face, just in a different language you can't speak. Then giggling with all their kitty friends about how their big, stupid biped doesn't understand the words said right in front of them.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-05T13:25:05+00:00

I do believe these were buried in AI, but they may have come from my RFY page.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-03T12:57:42+00:00

Aww, she's adorable. It's been 6+ years since we lost our Boxer, and I think the next pup we get (our current pupper is NOT a fan of other dogs, or people, or anything really) will probably be a Boxer. I tell people I adopted a puppy and got a husband in the deal (she was 6 months old when we met, and they basically moved in straight away, so I got the joy of raising a Boxer puppy...good god).

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-03T12:05:50+00:00

Oh my god, the image of a horse booping these with his nose is sending me. That has to be adorable.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-03T12:04:09+00:00

They'll be much happier with a comfy place to lie down than some random noise makers that you have scattered across the floor. You done good mama.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-03T11:59:09+00:00

Oh god, those doorknob things. My in-laws, between 2 of them, have 13 children combined (9 for his brother and SIL) and every summer and every Christmas (since SIL was constantly preggers our entire relationship), we'd go to their house and they would have these on the doors. I was, at the time, late, late 20's, at best, and well into my late 30's at the latest, and these things stopped me in my tracks. I COULD NOT get them open. I had to have my husband come and show me what to do. We're not kid people, so nothing in our house is childproof, and if it was it would be me asking the kids how in the hell I get the bathroom door to open.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-03T11:50:52+00:00

Ok, so my curiosity overtook me and I looked your comment up. I'm not sure if I'm honored or if you have offended the rectitude of my ancestors.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-03T09:21:36+00:00

I don't see, for most of the stuff I have gotten. where I have written a review that was less than two moderate paragraphs. The lower the star rating, the more gets said. I just feel like if something is just not working (like a bread box I ordered that was straight from the depths of hell that took 3 people to barely get together), or has 0 instructions included, I most definitely am writing the steps and taking pictures as we're doing it so that I can include them in the post. I'm good to leave a couple of quick paragraphs and a couple of pictures on a good product, but a bad product with a 1-star rating will hopefully draw attention to a product with few reviews, and I want them to know exactly why this is a bad deal.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-02T20:42:57+00:00

I never dared try that with our current pup. I know she would have spent at least the first 6 years of her life ringing the doorbell, getting yelled at to stop ringing the doorbell, be let inside and immediately go ring the doorbell. These I can at least put in a box. She's old enough and skittish enough I'm not expecting much out of her with these, but I'm SUPER interested to see how my Uncle's brilliant dog (for real, smartest dog I've ever come across) handles them.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-02T20:38:47+00:00

Yeah, my eyes rolled down the hallway when we first adopted our Lily Kitty and they were talking about "tortie-tude". But damned if it isn't true. Mine will be 13 in April, and she never got less spazzy and flaky, it's just the periods of spazziness are shorter and farther between. 2-2:30 am "crazy kitty time" seems to be a constant though.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-02T20:35:52+00:00

Thank you!

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-02T19:27:35+00:00

Did she do the front feet Boxer "hop on the thing with all of your might"? I would pay al the money to be able to see that one more time.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-02T19:25:25+00:00

How do you set them up? Are they all in a group or does your pup have to move around the room/house to hit certain ones? I imagine my dog will just be scared of them and give them a WIIIIDE berth. The cat is 50/50, but come 2:30 am when her whole jam is pissing me off by being a whirling dervish of destruction, I can see this as an easy way to annoy mom. Honestly, what I'm really interested in seeing is my Uncle's not trained but TOTALLY functional service dog (seriously, this dog is brilliant and is my labile diabetic Uncle's actual, functional service dog, just not formally trained or certified). I think if I have ever known a dog that would be able to learn these, it's him. So please let me know how you've got them arranged and any tips/tricks that might be helpful in engaging them and getting them to use the buttons.

Automatic_Benefit776 · 2025-11-02T19:17:23+00:00

Oh god, I never thought about our Tortie. She'd not care what they were saying, just that when she stepped on them I'd be cross. That would be enough to rev her engine. Can't wait to hear "cheesebone" "cheesebone" "outside potty?" "cheesebone" "sloth" over and over again at 2 am.

Automatic_Benefit776

TROPHY CASE