Scared of the IRS

[tizlinda]

I have read most all threads on taxes here and it quite honestly scares me to death. I made some money last year playing online poker(probably about 8K),I have a full time job (teacher) and I never considered having to log sessions. I have never logged any sessions on all my trips to vegas or laughlin or the horse racing track nor had I ever even heard of such a thing. I just always assumed that IF I won more than 1200 at one time they filled out a form and I paid taxes on it. I have to believe most people are like me in this respect. At least those that aren't professionals. So after reading all the stuff on here I realize I cannot correctly file.

I am going to pay taxes on my net winnings last year, however, I have 6K frozen indefinitely in Neteller that I don't plan on claiming as winnings this year as I may or may not ever see it. And I know I lost over 3K to vegas, laughlin and horseracing to offset some of my online winnings. I just don't have documentation of this as I don't spend my vacations documenting every pull on a slot machine. The IRS, however now has documentation of every transaction I've made online. Gambling is my hobby, like anyone else who fits this bill, paying taxes and accumulating documentation was not foremost on my mind.

My taxes have always been very simple, one job, no deductions. The way I see it now, I am at some risk whether I pay taxes on poker winnings or not. Again, I will pay taxes on as close to the net winnings as I can attain, less the amount frozen indefinitely (I will wait till the last minute to see if I ever get them). But I can't be alone in this scenario. The Government is making me feel as though I am a criminal by their treatment of poker players. Millions of vegas gamblers and the like sleep easily while winning thousands a year without paying taxes, and I toss and turn because I finally found a game I can win at and the government may or may not decide to use only my neteller records to ascertain what I owe them.

If I hadn't found this site I would be better off, living in ignorance as probably thousands of others are would be better than waiting for the hammer to fall.

So a big thank you Uncle Sam for making this once proud, productive, and honest American citizen feel like a scheming low life who will be waiting for your knock on my door for the next 10 years.