Amazon Vine?

PA Mom-mom · ‎05-27-2015

Today, I just finished writing a review of a product on Amazon, and an invitation to join Amazon Vine popped up.It was within the Amazon website I was logged into - not an email. They asked me if I wanted to receive and review products of my choosing. It looked like lots of fun, but then Amazon asked me for my SS number so they could report taxable income.

Has anyone here joined this program? Apparently it's "invitation only." I don't want to give out my SS number to anyone.

I am still oxox · ‎03-09-2010

Call them to check on it

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and start being positive what could go right.

brandiwine · ‎03-11-2010

Has scam written all over it

FLtricia · ‎02-18-2012

I am not a member of Amazon Vine, but I am of Wayfair's similar program. I have been for years. About 2 years ago I had to submit my SS# for a tax form once my free items went above a certain dollar amount. I have had no problems.

I have a choice of over a thousand items each month. I get to choose four for free, and have 30 days to submit my review including a picture. I have replaced light fixtures in my home, received area rugs, lamps, kitchen items, drapes. I gift many to my kids, and donate many to a local charity who lets people shop for free. They are thrilled to receive brand new items.

If you take Amazon offer, let me know how it goes. I would be interested in how their program works.

FLtricia · ‎02-18-2012

@brandiwine If you check reviews on Amazon they are marked when the review is from a member of their Vine program. So it is not a scam.

I can certainly understand your suspicion as everywhere we are being bombarded with scams!

geezerette · ‎03-16-2010

I have not joined so I can't say anything about the program itself.

But even if it's legitimate, they would be giving you free stuff so they're going to report the value of those things to the IRS which is why they need your Social Security number.

If I was interested, I would want to know whether they would be reporting the retail value or their selling price. There could be quite a difference.

PA Mom-mom · ‎05-27-2015

@FLtricia wrote:
I am not a member of Amazon Vine, but I am of Wayfair's similar program. I have been for years. About 2 years ago I had to submit my SS# for a tax form once my free items went above a certain dollar amount. I have had no problems.

I have a choice of over a thousand items each month. I get to choose four for free, and have 30 days to submit my review including a picture. I have replaced light fixtures in my home, received area rugs, lamps, kitchen items, drapes. I gift many to my kids, and donate many to a local charity who lets people shop for free. They are thrilled to receive brand new items.

If you take Amazon offer, let me know how it goes. I would be interested in how their program works.

@FLtricia Thanks for that info about Wayfair. I had no idea about these programs.

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@PA Mom-mom wrote:
Amazon asked me for my SS number so they could report taxable income.

@PA Mom-mom Taxable Income?

How much is Amazon willing to pay you for it to be considered "taxaable income.?"

Just being nosy......

Amazon pays you weekly, monthly quarterly, etc.?

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

@geezerette wrote:
I have not joined so I can't say anything about the program itself.

But even if it's legitimate, they would be giving you free stuff so they're going to report the value of those things to the IRS which is why they need your Social Security number.

If I was interested, I would want to know whether they would be reporting the retail value or their selling price. There could be quite a difference.
***************

Tax Liabilities: Even though you aren't paid in cash, the IRS considers the value of these free products to be taxable income. Amazon will issue you a tax form (like a 1099) for the Estimated Taxable Value (ETV) of the items you receive.
Reddit·r/AmazonVine +1

Reselling Rules: While some reviewers resell the items they test to offset their taxes, Amazon strictly expects reviewers to keep the products for a certain period (usually six months) before getting rid of them.

PA Mom-mom · ‎05-27-2015

@Mz iMac As far as I can tell, they are considering the free items they send as taxable income. Kind of like if you win free things in a game show I guess.