AmazonPrizes

Waiting to Verify Tax Info | Amazon Giveaway

Are you waiting to verify IRS tax info for an Amazon giveaway prize? You’re not alone. My husband recently won a prize two days in a row. They weren’t expensive either. It must be the number of prizes won that prompts a tax eligibility check.

The first prize was a throw worth $11 and the other was a set of four squishy cats valued at $7.54. Like I said, they weren’t expensive, but we were happy with his wins. Our happiness turned to disappointment because more than 48 hours later he still hasn’t received a response. The IRS still hasn’t verified the tax info for these Amazon Giveaway prizes. We know he’s eligible, but until the IRS does their part Amazon doesn’t know it. I understand why they require tax information, but that doesn’t help the situation.

How Long Since Sending Amazon Giveaway Tax Info?

Paying Taxes for Prizes
If the IRS doesn’t respond in time you will have to forfeit your Amazon Giveaway prize. Perlinator / Pixabay

He won the throw on Sunday the 22nd of October. After entering his social security number, name, and address he received a message saying ‘it was taking longer than usual’, blah, blah, blah. It wasn’t immediately verified.

I had to enter my info several months ago. Mine wasn’t verified on the spot either. However, it didn’t take nearly as long. Mine was verified less than 24 hours later, and my prize was on the way. The longer it takes the more we think it won’t happen in time.

IMPORTANTAre You Taxed on Amazon Giveaway Prizes?

How Do You Know if Your Tax Info Was Accepted for an Amazon Giveaway Prize?

When I had to verify tax info to receive an Amazon Giveaway prize, they didn’t send a message saying the info was accepted. I received a ‘You Won a Giveaway Prize’ email after it was accepted and verified. You’d think they’d be a little more specific. I wasn’t sure I’d get it until I found it on my porch.

Yesterday my husband received an email saying Amazon must receive a response from the IRS by October 26 or he won’t get the prize. That’s really nice! Another winner will be chosen or the host will receive a refund. If the IRS doesn’t do it in time it’s my husband’s loss. I trust Amazon. They wouldn’t gain anything by holding back prizes, but I don’t have much faith in the IRS and whatever software they’re using to verify tax info.

READER GIVEAWAYS: How You Can Win Amazon Products From Your Kindle Fire or Digital Device

He Won’t Be Playing Again Until –

My husband isn’t participating in another Amazon Giveaway again until his prizes are on the way. I don’t blame him either. It’s a waste of time if you might not receive the prizes. I wonder if everyone gets that form letter message or if some are immediately verified. We’re still wondering if they’ll do it in time. I’ll post an update either way.

*Update – My husband called Amazon about mid-afternoon on 10/24. Before he could finish explaining the person on the line either hung up or the call was disconnected. I called back and explained the problem to someone else. The lady I spoke to didn’t know what to do. However, she took the time to ask someone else. They told her to fill out a form with details regarding the situation. I didn’t think it would help.

That evening my husband received an email from Amazon saying the info entered didn’t match the info the IRS has on file. Maybe my call did help. We’ll never know for sure. Anyway, he had until 10/30 to provide accurate info and obtain verification from the IRS or he would lose his prizes. We wondered if it would take another two or three days.

I was the one that entered the info the first time, and I realized I had left off his middle initial. He entered the info the second time and just a few hours later the tax info was verified. Woohoo! What an ordeal! The Amazon Giveaway prizes he won were finally on the way.

If you’re still waiting to verify tax info for an Amazon Giveaway prize, don’t give up hope. If you made a mistake you will be given another chance to enter the info. Just be sure to enter everything asked including a middle initial if you have one. If anything at all doesn’t match it won’t be accepted.

Kim

Kimberly Dalessandro (a.k.a. Crystal Ray) began her online writing career in 2005 with PageWise Incorporated and went on to become a top writer for both Associated Content and Yahoo Voices under the pen name Crystal Ray. In early 2017 she launched Blue Crystal Sky ~ Everything Under the Sun. She is continually coming up with new ideas to share with the world.

7 thoughts on “Waiting to Verify Tax Info | Amazon Giveaway

  • Hi Kim,

    Thank you for your response and for trying to find the email. It’s funny you suggest writing a letter. Late last week, I considered calling again and laying out all the inconsistencies I had found concerning giveaways. However, I then began to wonder if, in today’s world of social media, there was a way to get in contact with Jeff Bezos. So, I googled how to contact him and came across an email address, Jeff@amazon.com. I was skeptical, but in a CNBC article where he was interviewed he discussed the email address, so I gave it a shot. On Thursday last week, I sent a 12 paragraph email laying out steps I had taken and the inconsistencies I had found. On Friday afternoon, I received a response from someone on behalf of Jeff Bezos, which is how I had read it worked with emailing the address, was told to wait 1-2 business days while the giveaway team assessed the situation, and within an hour I had an email saying they were creating a special link for me to obtain the prize. Yesterday, I received the email with the link. I emailed twice between the email saying they were creating a link and yesterday’s email, because I thought it would happen fairly quickly as the first two did. I was told to wait 72 hours after the first of the two emails and did so, it took a little longer, but I was told I would be asked for tax info again, I wasn’t, but then I received the “You Won a Giveaway” that you said your husband received in response to re-entering his tax info. Anyway, I’m fairly confident I will be receiving the prize. As you said, you weren’t sure it was coming until it showed up, do you happen to remember about how long it took to for you to receive your prizes?

    As you also mentioned, hopefully this all can help others, which is why I provided as much detail as I did.

    Thank you again for all of your help and kindness.

    Steven

    • Hi, Steven –

      What wonderful news to wake up to! It pays to keep trying and to provide as much info as possible. I believe that Amazon is a fair company, and they proved it with their decision.

      I don’t recall how long it was before the prize arrived, but I’m sure it was less than a week. Since it’s coming directly from Amazon I’m guessing that you’ll have it within just a few business days.

      Thanks for providing as much info as you did to help others in the same situation.

      Enjoy your prize! You sure deserve it after all you’ve been through.

      Take care,

      Kim

      • Kim,

        Thank you for everything! I am definitely glad it worked out in my favor. The upside to having to deal with this is that I now have a story to tell, haha.

  • Hello,

    I found your article after searching for tax related information with regards to Amazon Giveaways. I recently won a prize from Amazon and it was forefeited because the IRS did not verify my information. I called Amazon prior to the deadline and was told “to wait for the email”. The email never game. I suspect the reason my information was not verified was similar to your husband’s situation. However, I never received an email telling me that my information did not match. I have spent hours on the phone with Amazon trying to get them to do what is right, but to no avail. I don’t know if there would really be anything you could do, but because you were in a similar situation, I felt the need to reach out. I don’t know if you would be comfortable with this, but one possible way you could help would be if your husband still has the email stating that his information did not match. If I could provide Amazon with such an email and show that I did not receive one, maybe a favorable resolution could be reached. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

    • Hi, Steven –

      I’m truly am sorry that happened to you. They need to make the directions clear in their tax info message. If my husband hadn’t received the email we probably would have waited too. It’s a shame they didn’t give you the prize anyway. My husband finally did get his prize. I wish there was something I could do to help you. I will check to see if he still has the email. It was a long time ago, and I doubt he still does. At least others will be warned when they read about our experiences. Thank you for taking the time to share yours.

      • Thank you for your reply and it is a shame. I have since discovered and realized multiple issues with what they told me on the phone and what is written in the giveaway rules, etc. I realize it was quite some time ago, so the chance he would still have the email is slim, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. If they do things properly at Amazon, there should be a record of an email such as that being sent by them. If you, at some point, do have a moment to check for the email, I would greatly appreciate it. I do believe, based on numerous factors as I have mentioned, I should not have lost out on the prize and believe if I can gather enough evidence that things did not go as they should have, I can convince them to make it right. Thank you so much for your reply!

        • Hi, Steven –

          I didn’t forget about you. I looked through my husband’s email records and couldn’t find that tax email request from Amazon. I’m sure he deleted it a long time ago.

          If I were you I’d write them a letter, and I’d also call again too. Maybe someone will take the time to help. I understand your frustration, and I really do care. I just wish there was more I could do.

          If you are able to collect your prize, please come back and let me know. I wish you the best.

          Kim

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