Best Buy sends me products to review, I review them and post the review on their website. I get to keep the product for "free". But it's not really free at all... I get a 1099-misc from Best Buy where they indicate the full MSRP value of the product as payment to me. This really stinks because they are using MSRP. Most products never sell at that amount. Nonetheless that is what the do. I question whether Best Buy even pays for the product from the manufacturer, yet they claim to have paid me. For example I received a laptop computer. MSRP is $1299. Best Buy sells it for $999.00 (on sale). Best Buy claims to have paid me $1299 so I get taxed on that amount. Yet even if I try to sell it online after the review (which Best Buy forbids), I wouldn't get close to even the $999 street price. Are there any deductions I can take since I performed these reviews at home on my own time? I've reviewed computers, laptops, printers, microwave ovens, blenders, smart watches, vacuums, etc. Anything that Best Buy sells. I would dearly appreciate any advice that may help offset the large amount Best Buy says I was compensated for. Thanks!
