Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008
forum thread Posted by FreebiesRGreat • Jun 3, 2008

Contests & Sweepstakes Tips, Advice, and Questions

Sears
9,749 Comments 2,229,274 Views
See Deal
Good Deal
Save
Share
Deal Details
The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
The intent of this thread is for users, both new and not-so-new, to ask questions, and help with tips/advice. This is not by any means the "gospel". Please feel free to add your words of wisdom, and if you have questions, just ask! If you have a tip that will make sweeping easier for folks, please feel free to share. This is a community effort. We all will benefit in some way.


The Basic Advice/Tips for the new-to-sweeping folks.
Enter for the items you want/need. If you have no interest in trips, avoid the sweeps where the only prize is a trip. If you know you can't afford the tax on a new vehicle, avoid entering for those.

Set up folders in your bookmark/favorites. Create a separate one for each month, and file any sweeps you are interested in into the folder corresponding with when it ends. Then, if you have a day where you're pressed for time, enter at least the ones ending that day.

Play the instant win games.

Follow the rules! If a sweep is restricted to only females, a certain age group, certain states, etc, make sure you fit the criteria! If you don't, move on to another sweep that you do qualify for. Do not create a bunch of email addresses so you can enter something more than once, or so you can play an Instant win game more. The Sponsors can tell, and will DQ you. You're better off playing by the rules than cheating and getting disqualified and having NO entries.

Don't immediately dismiss essay required sweeps (or recipes, photos, etc)....well, unless you know you don't want to write something. A lot of people pass on them, so you might have a better shot at winning something.

Don't expect this to be lucrative enough to become a job. Yes, a lot of us win, and often, but not nearly enough to quit a job!

Expect things to go slow at first. It takes a while for the wins to roll in. But once they do...look out!

Expect to occasionally hit a dry spell. It happens to ALL of us.

DEFINITELY USE YOUR REAL INFO! If you use a fake phone number, and a sponsor is calling to notify people of wins, you'll never know what you missed out on. I, and many others, have been doing this for a long time, and we have no problems with sales calls. Also, use your real name. If your name is Robert or Catherine, using Bob or Cathy is ok, as they are known acceptable shorter versions of that name. if your name is Matilda, and you go by Fluffy, don't use Fluffy. Looking at your ID to get an affy notarized, they may reject it because the names don't match. The sponsor may also say "Fluffy won, not Matilda". So stick with using your real name, or something close to it.

Most of all, HAVE FUN! And don't be afraid to ask questions. We were all new to this at one time. Any one of us would be happy to answer questions.


For easy form filling, check out Roboform [roboform.com]. Google Tool bar and the autofill feature on IE also work well.

For Mac users, the best form filler is 1Password: http://agilewebsolutions.com/products/1Password (thanks javaFlower!)

FireFox Form Filler browser extensions: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/...ll&cat=all

To set up the autofill feature in IE: Click on Tools, then internet options, then choose 'content'. When that pops up, click on "Autocomplete", and make sure to check the boxes for forms and passwords on forms. This is not a good idea if you are on a shared/public computer!

February 17, 2009, 3:10 am: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

July 12, 2010, 3:23 pm: System Notice: This thread has been automatically renewed after reaching a post limit. Most of its content has been moved to this thread for reference purposes.

Community Voting

Deal Score
+94
Good Deal
See Deal
Leave a Comment
To participate in the comments, please log in.

9,749 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Oct 11, 2011
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Oct 11, 2011
User1144648
Oct 11, 2011
26,018 Posts
Quote from nyctckid :
Hey guys so I got an email stating that I won in this contest.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3265780
I have never won a contest ever before and I was wondering if you guys can give me any tips. They are asking me to fill out a W9 and a release form. I just want to make sure this is not a scam.
Hopefully, someone with more experience with winning sweepstakes prizes will be able to offer more info.
But, I won an iPad 2 back in July, and I had to complete & notarize an affidavit of eligibility, including my SS# for tax reporting.
My understanding is that sponsors are required to get this info for any prize valued over $600, and it's their choice to require the info on prizes under that. Hope that helps a little.
Oh, and by the way, which prize did you win? Congratulations!!
Oct 11, 2011
117,780 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 11, 2011
implode
Oct 11, 2011
117,780 Posts
Quote from Scoobyfan1 :
Thank you for the info, but I do have a few other things i'm curious about.

First, I qualify for SSI, Food Stamps(which in Washington State is through what's called the Quest Card) and Medical Coupons because my folks both work for a local school district, and because of the income they make every year.

Would qualifying for any of those things affect taxes as far as contest winnings go? In addition(for now) because of everything I mentioned above, I have a volunteer secretary job at a local church. Problem is I get a paying job, even part-time, it might affect the SSI and other benefits I and my family receive.

Also, my dad has heart and knee and a few other smaller medical issues. In addition, I already won tickets to a College Basketball game in December between Washington State and Pepperdine through a contest on the local ESPN Radio affiliate(Seattle)'s website.

My question with that is this: on the tickets, it says comp, for complementary. I looked online, and the value of the tickets if I hadn't won them would have been in the neighborhood of twenty-fourty dollars(I forget the exact value); now, as far as tax purposes go, would the value of the tickets be what you would report come income tax time?

Just curious.
Presumably, it likely would affect benefits as the majority of those programs are blind to the type of income being reported. Its the actual reporting that matters. I can't be 100%, and really that is better suited question towards an accountant.

I would say on tickets generally fair market value is the face value. By face value I mean what you would buy them for on the website. If you have a copy of the rules of the contest you won said amount usually listed in the rules. They are probably writing of that amount on their taxes somewhere.
Oct 12, 2011
6 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
Oct 12, 2011
Scoobyfan1
Oct 12, 2011
6 Posts
Quote from implode :
Presumably, it likely would affect benefits as the majority of those programs are blind to the type of income being reported. Its the actual reporting that matters. I can't be 100%, and really that is better suited question towards an accountant.

I would say on tickets generally fair market value is the face value. By face value I mean what you would buy them for on the website. If you have a copy of the rules of the contest you won said amount usually listed in the rules. They are probably writing of that amount on their taxes somewhere.
Thanks for all the info. I guess i'll still enter contests; I basically like to enter them to try and win my folks vacations or money(as they could really use both of those).

To tell the truth, my odds are pretty astronomical in winning a vacation or a lot of money, so I guess it doesn't hurt to enter contests.
Oct 12, 2011
117,780 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 12, 2011
implode
Oct 12, 2011
117,780 Posts
Quote from Scoobyfan1 :
Thanks for all the info. I guess i'll still enter contests; I basically like to enter them to try and win my folks vacations or money(as they could really use both of those).

To tell the truth, my odds are pretty astronomical in winning a vacation or a lot of money, so I guess it doesn't hurt to enter contests.

I've been at this 5-6 years now...won 4 trips and 3 large cash prize. Odds may not be as bad as you think. I really live for those one of a kind experience wins. VIP Nascar trip, Superbowl Trip, and Trip to New Zealand all fit the bill. Just amazing experiences that I couldn't buy with any amount of money. Big corporations have the muscle power and reputation to pull off things that make those trips amazing. For example at the Nacar race, got to wave the green flag and present the poll award. Then got to walk around the garage and pit area with ym credentials. On my trip to NZ I got to fly around in a helicopter, had the entire top deck of a ship rented for me for harbor tour (and catered with lavish food), saw where lord of the rings was filmed, and got a jetboat tour. I NEVER in a million years thought I could be that person. For those trips I felt like a Millionaire jetsetter. You can too.

However, I recommend budgeting for those kinds of wins, otherwise you may have to tell them NO. Worse then that they may not re-award the prize. Only enter for things you can pay the taxes on.
Oct 12, 2011
500 Posts
Joined Sep 2008
Oct 12, 2011
CoachSauers
Oct 12, 2011
500 Posts
Yeah, trips probably aren't the best to enter if you can't afford to pay any taxes on wins. Focus on cash prizes and things you can sell, and set aside the proper amount for taxes.
Oct 13, 2011
5,185 Posts
Joined Dec 2009
Oct 13, 2011
getgreen09
Oct 13, 2011
5,185 Posts
is there a limit to how many threads one can sticky? i'm trying to sticky the dailies i want to enter, cos it is just easier for me. but everyday i find a few have dropped off. aaargh.
Oct 13, 2011
6 Posts
Joined Oct 2011
Oct 13, 2011
Scoobyfan1
Oct 13, 2011
6 Posts
Quote from cheba63 :
Yeah, trips probably aren't the best to enter if you can't afford to pay any taxes on wins. Focus on cash prizes and things you can sell, and set aside the proper amount for taxes.
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm going to still enter contests, but I'll remember what has been posted.

Speaking of things that can be sold, I received a package yesterday from pepsi from their random acts of throwback promotion.

I got a back to the future DVD as part of the package, and I've been thinking about taking it to half price books or somewhere like that locally that buys DVDs.

I say this because I really am not a big fan of back to the future, so I might as well get something from it; question is should I do this?

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Oct 13, 2011
423 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
Oct 13, 2011
bubblecake
Oct 13, 2011
423 Posts
I won many things that are $30 and under. I didn't keep track of the things I won that are $30 and under..I remember some stuff. :/ What should I do for taxes? (some examples would be shirts that are about 3 dollars, lip gloss that is 7 dollars, etc.) oh and free coupons for candy, ice cream, and stuff like that.
Last edited by bubblecake October 13, 2011 at 12:46 PM.
Oct 14, 2011
136 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
Oct 14, 2011
marko5
Oct 14, 2011
136 Posts
If you are on SSI or Food Stamps you are supposed to be trying to find a better job, not avoid work.


Quote from Scoobyfan1 :
Thank you for the info, but I do have a few other things i'm curious about.

First, I qualify for SSI, Food Stamps(which in Washington State is through what's called the Quest Card) and Medical Coupons because my folks both work for a local school district, and because of the income they make every year.

Would qualifying for any of those things affect taxes as far as contest winnings go? In addition(for now) because of everything I mentioned above, I have a volunteer secretary job at a local church. Problem is I get a paying job, even part-time, it might affect the SSI and other benefits I and my family receive.

Also, my dad has heart and knee and a few other smaller medical issues. In addition, I already won tickets to a College Basketball game in December between Washington State and Pepperdine through a contest on the local ESPN Radio affiliate(Seattle)'s website.

My question with that is this: on the tickets, it says comp, for complementary. I looked online, and the value of the tickets if I hadn't won them would have been in the neighborhood of twenty-fourty dollars(I forget the exact value); now, as far as tax purposes go, would the value of the tickets be what you would report come income tax time?

Just curious.
Oct 14, 2011
10 Posts
Joined Jun 2009
Oct 14, 2011
Dacino
Oct 14, 2011
10 Posts
Agreed Marco 5.

Also, recently released LUCKIEST cities. To increase your luck odds move to one higher on the list. These were rated by sweepstakes/lottery wins, deaths by objects falling on you, lightning strikes, etc...
Luckiest


1. San Diego, CA A+
2. Baltimore, MD A+
3. Phoenix, AZ A
4. Wilmington, DE A
5. Richmond, VA A-
6. San Francisco, CA A-
7. Las Vegas, NV A-
8. Philadelphia, PA A-
9. Louisville, KY A-
10. Reno, NV B+

11. San Jose, CA B+
12. New York, NY B+
13. Boise, ID B+
14. Baton Rouge, LA B+
15. Fort Worth, TX B+
16. Omaha, NE B+
17. Indianapolis, IN B
18. Fresno, CA B
19. Dallas, TX B
20. Lincoln, NE B

21. St. Louis, MO B
22. Cincinnati, OH B
23. Los Angeles, CA B
24. Santa Ana, CA B-
25. Portland, OR B-
26. Pittsburgh, PA B-
27. Tulsa, OK B-
28. Seattle, WA B-
29. Denver, CO B-
30. Fort Wayne, IN B-

31. Charlotte, NC B-
32. Milwaukee, WI C+
33. Houston, TX C+
34. Kansas City, MO C+
35. Wichita, KS C+
36. Chicago, IL C+
37. Toledo, OH C+
38. Greensboro, NC C+
39. Columbus, OH C+
40. Providence, RI C+

41. Riverside, CA C+
42. Bakersfield, CA C+
43. Oakland, CA C
44. El Paso, TX C
45. Minneapolis, MN C
46. Tucson, AZ C
47. Sacramento, CA C
48. Plano, TX C
49. Honolulu, HI C
50. Albuquerque, NM C

51. Virginia Beach, VA C
52. Washington, DC C
53. Manchester, NH C
54. Durham, NC C-
55. Norfolk, VA C-
56. Columbia, SC C-
57. Oklahoma City, OK C-
58. Cleveland, OH C-
59. Lexington, KY C-
60. New Orleans, LA C-


61. Winston-Salem, NC C-
62. Detroit, MI C-
63. Portland, ME C-
64. Laredo, TX C-
65. Chesapeake, VA C-
66. Cheyenne, WY C-
67. Jersey City, NJ C-
68. Lubbock, TX C-
69. Jacksonville, FL C-
70. Austin, TX C-


71. Madison, WI D+
72. Stockton, CA D+
73. Aurora, CO D+
74. Birmingham, AL D+
75. Raleigh, NC D+
76. San Antonio, TX D+
77. Atlanta, GA D+
78. Corpus Christi, TX D
79. Orlando, FL D
80. St. Paul, MN D



81. Buffalo, NY D
82. Boston, MA D
83. Salt Lake City, UT D
84. Colorado Springs, CO D
85. Des Moines, IA D
86. Newark, NJ D-
87. Burlington, VT D-
88. Little Rock, AR D-
89. Anchorage, AK D-
90. Nashville, TN D-
Least lucky

91. Fargo, ND F
92. Miami, FL F
93. Bridgeport, CT F
94. St. Petersburg, FL F
95. Billings, MT F
96. Sioux Falls, SD F
97. Memphis, TN F
98. Jackson, MS F
99. Tampa, FL F
100. Charleston, WV F
Oct 19, 2011
770 Posts
Joined Dec 2007
Oct 19, 2011
BetaRoc
Oct 19, 2011
770 Posts
1) Record Your Wins and Expenses
Good record keeping will make paying taxes on your sweepstakes wins so much easier. Keep a ledger where you track information including detailed information about wins, including the name and sponsor of each contest, the date you expect to receive the prize, the date the prize actually arrived, and the ARV.

2)Collect 1099 Forms from Sponsors
If you had any wins with a prize value of more than $600, you will receive a 1099-MISC form from the sponsor at the end of the year, and many sponsors will send 1099-MISCs for smaller prizes as well. You will need to include the information from these forms on your taxes, and you'll want to keep copies for your records. By law, sponsors must mail these forms by January 31.


3)Check the Fair Market Value of Your Wins
Remember that you pay sweepstakes taxes on the Fair Market Value (FMV), not the sponsor's ARVs. If you have tracked the FMVs of all of your wins, use this amount on your taxes.


4)Total the Value of Your Wins
There's a common sweepstakes myth that says you only have to report prizes worth $600 or more. This is not true -- all prizes, large and small, are legally required to be reported on US taxes. Although the chances of you getting audited over a $20 GC is pretty unlikely.

5)Enter the Prize Total under "Other Income"
Once you have the total FMV of all of your sweepstakes wins, enter the value on line 21 of your 1040 form, in the section called Other Income.
Read instructions on filling out the "other income" section of the 1040. Prizes and awards are mentioned on page 34.

6)Itemize Your Expenses
If you are planning to itemize your expenses as a hobby or as a small business, you should do it here. Speak with your tax consultant about whether this is a good idea for your circumstances.


7)Let a Tax Professional Review Your Work
To be certain that everything is correct, ask a tax professional to review your filing. Sweepstakes taxes can complicate a return, and you want to be sure that you have not made any errors.


8)Submit Your Sweepstakes Information with Your Regular Taxes
Finish filling out the rest of your 1040 form and submit as usual with your regular income tax.
Oct 19, 2011
26,018 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
Oct 19, 2011
User1144648
Oct 19, 2011
26,018 Posts
Quote from betaboy :
1) Record Your Wins and Expenses
Good record keeping will make paying taxes on your sweepstakes wins so much easier. Keep a ledger where you track information including detailed information about wins, including the name and sponsor of each contest, the date you expect to receive the prize, the date the prize actually arrived, and the ARV.

2)Collect 1099 Forms from Sponsors
If you had any wins with a prize value of more than $600, you will receive a 1099-MISC form from the sponsor at the end of the year, and many sponsors will send 1099-MISCs for smaller prizes as well. You will need to include the information from these forms on your taxes, and you'll want to keep copies for your records. By law, sponsors must mail these forms by January 31.


3)Check the Fair Market Value of Your Wins
Remember that you pay sweepstakes taxes on the Fair Market Value (FMV), not the sponsor's ARVs. If you have tracked the FMVs of all of your wins, use this amount on your taxes.


4)Total the Value of Your Wins
There's a common sweepstakes myth that says you only have to report prizes worth $600 or more. This is not true -- all prizes, large and small, are legally required to be reported on US taxes. Although the chances of you getting audited over a $20 GC is pretty unlikely.

5)Enter the Prize Total under "Other Income"
Once you have the total FMV of all of your sweepstakes wins, enter the value on line 21 of your 1040 form, in the section called Other Income.
Read instructions on filling out the "other income" section of the 1040. Prizes and awards are mentioned on page 34.

6)Itemize Your Expenses
If you are planning to itemize your expenses as a hobby or as a small business, you should do it here. Speak with your tax consultant about whether this is a good idea for your circumstances.


7)Let a Tax Professional Review Your Work
To be certain that everything is correct, ask a tax professional to review your filing. Sweepstakes taxes can complicate a return, and you want to be sure that you have not made any errors.


8)Submit Your Sweepstakes Information with Your Regular Taxes
Finish filling out the rest of your 1040 form and submit as usual with your regular income tax.
Excellent advice! I created an Excel Spreadsheet to keep track of my wins, and use the Auto Sum feature to add the amounts in the ARV column. (I will admit that I haven't included the candy bar wins, a couple of t-shirts, or the thing of mascara I won)

I have sweeper friends that don't plan on claiming anything under $500, some say under $200, that it varies by state. I've tried to tell them that the IRS is FEDERAL, and does not vary by state. Sure hope none of them ever get audited.
Oct 19, 2011
117,780 Posts
Joined May 2006
Oct 19, 2011
implode
Oct 19, 2011
117,780 Posts
@Betaroc: declaring an amount other then what sponsor did is grounds for an audit. FMV being different then the sponsor lists may sound like a great idea, that is until they are going over your info with a fine toothed comb and you need a accountant.
Oct 19, 2011
962 Posts
Joined Jan 2010
Oct 19, 2011
GoogleMeBih
Oct 19, 2011
962 Posts
Advice please! I won a grand prize 600 grill.. It arrived today with a tag that said 399.00 i contacted the prize lady and sue said its ok we wont be claiming this on our taxes since iys under 600?? Wtf? Shouldnt I receive the prize i signed for?

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Oct 19, 2011
8,861 Posts
Joined Aug 2010
Oct 19, 2011
crazeecee
Oct 19, 2011
8,861 Posts
I received this email today:

"On October 4, 2011 we contacted you via email regarding your status as a potential Weekly Prize Winner in the Mead Five Star Sweepstakes, sponsored by MeadWestvaco Corp.

We needed to receive the prize claim form and parental signature (as required) from you by October 14, 2011. However, as of this deadline, we have not received a reply from you. Therefore, since it is your choice not to accept this prize, please be aware that MeadWestvaco Corp., the sponsor of this sweepstakes, no longer has any financial obligation to you, and your prize has been forfeited.

On behalf of MeadWestvaco Corp., thank you for your participation in the Mead Five Star Sweepstakes."


I really didn't see any email from before... Is there any chance to reclaim the prize???

Related Searches

Popular Deals

View All

Trending Deals

View All