Would the IRS be able to differentiate a cash gift from a bet?

I mean, say I win 200 from a friend and he pays me with a personal check which I deposit in my bank account. I do not report it on my income tax return. Later, I am audited by the IRS. They see the deposit, and question it, but I say it was a gift. How could they ever prove it was not? And what difference would it make?

Would the IRS be able to differentiate a cash gift from a bet?
It wouldn't really matter. A cash deposit means nothing, because you could have withdrawn the money from your own bank account and re-deposited it.





For gambling winnings over $599, you get issued a 1099G which states your winnings.
Reply:there is no way for them to prove one way or another and it's so small of an amount that they probably wouldn't bother unless they found other things that raised their attention.
Reply:First, if you are ever audited do not hand over ANY records except those that are specifically requested. Odds are that unless you are running huge amounts of cash through a bank account they would never even ask.





Second, a $200 deposit is NOTHING. All you would have to say is that your mom/dad/grandpa/friend whoever paid you back a loan or gave you a gift. No big deal.





As non-government controlled gambling is illegal, don't ever mention "a bet".





Although our government is too controlling and gaining power every day. They don't have the ability to track $200 transactions for us all.
Reply:You don't need to worry about a $200 check.. but if you are depositing a $200 check every other week, this might appear fishy. Still, they do not track what goes in and out of your bank account. Like said above, gambling winnings that are more than a certain amount will be reported as a 1099-G. Best Wishes!
Reply:In the scheme of things, one $200 check is nothing.





Personally, I photocopy all checks I deposit so I can remember what they are. That way if I have lots of checks, I can tell you exactly what each one was for.

A question for men