How Do I File Taxes as a Private Music Teacher?

Yes, filing a Schedule C along with your Form 1040 to report your self-employment income and expenses from being a private music teacher is what you will need to do.  

 

The Form 1099-MISC reports income paid to you as an independent contractor.  For example, if a company hired you as an independent music teacher and they paid you more than $600 during the year, they would be required to issue you a Form 1099-MISC.  Then, you would report that Form 1099-MISC as part of your income on the Schedule C for your music teaching business.  

 

You do not fill out any Form 1099-MISC for expenses that you are claiming unless you have hired an independent contractor to do work for you through your business.  You just need to keep documentation and receipts for your business expenses.  

 

See the following TurboTax article for some additional information about business expenses and what you can claim:

 

What self-employed expenses can I deduct?

 

 

@juliek11

Hello!

I teach just a couple of students; I do not have a studio, and my clients have not filled out any tax forms.  They venmo me for their lessons every week.  How do I claim that money on my taxes?  

You would still be considered a business.  Even without any tax forms, you would enter the income as self-employment income.  You would need to file a Schedule C and pay SE taxes.  You may also enter any expenses related to your work to reduce your income.

 

To file a Schedule C, here are the steps:

1. Sign in to your account and select Pick up where you left off
2. At the right upper corner, in the search box, type in schedule C and Enter 
3. Select Jump to schedule C 
4. Follow prompts, you might be prompted to an upgrade if you have expenses

Do you know what code we enter for line B for music teachers on form 1040?

They start on page C-18 here :  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040sc.pdf