Graduate student performed research for professor. Paid by university. Is this considered self-employed income?

[samengland0]

Received a 1099 MISC with other income of $1310 for research work. Is this self-employed income?

[rjs]

Yes, you should report it as self-employment.

[KrisD15]

No. 

You can enter it as Other Income, or Scholarship Income. 

The only difference is that as a scholarship, it can be used to contribute to an IRA.

AS OTHER INCOME:

Enter the 1099-MISC Under

Wages & Income

Other Common Income

Income from Form 1099-MISC   START

Enter the 1099-MISC as it was reported, Type Scholarship in for the description, 

Select "None of these apply" for uncommon situations, 

"NO" not like main job, 

Only got it in 2024, 

"NO" no intent to earn money, 

DONE

 These are TurboTax questions, not IRS questions. These need to be the answers to let TurboTax know it is not Self-Employment.

This puts the income on Schedule 1 line 8z

AS SCHOLARSHIP/GRANTS

Enter the amount (only) 

Deductions & Credits

Education

Expenses and Scholarships (Form 1098-T)   START

You may need to enter student information but go through the screens asking for Form 1098-T without entering anything until you get to the "HERE's Your Education Summary" Screen

Select "Scholarships/Grants (for all schools)"

On the "Did you Receive a Scholarship or Grants in 2024?"

Select "YES"

on the drop-down that opens enter the amount reported on the 1099-MISC 

[Hal_Al]

Enter stipend

 Enter at Educational Expenses and Scholarships, under Deductions and credits (not the income section).

After answering no to having a 1098-T*, answer yes to qualifying for an exception (that gets you to the entry screens). You will have to go thru the whole education interview to get to the scholarship screen. At the scholarship screen, enter the amount of the grant. When asked if any was used for room and board, answer yes. Then enter the amount you want to be taxable (usually all of it), in the pop up box. R&B are not "qualified educational  expenses".  So, this is how you tell TT that it is taxable. Note the wording at that screen “or other expenses”. You didn’t have to literally use the scholarship for R&B.  This will put it on line 8r of Schedule 1 (this line was added in 2022).

*If you do have a 1098-T, one of the follow-up questions will be do you have any scholarships not shown on the 1098-T. Enter the additional scholarship/stipend there.