Hello, I am paid by an NRSA F32 postdoctoral fellowship and I'm very confused. I've been given a 1099-MISC form with my income in Box 3 ("Other Income"). When I google online, people seem clear that this is not to be treated as self-employment income, and so is not subject to self-employment tax. However, when I try to report this on TurboTax it seems to automatically register this as self-employment income, and I'm charged a pretty exorbitant tax rate. Does anybody know what to do here? If I try not to file it as self-employment then it sets my tax burden to $0, which also obviously can't be right.
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The fact that you got a 1099-Misc, instead of a 1099-NEC, means it is, most likely, not self employment income.
It should be entered as other income.
Enter the 1099-Misc
On the next screen Describe what the payment was for
On the next screen select "none of these apply"
On the next screen select "No it didn't involve work like my main job"
On the next screen select "I got it in 2024" ONLY (even if you get/got it in other years, this is a necessary workaround for the no intent to earn money situation)
On the next screen select No, it didn't involve intent to earn money
TT will put the amount on line 8z of Schedule 1 as other income
If the amount is less than $14,600 and that is your only income, your tax liability will be $0 (unless you can be clamed as a dependent). "Other income" is unearned income for purposes of calculating a dependent's standard deduction.
Some say stipends and fellowships should be reported as taxable scholarship*, and not other income.
Enter scholarship / 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 fellowship for R&B. This will put it on line 8r of Schedule 1.
*Scholarships are a hybrid between earned and unearned income. It is earned income for purposes of the $14,600 filing requirement (2024) and the dependent standard deduction calculation (earned income + $450). It is not earned income for the kiddie tax and other purposes (e.g. EIC). For grad students and post grad fellows, scholarship, stipend and fellowship income is earned income ("compensation") for IRA contributions.
Phenomenal answer, thank you! Will both these options yield the same overall tax rate?
Q. Will both these options yield the same overall tax rate?
A. Yes, unless you are or can be a dependent. If you are/can, then you want to use the stipend/scholarship method. That's not necessary if the rest of your income is already more than $14,600.
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