If I am a student who works on campus doing computing, does a research program in computing involve work like my main job?

[jadikertaxes]

I work as a virtual reality developer on campus, and TurboTax is asking me if my DREU program I did over the summer (https://cra.org/cra-wp/dreu/) "[involves] work that's like my main job", because they paid me in the form of a 1099-MISC. Should I pick yes or no?

[SusanY1 · Accepted solution]

I would pick yes, it sounds like the work is similar in nature.  However, the answer won't affect what is reported on your tax return itself - this is a question designed to help tailor the remaining interview questions.

[Hal_Al]

It's a "gray area" in taxes.  Was the income shown in 3 or box 7 of the 1099 Misc?

You say you work "on campus" but then you say it was "over the summer".  Who paid you? Was it the school or a  for profit company or a non profit?

If the school paid you and the amount was in box 3 of the 1099-Misc, it can usually be reported as scholarship income and not subject to self employment tax.

Any thing in box 7, should probably be treated as "work that's like my main job"

[jadikertaxes]

School pays me during the school year: I have a W-2 for that. This question was pertaining to the 1099-MISC for work I did in a DREU program over the summer, which was reported in box 7.