The statement "you only need to file a return if the total amount of these gift cards is over $400" is a little inaccurate. You need to report the income, on your tax return, regardless of the amount. The $400 threshold (actually $433) is for paying self employment (social security and Medicare) tax.
You will want to use the self employment version of TurboTax.
TurboTax also has another free product called the Free File Edition (not to be confused with the regular Free Edition). It has free Federal preparation and free State preparation. There is no efiling fee. It is not available after October 15
The Free file Edition can handle a 1099-MISC.
The Free file Edition is more fully-featured than the regular Free Edition. The Free File Edition can prepare Schedule A, C, D, E, and F that the Free Edition cannot.
For Free File Edition a user needs to meet only ONE of these qualifications:
- AGI of $36,000 or less
- or active duty military (including Reservists and National Guard) with a military-issued W-2 and a 2019 AGI of $69,000 or less
- or eligible for the Earned Income Credit (EIC aka EITC).
The FREE FILE Edition is located at:
https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom
As Mike9241 said, this is a tax forum, and it's unlikely someone can answer your question about reporting the earnings to the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you have more than $432 of self employment income, you will be filing Schedule SE, as part of your tax return, to pay your self employment (social security and Medicare) tax. So, the income is automatically reported to SSA.
