I had the same experience as the originator of this discussion. I received a 1099-NEC for being poll worker at three elections in Ohio in 2023. Obviously this is not self-employment business. Because I had to enter this 1099-NEC, I was required to upgrade to the TurboTax Basic product, otherwise I could have used TurboTax Basic online; my taxes are that simple. In entering the 1099-NEC, I was then required by TurboTax to create an associated Schedule C business and pay additional self-employment taxes. Seeing this result, I went to the IRS and found this instruction for reporting my 1099-NEC income: “If the income reported on Form 1099-NEC is not self-employment income, but instead from a sporadic activity or hobby, report it on line 8, Other Income”, on Schedule 1 (1040)”. Since TurboTax did not have this option, I had to do this manually.
