This past year, I participated in an NSF REU program, for which I was paid $6000. However, I was never given any sort of tax documents from the university I worked for, other than a 1099-MISC for a travel stipend (not part of the $6000). I don't believe that this should be self-employment income, since I was an employee of the university during this time. But, if I try to include it as any sort of miscellaneous income, it triggers either a form 8615 due to "unearned income," which puts my into my parents' tax bracket (I'm claimed as a dependent), or a form 8919 that comes with all sorts of complications. How am I meant to file this income?
I feel like I'm getting scammed by the university, since the best way seems to be to report it as self-employment even though I was officially an employee of the university (had an employee number/account that has since been wiped from the system after the summer program).
