Why must I upgrade to file my 1099 nec? I am not self employed. I only work at a flower shop when i am home on break

[SweetieJean]

You are an independent contractor, because you are not a W-2 employee.

[VolvoGirl]

That is self employment income.  To report your self employment income you will fill out schedule C in your personal 1040 tax return and pay SE self employment Tax.  You can enter Self Employment Income into Online Deluxe or Premier but if you have any expenses you will have to upgrade to the Self Employed version.  How to enter self employment income

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/how-do-i-report-income-from-self-employment/00/...

Or there is also The Turbo Tax Free File program which is free for federal and state.  And has more forms than the Federal Free Edition, like Schedules A, B, C , D, E, F, EIC, H, K-1, SE,  etc.

To qualify for the Free File website  you just need to meet one of these 3 things.

AGI $39,000 or less.

Active duty military with AGI of $72,000 or less

OR qualify for EIC (earned income credit.)

In order to use the Free File program, you have to start it at a special website.  Click on Sign in at the top right.  It may let you continue your return so you don't have to start over.

https://freefile.intuit.com/

[RayW7]

I agree with VolvoGirl however this additional information may be of value to you.

You can report this as other income and not be required to complete a Schedule C.  However, if you have expenses it's likely it will be a benefit to complete a Schedule C.

Note:

You usually owe taxes on any income you earn. But because self-employment tax wasn't withheld when you were paid for this work, you now owe that tax as well.

To report this as Other Income-

In TurboTax go to:

1. Personal Income

2. Other Common Income

3. Income from 1099-NEC

4. Check No, I don't have expenses related to this income

5. follow the prompts and it will be entered as other income.