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New Member
posted Mar 4, 2020 10:50:49 AM

Can a 1099misc for a taxable fringe benefit be enterd on turbotax? the software keeps trying to make me self employed. The amount reflects my share of the benefit cost.

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5 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 6, 2020 12:28:21 PM

Yes. This can be entered in TurboTax. You may need to treat it as self-employed income. This means that the income is subject to the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare. Each type pays 7.65%. When the income is subject to self-employment, and you are both the employer and the employee, then you would pay 15.3%.

 

Please see this article that includes a list from TurboTax Expert DianeC958 summarized from IRS Publication 15. This list of benefits shows what would be excludable from Social Security and Medicare. You would not have to claim the benefit as self-employment income only if your taxable fringe benefit is included on this list.

 

If your income is not on the list, you will have to claim it as self-employment. Follow these steps:

  • From the left menu, select Federal
  • Now you will be on the Wages & Income screen. Scroll down to Income from Form 1099-MISC and click Edit/Add
  • Check over the details for Form 1099-MISC exactly as you received it. 
  • After the description screen, you will see Does one of these uncommon situations apply? screen. Select None of the Above
  • Continue through the rest of the prompts: Did this involve work that's like your main job?
  • How often did you get income for this? Answer and click continue
  • Did this involve the intent to earn money
  • Do you have another 1099-MISC? Answer and click Continue

 

If your income is on the list, and you do not have to claim it as self-employment, then follow these steps:

  • From the left menu, select Federal
  • Now you will be on the Wages & Income screen. Scroll down to Income from Form 1099-MISC and click Edit/Add
  • Check over the details for Form 1099-MISC exactly as you received it. 
  • After the description screen, you will see Does one of these uncommon situations apply? screen. Select This was a bonus, prize, award, trip or extra benefit from my employer.
  • Continue through the rest of the prompts: Did this involve work that's like your main job?
  • How often did you get income for this? Answer and click continue
  • Did this involve the intent to earn money
  • Do you have another 1099-MISC? Answer and click Continue

 

 

 

Level 1
Apr 14, 2021 9:11:50 AM

IRS Box 3 instructions state that miscellaneous income goes on the "other income" line of Schedule 1 for those using Form 1040 or Form 1040 NR.   The instructions that came with my 1099 MISC clearly state DO NOT file a Schedule C with my tax return because the 1099 reported amount is not self-employment income.  So with that being said, how do we claim this fringe benefit on a Schedule 1 under additional income line 8 for other income where it needs to be.  How do we get to that form using Turbotax?

Expert Alumni
Apr 14, 2021 9:30:21 AM

To report this income as "Other Income" in TurboTax, while in your return:. 

  • Type "other Income" in the search window (or in the Search Topic window for desktop versions) 

  • Click on "jump to other Income" (or "other income" in the Search Topic results) 

  • Enter the information from your Form 1099-MISC, and click on Continue 

  • Enter a description and click on Continue 

  • On the screen with "Does one of these uncommon situations apply?", indicate "None of these apply" 

  • Answer "No..." to "Did the [Description] involve work that's like your main job?" 

  • Answer "I got it in 2020" when asked "How often did you get income for [Description]?" (Yes, you will get this again, but  answering that way will trigger a Schedule C)

  • Answer "No, it didn't involve an intent to earn money." 

The amount will be reported on line 8 of Schedule 1 (Form 1040). 

New Member
Mar 21, 2022 12:21:28 PM

I CAN'T GET THIS TO WORK IN 2022FOR 2021.  TT IS FORCING ME TO FILE A SCH. C WHICH MY INSTRUCTIONS FROM UAW-FORD-GENERAL MOTORS FOR $23 SAY IS NOT NEEDED!

Expert Alumni
Mar 21, 2022 1:17:02 PM

In order for the income to be treated as Other Income as opposed to self-employment income in TurboTax, when you are asked about whether the income involved work that's like your main job, you have to say no. When asked to check the boxes regarding in what year you received the money, you need to check year 2021 only. When asked if the money involved the intent to earn money, then you need to say no. Otherwise, the income will be correctly treated as self-employment income and reported as such on your tax return.

@BARBRENN