I work full time and receive a w2 and usually pick up a side job on the weekends for extra money. The side jobs do give out a W2.
Do I need to report the income from my side job if it makes less than 4,000? I have seen in certain spots that you have too, but I am not sure if that is right or not.
EVERY W-2 that you receive must be entered on your tax return, even the ones for small amounts. Each of those W-2's gets reported to the IRS by the employer with your Social Security number attached. They all must be on the SAME tax return. Whatever you saw about not having to report less than $4000 was incorrect.
And....you did not ask about this....but just in case you ever work as an independent contractor and receive cash or a check through "self-employment"---- you must also include that income on your tax return. If you earn even $400 as an independent contractor, you are required to enter it on your tax return and pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare.
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2926899-how-does-my-side-job-affect-my-taxes
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902389-why-am-i-paying-self-employment-tax
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901340-where-do-i-enter-schedule-c
If you file a tax return you have to report all your income, no matter how little it is. You have to report the income whether or not you get a W-2.
You have to enter all your self-employment income on your tax return, even if it's less than $400. What you might have seen is that you do not have to file a tax return if your only income is self-employment income of less than $400. And the limit is $400, not $4,000.
Q. Do I need to report the income from my side job if it makes less than 4,000?
A. Simple answer: yes.
Since you have a full time W-2 job (and therefor are already required to file a tax return), any additional income you have, even $1, is reportable on your tax return.
Q. I have seen in certain spots that you have too, but I am not sure if that is right or not?
A. Any discussion you've seen has to do with: how much income does a presong have to have to have to file a tax return. That question is academic, in your case, as you already there. As the other replies indicate, for other people that amount depends on the details of their income and other circumstances. The $4000 amount is way out of date.