Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Jun 4, 2019 6:00:55 PM

Do I report $200 in substitute teacher pay in 2017 from a local Christian school if I did not receive a W-2? If so, where do I report it?

I was told I did not have to report it if the amount totaled less than $600.

0 1 2885
1 Replies
New Member
Jun 4, 2019 6:00:56 PM

It is a miss-conception that income under $600 doesn't need to be reported. If you are required to file a return, then all income is required to be reported.  

The school is not required to issue you a 1099-misc if they paid you less than $600 and you were classified as an independent contractor. If you were an employee (which a substitute teacher would normally qualify as) then they should issue you a W-2. 

Otherwise, the only way to report income you worked for, reported on form 1099-misc box 7, is under self-employed business income. A benefit to reporting your income here, is that you would also be able to deduct your expenses. 

You might consider talking to the school about them classifying you as a contractor. There are large penalties for miss-classifying 'employees' as 'contractors', even though it's easier to file. Of course, it is a small amount and may not be worth it. However, when you work for income, there are only two options for reporting it; either W-2 employee income or self-employed income. 

Consider information about this issue here at the IRS here: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/understanding-employee-vs-contractor-designation Let me know if you have questions.