Does recycling count as income to reort?

[karenalyssa78]

Does recycling count as income to report?

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

No. If you take your used items to a recycling center and get some small amount for what you have turned in, you are getting a portion back of an amount you have already paid. Since you were not able to deduct the cans or bottles when you purchased them, you are not getting taxable income when you turn them in.

[SweetieJean]

Or are these recyclables that you collected, say, on the street?

[karenalyssa78]

Both- side job for extra income

[Coleen3]

If you collected it on the street, then you didn't buy it. In that case, that portion is income.

[OhThatMaven]

How do I report the street collected recycling to the IRS since I havent any W-2 forms?

[AmyC]

You need to input your income. This could be a hobby or business. My guess would be a hobby. Click the link for how to enter hobby income.

Please visit the IRS website regarding hobby or a business. If you determine it is a business, use this IRS business link to help you get things done correctly.

@OhThatMaven

[Deanbumpc]

I been recycling since my mother passed away.and left me in charge of her estate that is in a serious mess .I tried to get my total income from the EMR recycling company to file taxes on what I done .And they told me no they wouldn't give it to me .They said that's why we give you receipts .Well I don't have all of them and with the work I do sometimes they get messed up ..Can you at Turbo tax get this information from them for me are should I just file on the receipts I have .I'm trying to pay off a child support dept and get my driver's license reinstated.To clear my dept please advice me what to do and how would you charge me to help with this matter 

[Deanbumpc]

Yes And I collect alot .Sometimes 350$ a day and some days 0$ put I try and go everyday I can .Until I'm physically exhausted and got rest .

[Deanbumpc]

Hello is anyone here to answer my questions? Hello I can't tell if your replying to me are someone else what should I do and will you help me are not .Nobody else has helped me with any of this that's why I'm in this mess.

[xmasbaby0]

@Deanbumpc The user forum works like a message board.  You post your question and wait until someone replies to you.   You have posted several times in this thread.  It sounds like you have self-employment income from some sort of recycling you are doing.   When you are self-employed, it is your own responsibility to keep records for yourself of your earnings.  TurboTax cannot make the recycling center issue more receipts to you.   

When you are self-employed, you have to pay self-employment tax for your own Social Security and Medicare, as well as ordinary income tax, since none of that is being withheld from the money that is being paid to you.  

You can enter the amount you were paid as self-employment income even if you did not receive a 1099NEC or 1099Misc.   Amounts paid to you in cash can be entered.   You will need to use online Self-Employed software or any version of the CD/download.  You will need to prepare a Schedule C for your business expenses---such as mileage for driving around to the various locations where you collect materials to recycle, etc.

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

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

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3398950-what-self-employed-expenses-can-i-deduct

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901110-do-i-need-to-make-estimated-tax-payments-to-the-irs

If your self-employment income was only from cash, personal checks, credit card payments, or cryptocurrency 

Type Schedule C in the Search box and then select the Jump to link. This will take you to where you can enter any cash, personal checks, credit card payments, or cryptocurrency (Form 1099-K) related to your self-employment. You may first be asked some general questions about your business. After you answer them, you’ll be taken to the Let's get income for (your line of work) screen where you can enter this income as Additional Income.

[VolvoGirl]

This forum is a message board, not a chat line.  You post a question like you did.  Then wait for someone to reply.   This is a public user forum for Turbo Tax.   The people answering are mainly other users like you.  I don't think we can help with  your recycling question.  

Sounds like you want to file it as self employment income.  Then you have to calculate the income yourself.  You will fill out schedule C and pay about 15% self employment tax on it in addition to any regular income tax.  I would get a little calendar like a book with the year in it and write down the amount each day you get money.  You need to keep your own records.  And you may have expenses you can write off against the income.