How you were paid doesn't matter. What matters is if they paid you as an employee, in which case they are required to issue you a W-2, or if they paid you as a contractor and they "might" be required to issue you a 1099-MISC. If they paid you less than $600 total in 2016 *and* hired you as a contractor, then they're not required to issue you a 1099-MISC. But you'd still report it on a SCH C as a part of your personal tax return.
Also, if this was a one time thing, then depending on the amount you "may" be able to avoid the SCH C altogether, along with the self-employment tax. So..... was this a one time deal that you will NOT repeat this coming summer? If so, then give me an approximation of what you were paid for this. Would be nice if you could avoid all this self-employment SCH C stuff.
Thanks for the response! It was a one time job as a camp counselor for a month. I was paid 1125 spread over 3 checks. I get an error when i try to file and i can't think of any reason besides this.
Yeah we can avoid the SCH C for this. First, we gotta clear up the error. What error 'exactly' did you get? Be aware you do NOT want to attempt to file again, until we get this income reported correctly, and your incorrect entry of this income REMOVED from the program first.
IND-031-03: The AGI or Self-Select PIN from last year for the first taxpayer doesn't match IRS records.
That has nothing to do with the income issue. Either the PIN or AGI, whichever you used for electronically signing the return, is wrong.
Hey thanks for all your help, i think it's gonna go through.
To enter this income you received for summer camp so you're not self-employed, under the Personal Income tab scroll all the way to the bottom and under the Less Common Income heading elect to start/update Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C.
Then select Other Income Not Already Reported on a Form W-2 or 1099-MISC
For Other Wages Received select YES and continue.
Leave Household Employee blank and continue.
Leave Sick or Disability blank and continue.
Select Yes and continue.
Select Other and continue.
Describe what the money was for Something like "summer camp counselor" I would guess. Then enter the amount and click the Done button.
That's it.
You'll have to sort through that PIN or AGI issue on your end. IT's a security issue and nobody here can "fix this" for you. If this is a joint return, you probably entered the wrong PIN or AGI for the first tax filer on the return.