Hourly rate plus Executor fee

[tnunnell]

I was Executor and Trustee for my father's estate and trust.  In addition to the state dictated executor fee and a trustee fee, I also was paid an hourly rate to handle the other issues that arose.  The amount of the hourly wages came to approximately $70,000.  I am wondering if I could/should have this as earned income (to increase my social security in the future).  The executor and trustee fees are posted as misc income.  Any help is appreciated.

[tagteam]

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@tnunnell wrote:

...The executor and trustee fees are posted as misc income. 

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Miscellaneous income is precisely what the payments are unless you are a professional fiduciary or were paid a wage for some unrelated work.

[tnunnell]

I was paid the $70,000 for misc work.  Where do I put it?  And does it count towards my social security earnings?

[tagteam]

What type of work? Was this relative to your duties as executor and/or trustee?

If it's miscellaneous income, it does not count toward your social security earnings.

[tnunnell]

it was anything from cleaning out the house, setting up bank accounts, selling investments, talking with attorneys and accountants, etc.