How to avoid 1099-Misc trigger 15.3% Self-employment tax on Crypto earn/interest earned

[boavalos]

Hello, 

This year the crypto platforms are reporting eared interest (in my case from Stablecoins) on form 1099-Misc in box 3.  When I enter this into TuboTax I answer the 3 questions and it triggers the self-employment tax of 15.3%.  I AM NOT SELF EMPLOYED!  This is income like interest in a savings account.  How do I report this in Turbobax without getting more/additional taxes?  Would like to see process for 2022 taxes (not previous years).  Thanks 

[KrisD15]

The IRS does not recognize crypto as currency, therefore it does not earn interest. 

If it were considered Interest, the income would be reported on Form 1099-INT. 

The income you earned and reported on 1099-MISC is Ordinary Income subject to Income Tax. 

Additionally, the IRS will expect you to pay Self-Employment tax if this is a means of you providing income. 

You might claim that Staking is a Hobby in order to by-pass the Self-Employment tax, but that would be difficult to prove. Most people do the service to get the income. 

The IRS is still working out details on how crypto is reported, but as of today, Staking is considered EARNED income and reported as such. 

"You treat staking income the same as you do mining income: counted as fair market value at the time you earn the income and subject to income and possibly self employment taxes."

Crypto Guide