I was expecting a 1099, but now I'm unsure how to report this income. Since the W-2 is blank, the IRS would have no record, and reporting it as Box 1 income might cause confusion.
We'd love to help you complete your tax return, but need more information. Can you please clarify your question?
Yes I did consulting work for them. Why is w-2 blank but gross earnings are reported outside W-2 separately but not in Box 1.
It's confusing and possibly they were not aware of the correct form to use. It should have been reported on Form 1099-NEC if the payment was over $600. If it was less than that, you would still report it as self employment income starting at $1.
This would be self employment income and reported on Schedule C for your consulting work. You can follow the steps in the link below to report your income.