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New Member
posted Jun 19, 2022 6:26:07 AM

If I freelance for a company based in Germany and I live in the US, should I report this income on my taxes even if I don't receive a 1099?

0 5 1037
5 Replies
Level 15
Jun 19, 2022 7:50:04 AM

You're doing the work in the USA, right?

Level 15
Jun 19, 2022 7:51:51 AM

If you are a US citizen then you are required to report your total worldwide taxable income even if there are no tax reporting forms issued. 

New Member
Jun 19, 2022 8:10:37 AM

Yes I am performing the work in the US

Level 15
Jun 19, 2022 8:13:06 AM

If you are new to being self employed, are not incorporated or in a partnership  and  are acting as your own bookkeeper and tax preparer you need to get educated ....  

If you have net self employment income of $400 or more you have to file a schedule C in your personal 1040 return for self employment business income. You may get a 1099-NEC for some of your income but you need to report all your income.  So you need to keep your own good records. Here is some reading material……

IRS information on Self Employment….
http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employed-Individuals-Tax-Center 

Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf 



Publication 535 Business Expenses
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf 

 

Home Office Expenses … Business Use of the Home

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/home-office-deduction

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p587.pdf

 

Publication 463 Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p463.pdf 

 

 

Publication 946 … Depreciation

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p946.pdf

       

Level 15
Jun 19, 2022 8:34:21 AM

You are self-employed in the United States. The income that you get from freelancing is U.S. income, not foreign income. The fact that your client is in another country doesn't matter.


The tag below your question indicates that you are using TurboTax Premier Online. In Premier you cannot enter self-employment income without a 1099-NEC, and you cannot enter any business expenses. You have to either upgrade to TurboTax Self-Employed or use any version of the CD/Download TurboTax software. If you use the CD/Download software, you should use TurboTax Home & Business (not TurboTax Business, which is a different product), because Home & Business will give you more detailed guidance and help for reporting self-employment.


Does your German client pay you in U.S. dollars? All amounts that you enter in your tax return have to be in U.S. dollars. If you receive payment in another currency you have to convert the amounts to dollars.