My husband and I both donated plasma last year. We filed both of our earnings from this under self employment. Was this wrong?

[juvejerusalem]

Both of us earned more than $600, but it feels wrong that self-employment tax would apply to this.

[Bsch4477]

Assuming that the donations are occasional the income can be other or miscellaneous income which would not be subject to self employment tax. 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/plasma-donation-as-taxable-incom...

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

Generally this type of income should be reported as miscellaneous or "other" income.  It's not self-employment unless it is your "ongoing trade or business" that you regularly engage in with a profit motive.  

If you get a 1099-MISC, Turbotax may ask questions to try and classify this as a business or not.  You need to answer "no" (not a business, not for profit, not similar to other work your do, etc.).