How can I report income for private tutoring?

[bjb060]

I have some private tutoring income to report, but not through any business or anything. I don't have any related deductions to report. How can/should I report that income?

[bjb060]

Hey Carl,

Thanks for the answer, but I'm unable to enter myself as an independent contractor; I already have unrelated income from a 1099-MISC, and when I try to add another business income section, Turbotax prompts me to upgrade to home and business. How else can I proceed?

[Carl]

Online is a bit different from the desktop I use. You must indicate you're an independent contractor to get SCH C-EZ. To do that, under personal income scroll down to 1099-MISC and Other Common Income and elect to start/update Income From Form 1099-MISC. Then click YES to indicate that you did receive a 1099-MISC. That should do it, if you meet the criteria indicated in my previous message.

[bjb060]

Oh, ok. Thanks for the info!

[Carl]

As far as the IRS is concerned, your tutoring income "is" self-employment and you do own a business - a tutoring business. You "should" qualify for the short form SCH C-EZ so that you don't have to upgrade to the most expensive Home & Business. Under the Personal Income tab scroll down to Business Items and elect to start/update Business Income & Expenses. When prompted, identify yourself as an *independent contractor* and you can use the SCH C-EZ. If you select anything else, you will be forced to upgrade to the most expensive Home & Business.

Who can use Schedule C-EZ?

If you have a profit from your business and:

• your expenses are not greater than $5,000, (TurboTax requirement, not greater than $99)

• you have no employees,

• you have no inventory, and
• you are not using depreciation or deducting the cost of your home you can use Schedule C-EZ