Tax Year Prior to 2020: Main work as an entertainer(proffesional dancer). Am i self employed? Must I enter information in both business and personal? What if i have a side job as well?

[bruzer56]

I'm just confused. I am a self employed proffesional dancer. I am filling all my income and expenses under the business column. However, the information is showing up under personal as well. Is this ok? I also have a side job at a catering company. Where do I enter that income?

[KarenL2]

Where you enter your income depends on how you are paid.  You should only enter income or an expense one time in the software. It should only show up in one location. 

If you are paid for a job and receive a W-2 form, then it goes under Personal Income.

How to get there: While inside the software and working on your return, type W-2 in the Search at the top of the screen (you may see a magnifying glass there).  There will be a popup that says Jump to W-2.  Select that link to enter W-2 income.

If you receive a Form 1099-MISC or no form at all, then you enter it as Business income on Schedule C. You will file a Schedule C as a self-employed person.  The Schedule C will flow onto your individual income tax return (Form 1040) and be netted with other personal income and expenses.  This may be what you are seeing when it shows up for your personal income.

How to get to that area :   While inside the software and working on your return, type Schedule C in the Search at the top of the screen (you may see a magnifying glass there).  There will be a popup that says Jump to Schedule C.  Select that to get to the general area. 

When you set up your business, you can use your own name, address, and social security number (if you don't have a business name or EIN). Then, when done with the Business Profile:

• go to Business Income and Expenses
• select Edit next to your business (if it is there)
• scroll to Business Income 
• on the next screen, you will see a place to enter a Form 1099-MISC (if you didn’t receive one, you can Skip past that)
• then, on the next screen, you will see General Income (for income received that is not on a 1099-MISC form)
• enter a description for the income (ex. Services, or Consulting, Customer Sales) and the amount

Follow through all the areas in the Business section of the TurboTax software and it will provide you with a lot of assistance. You'll notice blue links that have more information and details about the particular sections that will be extremely helpful. 

Also, this link may be helpful to you IRS Small Business Help Center .