a different question re: W9's and self-employment

[jm1982]

Okay, you ladies are pretty smart. Here's the situation...

I attended an academic conference where all my expenses were paid upfront by the conference, save $35 in travel expenses. The conference planners had me submit travel receipts for this amount so that I could be reimbursed, and then emailed me to say that I need to submit a W9 to them so that it can be processed.

If I submit the W9, and $35 is the ONLY self-employment income for the year (but DH and I each have regular income), does that mean that I'll have to also file a Schedule C and all the associated paperwork on my 2012 taxes? Or does the fact that it's so little mean that I won't have to file?

DH and I have both had to file this sort of stuff in the past when we had contract work in our fields, and I'd rather not have to go through all that added hassle for such a small amount of money. So I'm thinking just not getting reimbursed for it.

[ondaflipside]

1099's don't get filed to the IRS unless the vendor got paid $600 for the year.

[jwright]

And you are not supposed to receive a 1099 for reimbursed expenses if receipts are given. That's called an accountable plan and means the amounts are not included in income.

The W-9 doesn't automatically mean a 1099; it is probably an internal policy for whenever they issue a check.

[jm1982]

oh good, thank you!