Do I need to pay taxes on my dog walking income? IRS requirements for side gigs

Yes, you absolutely need to pay taxes on that dog walking income! Any income you earn, regardless of how you're paid, is technically taxable income according to the IRS. Since you're earning about $950/month, that puts you at around $11,400 annually, which definitely exceeds the self-employment tax threshold of $400. You'll need to report this on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) and pay self-employment taxes using Schedule SE with your regular 1040 tax return. The self-employment tax is currently 15.3% to cover Social Security and Medicare (what an employer would normally withhold plus their contribution). You'll also owe regular income tax on these earnings. Since you're being paid through Zelle and probably don't receive any tax forms from your clients, you're responsible for tracking all your income. Keep a record of all payments received. Also track your business expenses - things like leashes, treats, mileage driving to clients, etc., as these can offset some of your taxable income.

This happened to me! I was walking dogs through Rover making like $1200 a month and had no idea about taxes. After getting frustrated with all the conflicting advice I found online, I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my situation. It confirmed I needed to file Schedule C as a self-employed person and helped me figure out which expenses were actually deductible. The best part was I could just upload screenshots of my payment history and it organized everything for me. It even helped me understand how much I should set aside for quarterly taxes going forward so I don't get hit with underpayment penalties. Saved me hours of research and probably a lot of money in missed deductions.

Just wanted to update - I tried out taxr.ai after seeing this thread and wow, it made things so much clearer! I uploaded screenshots of my payment apps and my bank statements, and it identified all my business transactions. It even flagged expenses I didn't realize were deductible (like a portion of my phone bill since I use it to coordinate with clients). The step-by-step guidance on self-employment taxes was exactly what I needed - no more confusing IRS publications. It explained when I need to start making quarterly payments (which I should have been doing all along, oops). I feel so much more confident about handling my taxes correctly now instead of just crossing my fingers and hoping I don't get audited!

If you're having trouble figuring out your self-employment taxes for dog walking, you might need to talk directly to the IRS for clarification. I was in a similar situation but with tutoring income, and I spent DAYS trying to get through to ask questions about business deductions. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used https://claimyr.com and got through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual endless hold time. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent walked me through exactly how to handle my situation, which specific forms to file, and even helped me understand how to set up proper quarterly estimated payments. Saved me from making mistakes that probably would have triggered an audit.

I take back what I said about Claimyr. I was super skeptical about the whole concept but my tax situation got more complicated when I started a side business, and I had specific questions that weren't answered clearly on the IRS website. After trying for THREE DAYS to reach someone at the IRS and getting nowhere, I decided to try Claimyr out of desperation. What shocked me was that I got a call back within 45 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line! The agent answered all my questions about self-employment taxes and filing requirements for my situation. Honestly worth it just for my peace of mind knowing I'm doing everything correctly. Now I can confidently file my Schedule C without worrying I'm missing something that will flag an audit.

Remember that even if your clients don't send you a 1099, the IRS can still see those Zelle transactions if they're over a certain amount or frequency! Banking apps are required to report patterns of payments that could be business income. My friend thought she was flying under the radar with her crafting business until she got a scary letter from the IRS about unreported income.

One thing nobody's mentioned - if you're making that much from dog walking, you might want to consider forming an LLC for liability protection! What happens if a dog gets injured while in your care? Or if the dog bites someone else while you're walking it? Without business insurance or an LLC, your personal assets could be at risk.

This is such helpful information! I've been doing Uber Eats deliveries on weekends and making about $600-800 a month, and I had no idea I needed to be paying quarterly taxes or keeping track of my mileage for deductions. Reading through all these responses has been eye-opening - especially about how payment apps like Venmo and Zelle are now required to report business transactions over $600. I'm definitely going to start keeping better records of my earnings and expenses. The advice about deducting car expenses and phone usage is something I never would have thought of. Does anyone know if I can deduct things like phone chargers or a phone mount that I bought specifically for delivery driving? Also, since I sometimes grab drinks or snacks during long delivery shifts, would any of that count as a business expense? I'm also curious about the liability insurance mentioned - is that something gig workers should really be considering? My regular car insurance probably doesn't cover commercial use, but I've never thought about what happens if I get in an accident while delivering food.

Great question! I went through this exact same situation last year with my pet sitting business. The key thing to understand is that the IRS considers you self-employed once you're regularly providing services for income, regardless of how informal it feels. Since you're making $950/month ($11,400 annually), you're definitely above the $400 self-employment threshold. Here's what you need to know: **Tax Forms You'll Need:** - Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) - this is where you report your dog walking income and expenses - Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax) - for the 15.3% self-employment tax - Form 1040 - your regular tax return **Quarterly Estimated Taxes:** You should start making quarterly payments using Form 1040-ES. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 25-30% of your earnings for taxes (this covers both income tax and self-employment tax). **Deductible Business Expenses:** Track everything! Dog treats, leashes, waste bags, mileage to/from clients, pet insurance if you carry it, cleaning supplies, even a portion of your phone bill if you use it to coordinate with clients. **Record Keeping:** Those Zelle screenshots are a good start, but create a simple spreadsheet tracking dates, client names, services provided, and amounts received. The IRS loves detailed records if you're ever audited. Don't panic about not setting money aside yet - just start now! You can even set up a separate savings account and automatically transfer a percentage of each payment. Better late than never, and the IRS offers payment plans if needed.