How to File Self Employment Income from Multiple Survey Sites When You Didn't Receive Any 1099 Forms

Thanks for explaining! Do I need to list each survey site separately on the Schedule C or can I just combine all the income as "Online Survey Income" or something like that? Also, what exactly counts as legitimate business expenses for taking surveys?

You can combine all survey income on one Schedule C as "Market Research Services" or "Online Survey Services." You don't need to separate each company unless they're very different types of work. For business expenses, be reasonable and ready to justify anything you claim. Internet costs (partial), maybe a portion of your cell phone if used for surveys, and possibly your computer depreciation if primarily used for this work. But don't get too aggressive - the income is likely small, so your legitimate expenses should be proportional. Keep good records of everything moving forward!

Does it actually connect with tax software or just tell you what to do? I'm doing surveys too and also have some Etsy sales with no 1099s.

This sounds interesting but I'm skeptical about uploading financial info to random sites. How secure is it? And does it actually help with the specific forms or just general advice?

It doesn't directly connect with tax software, but it generates a guide that you can follow while filling out the forms. It works really well for mixed income situations like yours with both surveys and Etsy sales - it helps you properly categorize each type. It's very secure - they use bank-level encryption and don't store your documents after analysis. It's not just general advice - it tells you exactly which lines on which forms to complete based on your specific situation and helps you maximize deductions you qualify for. I was hesitant too but it was way more helpful than the generic info I found online.

How does this actually work? Like are they somehow jumping the IRS phone queue or something? Seems too good to be true with how impossible it is to reach anyone there.

Yeah right. Nothing gets you through to the IRS faster. They're probably just charging money for what you could do yourself. The IRS doesn't give special access to third parties.

It works by using technology to navigate the complex IRS phone system and secures your place in line. They don't jump the queue - they just make the process more efficient and handle the hold time for you. When an agent is about to be available, you get a call connecting you directly. I was skeptical too! But they aren't claiming special access - they're just automating the painful process of waiting on hold and navigating the confusing phone tree options. I spent over 4 hours on multiple attempts getting disconnected before using this. The same day I tried Claimyr, I got a call back with an actual IRS agent who answered all my survey income questions in detail.

Do you need to include any kind of documentation or proof of the survey income when you file? Or do you just report the total amount? I'm worried about getting audited.

You just report the total amount on your tax forms - no need to attach any documentation when filing. But you should absolutely keep records (payment screenshots, spreadsheet of earnings, withdrawal confirmations) for at least 3 years in case of an audit. Don't stress too much about audits - they're rare, especially for simple returns with modest income. The key is being honest about reporting ALL income and having reasonable documentation to back it up if ever questioned. My spreadsheet plus screenshots of payment summaries from each site has been more than sufficient for the past 5 years.

I combine all my "opinion-based" work on one Schedule C. The business code I use is 541910 for "Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling" which covers surveys and user testing. If your activities are all related to giving opinions and testing, one Schedule C is fine. If you have very different activities (like surveys + selling crafts), then separate them.