How to file taxes on income from selling feet pictures online? Step-by-step guide

The short answer is yes, you need to report all income to the IRS regardless of the source or how you receive payment. This falls under self-employment income, and the IRS considers you an independent contractor in this situation. For payment apps, there's a common misconception. Starting with tax year 2025, payment apps are required to send 1099-K forms if you receive more than $600 in a calendar year (previously the threshold was $20,000). But even if you don't receive a 1099, you're still legally required to report all income. You would report this on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) as part of your personal tax return. You don't need to specify "feet pictures" - you could list it as "digital content creation" or "personal photography sales." The IRS doesn't need the specific details of what you're selling, just the income category. The good news is you can deduct business expenses against this income - things like photo equipment, lighting, props, or even a portion of your phone bill if you use it for this business.

Hey there! I was in a similar situation last year selling my artwork online and was totally confused about taxes. I found this amazing AI tax assistant at https://taxr.ai that literally saved me from a potential audit. It analyzes your specific situation and breaks everything down in super simple terms. For my side hustle, it explained exactly how to report my income without raising red flags, what business category to use (so it doesn't say anything embarrassing on the forms), and even identified deductions I had no idea I could claim! The best part was it helped me figure out how to file this income separately from my regular job without messing up my parents' ability to claim me as a dependent. It also explained all the payment app rules - turns out there's a lot of misunderstanding about what Venmo/PayPal report to the IRS. Definitely check it out if you're trying to figure out this self-employment stuff!

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai that was mentioned above. It was actually super helpful! I was really worried about how to report my "digital content" income without being specific, and it gave me step-by-step instructions. The system explained that I should categorize my income as "Digital Content Creation" on Schedule C and showed me exactly which expenses I could deduct - even stuff like a portion of my internet bill and the cost of my phone that I use to take photos. It also clarified those payment app rules - apparently the $600 reporting threshold doesn't mean what most people think it means. Best part was it helped me figure out how to file this separate from my main tax return that my parents help with. Now I can handle this side business properly without them knowing the specifics. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

I've been doing photography side gigs for a few years and tried calling the IRS with questions about reporting specific types of content sales. Spent literally HOURS on hold multiple times and never got through. Super frustrating waste of time. Then I found this service called Claimyr at https://claimyr.com that got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in the IRS queue and calls you back when an agent is about to be available. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with was actually super helpful and non-judgmental about my questions. They confirmed exactly how to report my income correctly without needing to specify the exact nature of the digital content I was selling. Most importantly, they explained how to keep certain income streams separate when filing which sounds like exactly what you need.

Ok I have to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After seeing it mentioned here I was super skeptical (still am about most things), but I was desperate to figure out how to report my OnlyFans income without my parents finding out since they still help with my regular taxes. I tried the service yesterday, and no joke, I was talking to an actual IRS person in about 15 minutes. The agent answered all my questions about how to file separate income streams and confirmed I could use the "digital content creation" category without specifying exactly what kind of content. They also explained how I could file this part myself even if my parents help with my W-2 income from my campus job. Honestly shocked this worked. Saved me from either tax fraud or an extremely awkward conversation with my dad. Worth every penny for the time saved and privacy maintained.

Just FYI - regardless of what anyone tells you about payment apps, ALL income is taxable. I learned this the hard way. I was selling stuff on the side through Venmo and didn't report it because "it was under the reporting threshold." Got a nice letter from the IRS two years later asking for back taxes plus penalties. The $600 threshold only determines whether the payment app sends you and the IRS a 1099-K form. It has nothing to do with whether you owe taxes. You technically need to report $1 of income. For your type of work, you'll file Schedule C as self-employment income. Use a general business category like "digital content creator" or "personal photography." No need to be more specific than that.

Hey, tax preparer here! Just to clarify something important: you CANNOT file "just part" of your taxes separately. The IRS requires that ALL income be reported on a single tax return. If you have a W-2 job AND self-employment income, it all goes on one return. What you CAN do is prepare your own complete return that includes both your W-2 income and your self-employment income. This would be instead of having your parent prepare it. But you cannot file two separate returns, one for each income source.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I can help clarify the privacy concern. You absolutely CAN file your own complete tax return independently, even if your parents have helped you in the past. There's no law requiring them to prepare your taxes. The key is that you need to file ONE complete return with ALL your income sources (W-2 from your regular job AND Schedule C for your side business). You can use free tax software like FreeTaxUSA or TurboTax Free Edition to prepare everything yourself. When you file independently, you'll check the box indicating that someone else CAN claim you as a dependent (assuming you still qualify), but you prepare and file your own return. This way, your parents never see the details of your self-employment income - they just know they can claim you as a dependent on their return. For business category, "Digital Content Creation" or "Online Content Sales" works perfectly and is completely legitimate. You can deduct business expenses like equipment, phone bills (business portion), and even a portion of your internet if you use it for this work. The important thing is to report ALL income - the IRS doesn't care about the source, they just want their taxes. But you have every right to file your own return privately.

Just want to add one more important point that I learned the hard way - make sure you're setting aside money for self-employment taxes! When you have a regular W-2 job, taxes are automatically withheld, but with self-employment income you're responsible for paying both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes (about 15.3% total). This caught me completely off guard my first year. I was making about the same amount as you ($200-250/month) and ended up owing around $400 in self-employment taxes that I hadn't planned for. Now I automatically set aside about 25-30% of my side income in a separate savings account to cover both income taxes and self-employment taxes. You might also want to consider making quarterly estimated tax payments if you expect to owe more than $1,000 in taxes for the year. The IRS has a safe harbor rule where you won't get penalized for underpayment if you pay at least 100% of last year's tax liability, but it's still better to stay current rather than getting hit with a big bill next April. The good news is tax software will calculate all this for you automatically once you input your Schedule C income!

I want to piggyback on what others have said about keeping records - this is absolutely crucial for your situation! Since you're getting paid through apps like Venmo and PayPal, make sure you're tracking every single transaction. I'd recommend creating a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, amount, payment method, and maybe a basic description like "digital content sale." Also, don't forget about business expenses you can deduct against this income. If you're buying props, special lighting, paying for photo editing apps, or even upgrading your phone camera specifically for this work, those are all legitimate business expenses that reduce your taxable income. Even a portion of your phone bill can be deducted if you use your phone primarily for this business. One more tip - consider opening a separate checking account just for this income and expenses. It makes tracking everything much easier and looks more professional if the IRS ever has questions. Many banks offer free checking accounts, and having that separation between personal and business finances will make tax time way less stressful. The key is treating this like the legitimate business it is from a tax perspective, even if you want to keep it private from family. Good recordkeeping now will save you major headaches later!

I completely understand wanting to keep this private from family while still being tax compliant! As others have mentioned, you definitely need to report this income, but there are absolutely ways to handle it discreetly. Since you're making $200-250/month, you're looking at roughly $2,400-3,000 annually, which puts you well above the $600 threshold where payment apps will start sending 1099-K forms to both you and the IRS. Even if you were under that threshold, you'd still be legally required to report it. Here's what I'd recommend for your situation: 1. File your own complete tax return (including both your W-2 and Schedule C income) rather than having your mom help 2. Use "Digital Content Creation" as your business category on Schedule C - totally legitimate and non-specific 3. Make sure to check the box indicating someone else can claim you as a dependent so your mom can still get that deduction The good news is this gives you complete control over your tax information while staying compliant. Free tax software like FreeTaxUSA or TurboTax Free Edition can walk you through the Schedule C process step by step. Don't forget to track all your business expenses (phone, internet, equipment, props) and consider setting aside about 25-30% of your income for taxes since you'll owe both regular income tax and self-employment tax on this income. Better to be prepared than get surprised next April!

I just want to emphasize something that's been touched on but bears repeating - you absolutely MUST report this income regardless of the amount or payment method. I've seen too many students get into trouble thinking that cash apps "don't count" or that small amounts fly under the radar. The IRS has significantly ramped up their tracking of digital payments over the past few years. They have access to payment app data even when 1099-K forms aren't issued, and their matching systems are getting more sophisticated every year. For your specific situation, here's what I'd do: - Set up a simple tracking system NOW for all payments received - Open a separate bank account for this income if possible (makes everything cleaner) - Set aside 30% of each payment for taxes immediately - Plan to file your own return using Schedule C with "Digital Content Creation" as the business type The privacy concern is totally valid, and filing independently is absolutely the right approach. Your parents can still claim you as a dependent, and you maintain complete control over your business information. One last tip: consider this an opportunity to learn about taxes and financial independence. These skills will serve you well beyond college, and handling your own taxes is an important adulting milestone anyway!

I've been helping students navigate these exact tax situations for years, and I want to address the most important points clearly: **You MUST report this income** - Period. The $600 threshold only determines when payment apps send 1099-K forms, but you're legally required to report all income regardless of amount or source. **Privacy solution**: File your own complete tax return including both your W-2 and Schedule C (self-employment) income. Use "Digital Content Creation" as your business category - it's legitimate and appropriately vague. Check the box indicating someone else can claim you as a dependent so your parents keep their deduction while you maintain complete privacy. **Immediate action items**: - Start tracking every payment NOW (date, amount, platform) - Set aside 30% of each payment for taxes (you'll owe both income tax and self-employment tax) - Consider opening a separate account for this income - Track business expenses (phone, internet, equipment, props) **The good news**: You can deduct legitimate business expenses against this income, and filing independently doesn't affect your parents' ability to claim you as a dependent or education credits. Don't let anxiety about taxes keep you from being compliant. The IRS doesn't care what you're selling - they just want their share. Handle this properly now and you'll avoid much bigger problems later.