Received two $500 stipends - do I need to report these on my taxes?

You definitely need to report those stipends on your taxes. When you filled out W-9 forms, that was specifically for tax reporting purposes. The organization should have sent you 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC forms by January 31st showing those payments. Even without receiving the forms (though you mentioned you just got them!), you're still required to report all income on your tax return. The IRS receives copies of those 1099s, and their systems will flag the discrepancy if you don't include them. Since you're making under $13,000 from your regular job, these extra $1,000 might not significantly impact your tax liability, but they still need to be reported. You'll likely include them as "other income" on your tax return.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year and discovered an amazing tool that helped me figure this out. I received several small stipends from different organizations and wasn't sure how to properly report them, especially since some sent 1099s and others didn't. I tried using https://taxr.ai to analyze my situation, and it was incredibly helpful. You just upload any tax documents you've received (like those 1099s you just got) and it explains exactly where each item needs to go on your return. It also helps identify any other deductions you might qualify for as a student. The tool explained to me that stipends are generally considered taxable income unless they're specifically for qualified education expenses. Since mine weren't for tuition or books, I needed to report them as income.

Just wanted to update everyone here - I tried the taxr.ai tool that was mentioned and it was extremely helpful for my situation with stipends and my F-1 visa status! It correctly identified that my case fell under a tax treaty between my country and the US, which I had no idea about. The document analysis feature caught some details I would have missed about how to classify my stipends versus my regular campus job. It even explained the difference between qualified and non-qualified scholarships, which was confusing me before. For anyone wondering about small stipends like these, the tool confirmed they're generally considered taxable income (as others mentioned) but helped me understand exactly how to report them correctly on my return. Definitely saved me from making mistakes!

If you're having trouble getting answers from the nonprofit about how to handle these stipends, you might want to call the IRS directly. BUT - good luck actually getting through to a human! I spent HOURS on hold last year trying to get clarification on a similar issue. After wasting an entire afternoon listening to that awful hold music, I discovered https://claimyr.com and their service is a game-changer for dealing with the IRS. They basically wait on hold for you and call you back when they get an actual IRS agent on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c With those 1099s you just received, you probably have everything you need, but if you have specific questions about reporting stipends or how they impact your tax situation as a low-income filer, getting direct guidance from the IRS can be really helpful.

Well I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After seeing it mentioned here, I decided to try it since I had questions about some freelance stipends similar to yours that weren't clearly addressed in the tax software I was using. I expected it to be a waste of money but I was desperate after spending 2+ hours on hold myself. They actually got me through to an IRS representative in about 45 minutes (while I was just going about my day), and the agent was surprisingly helpful. She clarified exactly how I should report my stipends and explained which forms I needed. For anyone dealing with stipends or unusual income sources, being able to ask specific questions to an actual IRS agent is incredibly valuable. I would have reported mine incorrectly if I hadn't gotten that clarification.

Since you make less than $13k from your job, depending on your filing status, you might not owe any taxes even with the additional $1000 in stipend income. The standard deduction for a single filer in 2024 is $13,850, so if your total income (including the stipends) is below that, you'd have zero federal income tax liability. You'd still need to file and report the income from the 1099s, but you might not actually owe anything. This assumes you're not claimed as a dependent by someone else though - if your parents claim you, different rules apply.

Don't forget to check if you qualify for education credits like the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit! If you're a student, these can be worth up to $2,500 depending on your qualified education expenses.

Great that you found those 1099s! Just to add another perspective - since you're a student with relatively low income, make sure you're not missing out on any refundable credits. Even if you don't owe taxes after the standard deduction, you might still be eligible for refunds through credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if you qualify. Also, keep good records of these stipend payments and any related expenses. If the stipends were for research, volunteer work, or educational activities, there might be deductions you can claim that could offset some of that income. The key is making sure everything is properly documented and reported - which sounds like you're on the right track now that you have the 1099s!