Will I be audited for reporting housekeeping side income without a 1099?

You did the right thing by reporting your side income, even without receiving a 1099. The IRS actually appreciates when taxpayers voluntarily report income rather than hiding it. The fact that you received your refund quickly is generally a good sign, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're completely in the clear. The IRS has up to 3 years from the filing date to audit a return, though most audits happen within 2 years. That said, your situation is pretty common and relatively low risk. You reported a modest amount of self-employment income and took reasonable vehicle deductions. The additional tax credit increase resulting from your self-employment income is also normal - that's just how the tax code works for certain credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. The IRS typically focuses audit resources on higher-income taxpayers with complex returns or those with unusual patterns that trigger their automated screening systems. Your return sounds straightforward and honest.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I had some self-employment income from tutoring that I reported without any 1099s. I was stressing about it for months until I found https://taxr.ai which helped me understand my audit risk. Their AI analyzed my specific situation (income levels, deductions, credits) and explained I was actually low-risk. It also showed me exactly what documentation I needed to keep just in case, which made me feel SO much better prepared. Might be worth checking out if you're still worried - they can assess your specific situation much better than general advice. The tool also explained how the credits worked with self-employment income, which helped me understand why my refund was higher than expected (just like yours). Totally normal apparently!

Just wanted to update everyone - I decided to try taxr.ai after my earlier question. Honestly really helpful! It walked me through my specific situation (I had unreported stock sales I was worried about) and showed me my actual risk level was medium-low, not the "definitely getting audited" scenario I'd built up in my head. The best part was it explained exactly WHY certain things on my return might attract attention and what documentation I should keep handy. Gave me specific action items instead of just general anxiety. Plus it explained some tax concepts I've never really understood before. Way more helpful than the random conflicting advice I was getting from friends!

I'm seeing people talking about audit risk, but honestly your bigger problem might be actually getting someone at the IRS if they do have questions! I filed with similar self-employment income and the IRS sent me a letter asking for clarification, but I couldn't get through on their phone lines for WEEKS. Finally found https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes after I'd wasted days trying on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c If you do get any notices (hopefully you won't!), this is way better than the endless hold music and disconnections. The agent I talked to actually resolved my issue in one call and I avoided potential penalties by addressing it quickly.

Well I was definitely skeptical about Claimyr when I first commented, but I actually ended up using it a week later when I got a CP2000 notice about missing income. I tried calling the IRS for two full days - kept getting disconnected or told to call back due to high call volume. Finally gave up and tried the service. Not gonna lie, I was shocked when I got a call back with an actual IRS agent on the line about 20 minutes later. Resolved my issue in one call instead of stressing about it for weeks. The agent even helped me set up a payment plan. For anyone in a similar situation - sometimes you need to admit when something is worth it rather than suffering through principle alone. Lesson learned.

I don't think you'll get audited for this. The amount is pretty small and you actually reported it correctly. Most people in your situation wouldn't even bother reporting cash income from housekeeping! The IRS is way more concerned with people hiding big money than with folks like you who are trying to do the right thing. My sister did house cleaning for years and never got a 1099, always reported it, and never had issues.

Something nobody mentioned yet - the threshold for requiring a 1099 was $600 for 2023. Since you earned $4200 from these jobs, technically your clients SHOULD have given you 1099s if you earned more than $600 from any single one of them. But that's on them, not you! You did your part by reporting the income correctly. I'd just make sure you keep some basic records of who paid you and when, just in case questions ever come up. Even simple notes or a spreadsheet would be helpful.

Hey Alexis! I totally understand your anxiety - I went through something similar a few years ago with freelance graphic design work. The good news is that you did everything right by reporting the income honestly, even without 1099s. Your situation is actually pretty textbook for what the IRS considers "compliant taxpayer behavior." You reported income that you weren't even required to have documentation for, took reasonable business deductions, and filed on time. The fact that your return was processed quickly and you received your refund is definitely a positive sign. The $450 increase in your tax credit is completely normal - that's just how the math works out when you have self-employment income that qualifies for certain credits. Nothing suspicious about that at all. As for audit risk, with your income level and straightforward situation, you're statistically very unlikely to be selected. The IRS audits less than 1% of returns with income under $25,000, and yours sounds like it has all the right documentation and reasonable numbers. Just keep your records (receipts, mileage logs, client payment records) for at least 3 years in case you ever need them. But honestly, you can probably stop worrying about this one!