Not sure what to do in this situation

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Peppers123

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So I live in California, and our schools are closed and they have online learning, and my moms friend can’t hear very well plus shes responsible for her 3 grandkids who are very young so I came to help them with their school work. I was gonna file as a independent contractor since I think its ridiculous to charge them 12 dollars an hour when that could easily be a huge chunk of their income but I still wanted to pay taxes. I found out legally I cant qualify as a independent contractor, so Im not quite sure what to do. This person really needs my help, but im sure they cant afford that much. I would try to not take money but i know that wont work, and I think its sinful to be paid under the table.
 
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This is a question for a tax advisor. We are not allowed to give legal advice.

I would question the notion that a teen can’t have their own tutoring business. Perhaps your parents have a tax preparer?
 
Peppers123 said:
legally I cant qualify as a independent contractor
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I wonder if this is an issue of definitions. “Contractor” is one of those words that seems simple on the surface but has different meanings (and often different requirements) in different contexts, such as someone with a side job as a freelance tutor vs. a person that is in a building trade. A competent tax advisor, as @1ke suggested, should be able to help clear up that sort of thing.
 
Why can’t you qualify as an independent contractor?

Why can’t you qualify as a tutor?

If you are referring to the CA law changes that went into effect late last year, you can ignore that as your reason for not being an independent contractor.

The lady who would be paying you isn’t in the business of hiring tutors for her grandchildren. She isn’t going to be telling you how to teach/tutor her grandkids, since if she was she wouldn’t need you. There won’t be any prohibition of you using your time while not working at her place of you doing the same thing for someone else’s children, or grandchildren.

You certainly would not be an employee of the lady.
 
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Thank you! sorry guys i meant to ask more of the sinfulness of being paid under the table or considering myself a contractor since its a gray zone not ask for tax advice but for some odd reason i didnt explain it. Sorry!
 
Not a tax adviser, just thinking about your posed question. You are being paid as a babysitter or a plumber would be paid --for services rendered if that’s your worry --so set a set rate you will charge and have a set time you will help --and keep track of the hours and payments made. Treat it like you are a freelancer. I write and get paid but keep track of all I make so I can report it as income (that way you get paid and pay taxes such that you are not deliberately seeking to not render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s).
 
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