Do you always have to file a 1099?

Question

I'm a full time secretary in a building that has other businesses in it. Well, my day wasn't always completely full so I did some secretarial services for other businesses in the building. Well, I never thought about them giving me a 1099 because I really didn't do that much work for either of them. I did about $600 of work for one company about 4 or $500 for the other in a years time. Now both companies I did work for are giving me a 1099. Do you always have to file it? I mean like if its under a certain amount of money or something. I was counting on my tax return but now am I going to have to pay a lot? I don't know anything about this stuff...........?help?

Answer 1

Yes, you must claim that income. You'll also have to pay the self employment tax (15.3%) on it as well as any income taxes.