Where to report income from subscriptions to my Substack newsletter

Generally, a hobby is something done more for enjoyment than an intent to earn money.  To enter your hobby income:

• Once in your tax return, click on Federal Taxes tab
• Choose Wages and Income
• Scroll down to Less Common Income and click Start to right of Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C
• Click Start to right of Hobby income and expenses**

If you received a 1099-K for hobby income, click this link.

**As a hobby, you are not allowed any deductions from this income for the years 2018-2025.  The IRS doesn't allow you to deduct hobby expenses from hobby income, you must claim all hobby income and are not permitted to reduce that income by any expenses.

4 Tax Tips for Money Making Hobbies

Tax Tips for Content Creators

Keep records if your hobby becomes more of a business than a recreational pursuit.  Business owners typically use Schedule C to report profits and losses and to deduct a broad range of deductions not available to hobbyists. The IRS might consider your hobby a business when any or all of the following apply:

• The things you do to run your hobby-business, like hiring knowledgeable employees and advertising, point to your intent to make a profit.
• You earn your livelihood from the hobby.
• You've made a profit for at least three of the past five years.
• You hope to make a profit from some of your business assets down the road, like animals for breeding.
• You've made a profit from a similar business in the past.

Because the responsibility is on you to show that your hobby-business is entitled to business tax breaks, keeping detailed records will come in handy in case the IRS asks you to substantiate that you have a business rather than a hobby.