Taxes and Paid Surveys

Do you have to pay taxes on survey earnings?  That depends on where you live.  In the US, there is a law that once you have made six hundred dollars on a survey site, that site must send you a tax form.  And then you do have to file.  The smartest thing to do is to keep a good record of your earnings.  Don't spend all your earnings if you plan on making alot in case you do have to pay something on it.  Keep receipts of anything you might be able to take off on your taxes.  You might be able to take off your phone/internet bill, since you use it to do the surveys.  Computer repairs, car gas to buy computer supplies, any office type supplies like paper, pens.  Computer supplies like backup discs. 

If you do get hit with a tax form, make an appointment with a local accountant and make sure you have all this stuff to show. 

There are some advantages to filing taxes on the earnings.  In some states, if you get a rent rebate, they will give you more if you show you made some money.  Earnings also count toward your Social Security, since you are showing that you worked, even self employed. 

If you are going into doing paid surveys as a self employed home business, which you really can do, you can even get a tax ID and self incorporate, have your own little home company name.  It really just depends on what you want to do.  There can be fees for incorporating, so you might want to wait till you have earned enough.  Just remember to document everything you're doing.