My daughter is a full time music student. She played a few gigs and got paid for them. A few were for the University she is attending and for those she received a 1099-MISC. She does not have a "business" but it seems that is how we have to approach the reporting of that income on her taxes. Is that correct? Also, where on the tax forms would she report the other gig money she received from individuals and or churches?

1099-misc (nonemployee compensation) income: You must file your tax return if yourself employed income is $400 or more. You will report your income and business related expenses on schedule C or C-EZ (Form 1040). Then you put net income (or loss) on line 12 of Form 1040. This income is subject to SE tax at 15.3% (this is shown on line 57 of Form 1040).

Even though schedule C treats you as a self employed, which may not be correct for you, this is how you must report this income. Your U.S. Tax Return: Tax Filing by Self Employed Sole Proprietor or Independent Contractor (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/04/tax-filing-by-self-employed-sole.html)