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an08 · Dec 3, 2008, 09:43 AM

I'm on H1b visa .Can I still earn some money online doing surveys,though that would be an additional income.Is it illegal to participate in the sweepstakes also which have sometimes money or other products as prizes?

AtlantaTaxExpert · Dec 3, 2008, 10:40 AM

An08:

This is really a LEGAL question which should be posted on the Law forum inder IMMIGRATION LAW.

That said, earning money doing surveys is a technical violation of your H-1B visa. However, the money will NOT be reported to the IRS unless it exceeds $600 for the calendar year. Once that happens, you MUST report it on your tax return and pay the required taxes. The IRS has a paper trail on you once it hits $600 and they WILL come looking for you if you do not report it.

While it IS a minor violation of your visa which, in all likelihood, will be ignored by the USCIS, do you really want to take that chance?

an08 · Dec 3, 2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by AtlantaTaxExpert

An08:

This is really a LEGAL question which should be posted on the Law forum inder IMMIGRATION LAW.

That said, earning money doing surveys is a technical violation of your H-1B visa. However, the money will NOT be reported to the IRS unless it exceeds $600 for the calendar year. Once that happens, you MUST report it on your tax return and pay the required taxes. The IRS has a paper trail on you once it hits $600 and they WILL come looking for you if you do not report it.

While it IS a minor violation of your visa which, in all likelihood, will be ignored by the USCIS, do you really want to take that chance??

I do surveys for very less amount like $10 or $20 from various websites.The total of that is $800 this year from about 10 survey companies.Do I still have to report that in my tax return?and what about sweepstakes?sometimes we partcipate in those also.Is that also illegal?

AtlantaTaxExpert · Dec 3, 2008, 02:33 PM

If the surveys were all done by the same website, they will initiae a Form 1099-MISC that will be sent to you and the IRS, in which case you MUST report the income on Line #21 of Form 1040NR as "other income".

As for the sweepstakes, you can participate in those, no problem.