<prompt> Human: I asked this in another sub but was advised to ask here...Thought maybe I could receive some more information from people who may know more about this than I do, thanks!So, Ive been babysitting a neighbors child for about 6-7 weeks now at 20day, 2-3 days a week. She is now claiming to need my SSN for her taxes, I guess to claim daycare expenses. The thing is...I dont know her very well at all and I dont feel comfortable giving her my full name and SSN. She is claiming she cannot do her taxes without it and that I have to give it to her because Im providing her childcare services. When she first came to me I thought I was just doing this as a favor to her not for her to try to claim on her taxes. At the 20 a day that we agreed upon, if you do the math with the amount of hours I provide for her she is technically only paying me 2-3 an hour. And I only started babysitting for her somewhere around December 20, 2017. So not even the whole 2017 tax year. I dont understand why she would be claiming the little bit of money she has paid me so far. Altogether she has paid me around 200 total for the last 6-7 weeks. But Im starting to think she may be trying to claim that she has paid me more and that is why she is so adamant about needing my SSN. Anyway, my question is am I legally obligated to provide her with my SSN? And if I dont will I be in the wrong in this situation?Assistant: You are likely correct that she is trying to claim child care expenses. As far as the legality, If you dont, I dont think she can claim them. She does have to give you a 1099 though, so you can see if she is claiming more than she paid you. To top it off, you also have to claim what she paid you as income you should be anywayHuman: So for the 2017 year she only actually paid me about 60-80 because I started babysitting for her on December 20. I had no idea I would have to declare the little bit of cash she is paying me bi-weekly. So if she does claim me on her taxes SHE has to provide me with a 1099? Or do I have to go fill out a 1099? By law do I have to fill.out a 1099 for such a small amount of money??Assistant: I mean, technically you have to fill out a 1099 for as little as 10. I misread and didnt realize she only paid you under 100, if it was 600 SHE would have to fill it out. So yeah youre supposed to full out a 1099-MISC. If you dont feel comfortable giving her your SSN, you should terminate your relationship with her. Cant really tell you to commit tax fraud, you are technically running your own business and getting paid for your time at an amount you agreed on, so you do need to report the 60-80 especially if it wasnt a cash transaction. If shes going to claim more, thats her problem if she gets auditedHuman: All of our transactions have been cash. She pays me every 2 weeks when she gets paid in cash. No receipts or anything. Ive actually been advised by others to just stop babysitting for her so as not to get screwed over in the long run. I genuinely did not know that babysitting with cash transactions was something that would have to be claimeddeclared on taxes. And this is turning out to be more trouble than it is worth.Assistant: I genuinely did not know that babysitting with cash transactions was something that would have to be claimeddeclared on taxes.Heres the thing. Everything is supposed to be reported. If I give you 20 to mow my lawn thats supposed to be reported, is it, not usually. This woman really does sound like its not worth it, but dont think you cant do stuff for neighbors. I think I saw on this threat to look into getting an EIN, that might work. 80 of cash transactions likely isnt going to result in much of a change in her return and since she has no way of proving anything all cash no recipts just tell her the relationship is over, apologize, and ghost her.Human: This is exactly why Im so confused as to why she is even claiming this on her taxes. We have dealt in cash only over the course of the last 6 weeks. She gives me no receipt and I dont give any receipts. She doesnt even know most weeks how much she actually even owes me, she will text me hey how much do I owe you for babysitting? And I keep track of it all in a notebook so I tell her then she comes over within a couple days and pays me cash. Its very casual, not professional at all. Which is why Im confused as to why she would be claiming it on taxes at all? I think she may just want to get that extra tax credit for childcare expenses, and Im worried it will come back to bite me in the ass if I dont file taxes or it will affect my husbands tax return.  <response>: You HAVE to report this income, regardless of what she does though. There is not its informal, I dont have to pay taxes on it category with the IRS. Thats what we are trying to tell you. You cant just ignore this now, you have already worked and been paid, you have to report it. Especially if you are about to piss her off, she has a reason to report you to the IRS now. 