> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://participanthelp.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://participanthelp.dscout.com/getting-paid/payment-basics/taxes-and-dscout-rewards.md).

# Taxes and Dscout rewards

Since Dscout pays you for your participation and entries in missions, you're considered by the Internal Revenue Service as an independent contractor. If we paid you in the form of a check or cash, we would be required to send you a **1099-MISC tax form** if you've made more than $600 in a given fiscal year.

However, since we use PayPal to send rewards, we are not required to send out any 1099-MISC forms. Instead, PayPal, which acts as our third-party electronic service, is required to send you a **1099-K tax form** if you've met both of the following criteria for calendar years after 2021:

* You've made more than $600 in PayPal transactions from any vendor (including Dscout) in one fiscal year

If you meet these criteria, PayPal will send you a 1099-K tax form to your mailing address as well as making it available to download electronically from your account (learn how to do that [here](https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-do-i-find-my-tax-form-1099-k-in-my-paypal-account-faq919?app=searchAutoComplete)).

In regards to reporting the total money you earned from Dscout in a year, you can simply search your PayPal activity for the year in question and sum any transactions from Dscout to report as additional income when filing your taxes.


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