MoveMentors is not a tax preparer and doesn't give tax advice. This article is a practical overview of what tax reporting looks like for hosts on the platform. For advice about your own situation, talk to an accountant.
The short version
- Card payments through Stripe: Stripe handles the official reporting it's required to do, such as the 1099-K in the US.
- Payments made to you directly (cash, bank transfer, PayPal and so on): you keep track of them and report them yourself.
- MoveMentors: gives you your booking records and a CSV export, but doesn't issue tax forms. We never hold your money, so we don't report your income.
1099-K (US)
Card payments go to your own Stripe account, so if you're a US host, Stripe sends you a 1099-K for a year in which your card payments pass the IRS reporting threshold. Some states have lower thresholds than the federal one.
The thresholds have changed several times in recent years. Stripe's tax pages and your accountant have the current figures.
What the 1099-K shows
- Your total card payments on Stripe for the year, before fees and refunds.
- Your name, address and tax ID, and Stripe's.
That total is NOT your income. You still subtract:
- Stripe's fees.
- Refunds you sent.
- Business expenses.
- Other deductions.
The 1099-K is what Stripe reported to the IRS; you reconcile against it on your tax return.
Where to find it
In your own Stripe Dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com, where Stripe keeps your tax documents. They're usually available in January for the previous year.
What if Stripe got my information wrong
Update your address or tax ID in your Stripe Dashboard. If your 1099-K shows the wrong amount, contact Stripe support; we can't change Stripe's records.
Hosts outside the US
What Stripe reports, and to whom, depends on your country. In most countries you're responsible for reporting your income from classes yourself. Your Stripe Dashboard has the records you need: payments, refunds, fees and payouts. Ask your accountant what applies where you live.
Payments made to you directly
Bank transfers, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Wise, cash and crypto don't go through MoveMentors or Stripe, so no tax form comes from us for them.
You're responsible for tracking these payments and reporting the income.
What MoveMentors gives you
On Pro and Premium, your Financials page at /mentor/financials shows your earnings and expenses for any time window, and Export CSV downloads your bookings as a spreadsheet. It includes, for each booking:
- The session date and class.
- The amount and tip, with currency.
- The payment method, and whether the booking is paid (card payments count as paid automatically, other methods once you click Mark paid).
- The booking status.
Hand it to your accountant, or check it against your bank and payment app statements. See Exporting your earnings to CSV.
Personal transfers are still income
Money you receive for teaching is income, however it was sent: a personal transfer in a payment app, a bank transfer or cash. Payment apps may also report payments to tax authorities under their own rules.
The safe path: report all your income, whatever the method.
VAT and sales tax
This is separate from income tax.
VAT (EU and UK)
If your income passes your country's VAT registration threshold, you may need to register and charge VAT on your classes.
MoveMentors doesn't add VAT to prices. If you charge VAT, include it in your class price and pay it to the tax authority yourself.
Sales tax (US)
Whether classes are subject to sales tax depends on your state. In most states, movement classes aren't taxed, but some states tax some fitness services. Check your state, or ask an accountant. If you need to collect sales tax, include it in your price.
GST (Australia and elsewhere)
Similar pattern. If your income passes the threshold, you may need to register for GST.
Deductions for hosts
Expenses hosts commonly deduct against their teaching income:
- Studio rent.
- Insurance (liability, equipment).
- Continuing education (workshops, trainings, retreats you attend as a learner).
- Supplies (mats, blocks, music subscriptions and so on).
- Marketing (ads, business cards, your website).
- Software, including your MoveMentors plan.
- Travel to teach (driving to a venue, accommodation for retreats).
- Part of your home costs if you teach from home.
Keep a record of each. On Pro and Premium, you can log expenses on your Financials page; see Financials and expenses.
Quarterly estimated taxes (US)
Self-employed teachers are usually expected to pay estimated tax each quarter rather than all at once in April. Whether you need to depends on how much tax you'll owe. Your accountant can tell you, and help you decide how much of your income to set aside.
Year-end checklist for hosts
January to March:
- Download your 1099-K from Stripe (if you got one).
- Export your full-year bookings CSV from MoveMentors.
- Check it against your bank and payment app statements.
- Gather your expenses.
- Hand it all to your accountant.
- File by your country's deadline (April 15 in the US).
Common questions
Will MoveMentors send me a 1099? No. We never hold or pay out your money: card payments go through your own Stripe account, and other payments come to you directly. Stripe issues your 1099-K for card payments if one is due.
My 1099-K shows a different amount from what I think I made. Why? A few common reasons:
- The 1099-K shows your total card payments before fees and refunds.
- It only covers card payments through Stripe, not cash or other direct payments.
- The dates can differ: a payment counts when it was made, not when it reached your bank.
Your Stripe Dashboard's reports show payments, refunds and fees side by side, which helps you reconcile.
Can you give me a write-off recommendation? No. We don't give tax advice. An accountant can.
Where do I send 1099s to my own contractors (an assistant, for example)? That's separate from MoveMentors. If you pay contractors yourself, you file the forms for them; your accountant or accounting software can help.
Next steps
- Financials and expenses: tracking your earnings and expenses.
- Stripe Connect explained: how card payments reach you.