You're not going to like this question, but...

[Mike Faulkner]

As a self-employed VERY small business owner paying approximately 40% of my profit in income tax every year, I am (understandably) not interested in giving the IRS almost half of the money my tenants will pay for renting a bedroom in my private home where I live.  I'll be paying utilities and my own rent with that money. Yes, I rent and my landlord doesn't care if I sub out my spare room. All of the rent will still come straight out of my checking account. 

My question is simple: Am I wrong in assuming that all rent money in this situation must be reported on my federal tax return as income?

I think I know but I'm hoping I don't. That's the only reason I'm asking. 

I know that now, anything put on Cash App, PayPal, Chime, etc. over $600 per year is automatically reported to the IRS. Thus, I am thinking that at the end of the year, I'm going to have to fork over almost $4k to the IRS in a lump sum. 

Gosh, that makes me sick.