Plain-language guides on self-employment taxes, quarterly payments, deductions, and more.
The write-offs freelancers miss most: phone, software, home office, mileage and more. A 12-item checklist plus worked numbers showing each dollar deducted saves about 35 cents in combined federal tax.
How Shipt reports your earnings on a 1099-NEC, how to claim the mileage deduction, a full SE tax worked example at $42,000, and how to calculate quarterly payments on variable delivery income.
Sequential numbering systems, net terms, late fee language and the eight fields every invoice needs to make your Schedule C self-proving at year-end.
How Rover classifies sitters, what the 1099-NEC shows versus what lands in your account, deductible supplies and mileage, and how to handle quarterly payments as your bookings grow.
The seven commingling mistakes that quietly lose freelancers deductions, hours, and audit defense, plus a one-afternoon checklist to set up a business checking account, business credit card, and weekly bookkeeping habit.
How to actually open a Solo 401(k) in 2026: the six steps, where to do it (Fidelity and Schwab are the main options; Vanguard stopped new applications in 2023), key deadlines, and what to do once the account is open.
How an S-Corp election reduces self-employment tax by splitting income into salary and distributions. Real numbers at $120k, $150k, and $200k, plus the overhead costs that determine whether it actually saves you money.
Income thresholds, consistency requirements, state-level fees, Form 2553 timing, and the key signals that tell you when the S-Corp switch makes financial sense, and when to wait another year.
Complete 2026 tax guide for Upwork freelancers: how the 1099-K reconciles with the platform fee, a full worked example on $68k gross revenue, what remote freelancers can deduct, and 6 things Upwork never tells you about taxes.
A before-and-after comparison: on $120,000 of net SE income, maxing a Solo 401(k) shelters $51,381 and saves nearly $11,000 in federal income taxes. Real math, multiple income levels, and what the plan doesn't change.
Complete tax guide for Fiverr sellers: how the 1099-K works, a full worked example on $55k gross revenue, what platform fees and software costs you can deduct, quarterly payment rules, and 5 costly mistakes to avoid.
The two-bucket system explained: employee elective deferrals ($23,500), employer profit-sharing (up to 25% of net SE income), a full worked example on $95k net income, and the deadline rules that trip people up every year.
A complete 2026 guide for Airbnb hosts: the 14-day rule, Schedule C vs E, depreciation, and a case study following a host who earns $24,000 renting a spare bedroom, with the full tax breakdown.
2026 deep dive on the Solo 401(k): why it beats a SEP-IRA, the two-bucket structure, $70,000 contribution cap, a worked example on $90k net SE income, and the December 31 deadline that catches new freelancers.
Complete tax guide for Instacart shoppers: full-service vs. in-store classification, mileage deductions, worked example on $30k gross income, and 5 tax mistakes to avoid.
Post-tax-season reset: review what you owed, set your Q2 payment target with worked examples, organize your records, review your rate, and avoid 5 common post-filing mistakes.
Three tasks, three days: pay your Q1 2026 estimated taxes, file or extend your 2025 return, and consider a last-minute SEP-IRA contribution. A step-by-step action guide with worked examples.
Lyft-specific tax guide covering income reporting, deductible expenses (mileage, phone, car costs), quarterly estimated payments, and how to avoid underpayment penalties.
Home office, health insurance premiums, professional subscriptions, and the SE tax deduction itself. Make sure you are not leaving money on the table before April 15.
How DoorDash reports your income, what Dashers can deduct (mileage, hot bags, phone), how to calculate quarterly payments, and how to avoid an April tax surprise.
April 15 is two weeks away. Learn what a tax extension actually does, when it makes sense for freelancers, and the critical difference between filing late and paying late.
Complete tax guide for Uber drivers: 1099-K and 1099-NEC income, mileage deduction (standard vs. actual), quarterly payments, and key deductions.
Step-by-step formulas for calculating your Q1 payment before April 15. Covers the safe harbor rules, a worked example, and how to handle combined W-2 and 1099 income.
Q1 is due April 15. Learn how the quarterly system works, what triggers the underpayment penalty, and how the safe harbor rules protect you.
No employer safety net, no automatic withholding, and no one setting aside taxes on your behalf. How to reframe your relationship with money as a self-employed worker.
Who needs to pay quarterly, how underpayment penalties work, and how to use the SE tax calculator as an ongoing planning tool throughout the year.