Self-Employed & Freelance
31 articles tagged “Self-Employed & Freelance”.
New $10,000 Car Loan Interest Deduction: Does It Help Freelancers Financing a Vehicle?
For nearly 40 years, personal car loan interest has been completely off-limits as a federal tax deduction.
Social Security Wage Base Rises to $184,500 in 2026: What It Means for Your Self-Employment Tax
Every net dollar you earn as a freelancer is subject to the 12.
IRS Mileage Rate Jumps to 76¢ Mid-2026: How to Track Two Rates in One Tax Year
The IRS almost never changes the standard mileage rate mid-year — the last time was 2022.
AI Tools and Software Subscriptions: What Freelancers Can Actually Deduct in 2026
Software subscriptions have quietly become one of the fastest-growing expense categories for freelancers, as AI writing, design, coding, and research tools join the usual stack of invoicing, project management, and cloud storage apps.
Managing Income From Multiple 1099 Platforms: A Freelancer's Guide to Staying Organized at Tax Time
The more platforms and clients you juggle as a freelancer, the more your income arrives in fragments — a 1099-NEC here, a 1099-K there, a handful of payments too small for any form at all.
No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime: Do Self-Employed and Gig Workers Qualify?
Two of the most talked-about pieces of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are the new deductions for tip income and overtime pay — but the rules for who actually qualifies are narrower than the headlines suggest, and self-employed and gig workers need to check the fine print before assuming either one applies to them.
The QBI Deduction Is Now Permanent: What the 2026 Rule Changes Mean for Freelancers
The 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction was one of the biggest tax breaks to come out of the 2017 tax law — and it was scheduled to disappear entirely after 2025.
1099-NEC Reporting Threshold Rises to $2,000 in 2026: What Freelancers and Clients Need to Know
For the first time since 1954, the dollar amount that triggers a 1099 form has moved.
Crypto Taxes for Freelancers Paid in Bitcoin or Stablecoins
What happens at tax time when a client pays your invoice in crypto instead of dollars.
Tax Deadlines Calendar 2027 for Freelancers and Small Business Owners
Every date self-employed taxpayers need on their calendar in one place, from quarterly payments to filing deadlines.
S-Corp Election for Freelancers: When It Actually Lowers Your Tax Bill
The break-even math behind one of the most talked-about — and most overhyped — tax moves for high-earning freelancers.
LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Saves More on Taxes for Freelancers
The tax truth behind a common myth: forming an LLC by itself does not lower your tax bill.
Year-End Tax Checklist for Freelancers: 15 Moves to Make Before December 31
A practical, ordered checklist to lower your tax bill and avoid surprises before the year closes.
Tutor and Online Educator Tax Deductions
What independent tutors and course creators can write off, from teaching materials to platform fees.
Bookkeeper and Accountant Tax Deductions for Solo Practitioners
The specific deductions that apply when the person doing the taxes also has to file their own.
Virtual Assistant Tax Deductions for Home-Based Business Owners
What VAs can write off, from software subscriptions to a portion of the home internet bill.
Consultant Tax Deductions: Travel, Client Meals, and Professional Liability Insurance
The write-offs independent consultants rely on most, and the QBI phase-out rule that makes consulting income different.
Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor Tax Deductions
Certifications, liability insurance, gym rental fees, and the equipment write-offs trainers often miss.
Photographer Tax Deductions: Gear, Editing Software, and Studio Space
From camera bodies to lightroom subscriptions, here's what working photographers can legitimately write off.
Freelance Writer Tax Deductions: Subscriptions, Research, and Home Office
The specific write-offs that apply to freelance writers, from research materials to the software you draft in.
Etsy Seller Tax Deductions: What Handmade Business Owners Can Write Off
From craft supplies to Etsy fees and shipping materials, here is everything handmade sellers can legitimately deduct.
Section 179 vs. Bonus Depreciation: Deducting Equipment Purchases Immediately
Two different ways to write off a laptop, camera, or work vehicle in the year you buy it — and when each one makes more sense.
Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction Explained (Section 199A)
How the 20% pass-through deduction works, who phases out, and the paperwork that keeps it audit-proof.
SEP IRA vs. Solo 401(k) for Freelancers: Which Retirement Account Wins
Self-employed retirement accounts allow contribution limits far beyond a typical employer plan. Here's how to choose between the two most popular options.
Health Insurance Premiums Deduction for the Self-Employed
An above-the-line deduction that quietly saves self-employed taxpayers thousands — if the eligibility rules are met.
Record Keeping for Freelancers: What Receipts to Keep and For How Long
A simple system beats a shoebox of receipts every time. Here's what to save, how long, and how to organize it.
How to Avoid an IRS Audit While Maximizing Reductions
You don't have to under-claim your legitimate deductions to stay off the IRS's radar — you have to document them correctly.
Quarterly Estimated Taxes: A Freelancer's Survival Guide
Four deadlines a year, no employer safety net, and real penalties for guessing wrong. Here is how to stay ahead of all of it.
Self-Employment Tax Explained: What Freelancers Actually Owe
The 15.3% number that surprises every first-year freelancer, broken down piece by piece.
1099 vs. W-2: How Your Tax Deductions Change When You Go Independent
The switch from employee to independent contractor rewrites your entire tax picture. Here is what opens up — and what disappears.
Home Office Deduction Guide for Freelancers: What You Can Actually Write Off
A practical breakdown of the simplified method vs. the regular method, and the exact square-footage math the IRS expects to see.