Every tax, entity, retirement, and platform guide CeoCult has filed for the self-incorporated. Reviewed by an enrolled agent or former tax preparer before publication.
Profession-specific deductions for writers, designers, photographers, consultants, and developers. The write-offs unique to your freelance field.
How much to save for taxes as a 1099 contractor: 25-40% depending on income and state. Exact breakdowns for federal, SE tax, and state with real examples.
File freelance taxes step-by-step: Schedule C, Schedule SE, quarterly payments, and every form you need. Includes which deductions to claim and common errors.
2026 due dates, how to calculate your payment, 3 ways to pay the IRS, and the penalty for missing. Step-by-step guide every 1099 worker needs.
Q2 estimated taxes due June 16, 2026. Exactly how to calculate your payment, 3 ways to pay the IRS, and the penalty rate if you miss the deadline.
Every deduction for 1099 workers, freelancers, and sole proprietors. Plain-English explanations, real dollar amounts, and the deductions most people miss.
Plain-English walkthrough of IRS Schedule C. Every line explained, the 5 most common mistakes, and how it connects to your 1040 tax return.
SE tax is 15.3% on net profit (12.4% Social Security + 2.9% Medicare). 2026 wage base, step-by-step calculation, and 5 ways to legally reduce it.
The Corporate Transparency Act timeline, the March 2025 FinCEN exemption for US LLCs, and what foreign-formed entities still owe. Plain-English 2026 update.
How to get an EIN free from the IRS in one online session. Who needs one, the SS-4 steps, responsible-party rules, lost-EIN recovery, and EIN vs SSN vs ITIN.
Owner's draws, guaranteed payments, and S-Corp salary + distributions explained with real numbers. Step-by-step instructions and the tax math for each method.
LLC vs sole prop compared on taxes, liability protection, and costs ($50-$500 to form). Real scenarios showing when to switch and when to stay put.
S-Corp election saves $5K-$15K/year in SE tax at $100K+ profit. The $40K rule, real savings math, compliance costs, and when to stay a standard LLC.
An EIN is a free IRS tax ID. Get one in 5 minutes online. When freelancers must have an EIN, when it is optional, and 3 reasons to get one anyway.
Every FBA deduction for 2026: referral fees, FBA fees, software (Helium 10, A2X), home office, PPC spend, shipping, and more. With real dollar amounts.
Complete FBA tax guide: referral fees, fulfillment fees, multi-state nexus from FBA warehouses, 1099-K rules, and every deduction that reduces your bill.
Complete Etsy tax guide: fee breakdown, 1099-K threshold ($20K/200 transactions), every deduction, quarterly taxes, and sales tax rules. All Etsy-specific.
1099-K threshold reverted to $20,000/200 transactions under OBBBA. Why your form amount looks wrong, what to report, and exactly how to file correctly.
The IRS 9-factor test and 3-of-5 profit rule explained. Hobby status blocks all deductions. Real examples showing how online sellers should classify.
Simplified method ($5/sq ft, max $1,500) vs actual expenses compared. Which saves online sellers more, what qualifies, and how to calculate both methods.
Every deduction for online sellers: COGS, platform fees, shipping, home office, advertising, and 15+ more. With real dollar amounts to estimate your savings.
No platform withholds your taxes. 2026 due dates, how much to set aside (25-40%), safe harbor rules to avoid penalties, and 3 ways to pay the IRS.
Economic nexus thresholds by state, marketplace facilitator laws, and when YOU must collect sales tax vs when the platform handles it. Clear rules for 2026.
When you owe taxes on personal sales and when you do not. How to prove a loss, handle a 1099-K for personal items, and report correctly on your return.
Unlike marketplaces, Shopify sellers handle their own sales tax. Complete guide: nexus rules, payment fees, 1099-K, and every deduction to lower your bill.
SE tax is 15.3% on net profit up to $184,500 in 2026. Exact calculation formula, who pays it, and 5 legal ways to reduce your self-employment tax bill.
Every deduction for Flex drivers in 2026: mileage ($0.70/mile), phone, equipment, and delivery-specific write-offs. With real dollar savings estimates.
Every DoorDash driver deduction for 2026: mileage ($0.70/mile), hot bags, phone, car expenses, and more. Real dollar savings with IRS-compliant write-offs.
Every deduction for Instacart shoppers: mileage ($0.70/mile), phone, insulated bags, and more. Real dollar savings with full-service vs in-store differences.
TikTok Creator Fund, LIVE gifts, brand deals, and TikTok Shop income are all taxable. 1099 forms, SE tax, deductions, and quarterly payment deadlines explained.
Every deduction for rideshare drivers: mileage ($0.70/mile), phone, car washes, supplies, and more. Real dollar amounts with the 2026 IRS mileage rate.
ACA marketplace, COBRA, health shares, and spouse's plan compared for freelancers. Real costs, the 100% tax deduction most miss, and how to choose.
How the medical expense deduction works in 2026: the 7.5%-of-AGI threshold, what qualifies, prescriptions and premiums, the self-employed health insurance deduction, and HSA/FSA no-double-dip rules.
Contribution comparison at 6 income levels ($50K-$300K). Solo 401(k) wins under $200K. How to open each account and the exact math behind the decision.
QuickBooks vs Xero vs Wave vs FreshBooks vs Zoho vs Bench vs Pilot vs Patriot ranked for single-member, multi-member, and S-corp-elected LLCs in 2026.
QuickBooks vs Wave vs FreshBooks vs Xero vs Craftybase compared for Etsy, Amazon, eBay, and Shopify sellers. Real pricing from $0/mo and feature breakdown.
QuickBooks SE, FreshBooks, Wave (free), Xero, Zoho Books, and Bench compared on price, features, tax prep integration, and ease of use for freelancers.
6 no-fee business bank accounts compared: Mercury, Relay, Novo, Bluevine, Found, and Lili. Ranked by APY, tax features, and accounting integrations.
6 best tax filing options for freelancers and 1099 workers ranked. Real pricing, Schedule C support, audit protection, and which is worth the upgrade.
Documents lenders require, how they calculate self-employed income (it is lower than you think), minimum 2 years history, and tips to boost approval odds.
The practical system for tracking freelance expenses: best apps, IRS categories, receipt organization, and the method that saves hours at tax time.
California freelancers owe 35-40% of net income: 15.3% SE tax + federal + up to 13.3% state tax. Exact math, quarterly deadlines, and deductions to reduce it.
Florida freelancers save on state tax but still owe 25-28% federal: 15.3% SE tax + income tax. Exact math by income level plus 2026 quarterly deadlines.
NYC freelancers owe 35-38%: 15.3% SE tax + federal + NY state (10.9%) + NYC tax (3.876%). Exact math, Freelance Isn't Free Act, and 2026 deadlines.
The pass-through entity tax (PTET) SALT-cap workaround in 2026: which states offer it, how the election mechanically works, when the math beats the deduction, and which states have ended their programs.
Texas freelancers save on state tax but still owe 25-28% federal: 15.3% SE tax + income tax. Exact math by income level plus 2026 quarterly deadlines.
The Section 199A qualified business income deduction in 2026: who qualifies, where the phase-in starts, why specified service trades phase out faster, and how W-2 wages and UBIA caps work above the line.
How US persons living and earning abroad in 2026 report foreign income: the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion thresholds, when to choose Foreign Tax Credit instead, the FBAR and Form 8938 filing tests, and the dual-status traps that catch first-year expats.
How creators with brand, ad, and licensing income legally split operations across multiple LLCs in 2026: the IP holding shell, the operating LLC, S-corp election layering, and the transfer-pricing and reasonable-comp landmines.
TCJA's section 174 R&E capitalization rule forces software companies to amortize R&D over 5 years (domestic) or 15 years (foreign). The 2026 status, legislative fix prospects, and the practical tax-cash-flow consequences for founders.
How owners of pass-through businesses can use IRC section 280A(g) to rent their personal residence to their own company for up to 14 days a year tax-free, the documentation that holds up at audit, and the fair-market-rent and business-purpose lines the IRS draws.