Category Self-Employed

Your first year in business is full of deductible expenses—if you know what to track. Here's how to handle startup costs, organization fees, and early write-offs.

Self-employed workers can contribute far more to retirement than W-2 employees. Here's how SEP-IRAs and Solo 401(k)s work—and how each reduces your tax bill.

The IRS underpayment penalty hits self-employed workers who don't pay enough throughout the year. Here's how it's calculated—and how to avoid it entirely.

Switching to an S-Corp can slash your self-employment tax once you're earning enough. Here's the income threshold, the process, and what it means for your return.

Mixing personal and business finances is one of the most common self-employed mistakes. Here's why a dedicated business account matters—especially at audit time.

Understanding the difference between gross and net income is essential for self-employed taxes. Here's how each number is calculated and why it matters.

Hiring your spouse as an employee can unlock retirement benefits and reduce self-employment tax—but there are rules to follow. Here's the full breakdown.

Tracking expenses consistently is the single best habit a self-employed worker can build. Here's a dead-simple spreadsheet system that works at tax time.