Plain-English tax education for 1099 workers, independent contractors, and self-employed freelancers. Updated for 2026.
Why a locum needs only about 5% more profit than a $300,000 salary to take home the same pay, the per-shift rate that matches a job, what benefits add, and how QBI can put married locums ahead. With a calculator.
Read the guide →South Carolina, Georgia, Utah, Arkansas and West Virginia cut rates retroactively in 2026. The new rates, what each cut is worth, and how to fix estimated payments made at the old rate.
Read the guide →What side income adds to your tax bill at each salary level, why it is taxed at your top bracket, and whether to pay through your W-4 or in quarterly payments.
Read the guide →The three taxes stacked on 1099 income, effective rates from $10,000 to $300,000, the $400 filing rule, and a $75,000 contractor's return worked line by line.
Read the guide →Why the "30% rule" is wrong at both ends — the exact set-aside percentage by income, state and filing status, with weekly and monthly dollar amounts and the safe-harbor rule.
Read the guide →Only some 1099s carry the 15.3% self-employment tax. How every common 1099 is taxed in 2026, the new $2,000 and $20,000 thresholds, and which forms belong in a 1099 calculator.
Read the guide →The complete breakdown of how 1099 taxes work — self-employment tax, federal income tax, state taxes, quarterly payments, and the top deductions most freelancers miss.
Read the guide →All four IRS quarterly tax deadlines for 2026, the penalty for missing them, and the easiest systems for making sure you pay on time every quarter.
Read the guide →Every deductible expense freelancers can claim — home office, mileage at 72.5¢ rising to 76¢, equipment, software, health insurance, and retirement — with real dollar savings shown.
Read the guide →How much more tax a 1099 contractor pays on the same income, why it takes 7.5% more profit to match a salary's take-home, what benefits add, and the hourly rate that matches a job.
Read the guide →IRS Direct Pay walkthrough, EFTPS setup for automated payments, IRS2Go guide, and comparison of all payment methods — free vs. fee-based.
Read the guide →Side-by-side comparison of the two best retirement accounts for freelancers — 2026 contribution limits, tax savings by income level, and a clear winner at each bracket.
Read the guide →Free 1099 tax calculator — all 50 states, 2026 rates, no signup required.
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