Building an Expert Witness Side Practice: Retainers, Rates, and the Bookkeeping Behind Testimony Income
Expert witnesses earn $245–$500+/hr with retainers up front; report 1099-NEC income on Schedule C and pay IRS quarterly estimates.
#self-employment-tax
Self-Employment Tax
Self-employment tax rules, calculations, and strategies for business owners
Freelance Interpreter Taxes: Your Agency 1099 Is Not Your Tax Bill
Agency 1099s report gross pay with zero withholding — the IRS still wants income tax plus 15.3% self-employment tax. Set aside 25–30% per job.
Real Estate Wholesaling in 2026: Assignment Fees, State Disclosure Laws, and Bookkeeping for Deals That Never Close in Your Name
Wholesale assignment fees are IRS ordinary income on Schedule C plus 15.3% SE tax, and 2026 state disclosure laws can void deals missing written notice.
Session Musician Taxes and Bookkeeping: Union Scale, Buyouts, 1099s, Royalties, and Deductions
Gig pay lands on 1099-NEC, royalties on 1099-MISC, and the IRS taxes it all. US guide to scale vs. buyouts, fund payouts, and session deductions.
The Kill Fee Clause Every Freelancer Contract Needs
A fair kill fee is 25% before kickoff or completed work plus 25–50% of the rest mid-project — and every retained dollar is Schedule C income.
Joint Venture Bookkeeping: Capital Accounts, Profit Splits, and Partnership Tax Filing
The IRS treats most joint ventures as partnerships: keep separate books, track capital accounts, and file Form 1065 by March 15.
Lay Shares and Settlement Sheets: How Fishing Vessel Operators Pay Crew and Handle Crewmember Taxes
Share-paid fishing crew are self-employed under IRC Section 3121(b)(20) — but one guaranteed day rate voids it. Report every share in Form 1099-MISC Box 5.
Self-Employment Tax Pricing: How to Build the 15.3% Into Your Rates
US self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit — about 14.1% effective. Price it in with a five-step rate formula, not salary divided by 2,080.
Furniture Flipping Isn't a Hobby to the IRS: A Reseller's Guide to COGS, Mileage, and the 2026 1099-K Rules
Flipping furniture is a Schedule C business, not a hobby: deduct per-piece COGS and 2026's split IRS mileage rate; expect no 1099-K under $20,000/200 sales.
Sheep Farm Bookkeeping: Breeding Flock vs. Market Lambs, Wool Checks, and the Enterprise Budget That Tells You If Ewes Pay
Cull ewes held over 12 months qualify for Section 1231 gain on Form 4797 — not Schedule F — skipping self-employment tax.
Comet Plus Pays Publishers 80% of AI Search Revenue: How to Book Your First Payout as Variable Royalty Income
Comet Plus pays publishers 80% of subscription revenue as usage-based royalties — book it when the statement settles, and expect IRS Schedule C, not Schedule E.
Hiring Your Spouse for a Section 105 HRA: Deducting Family Medical Bills
A one-employee Section 105 HRA lets a sole proprietor deduct the family's medical spend — premiums included — against income and self-employment tax.