#self-employment-tax
Self-Employment Tax
Self-employment tax rules, calculations, and strategies for business owners
Single Member LLC: Formation, Taxes, and Liability Protection in 2026
A single member LLC is taxed as a disregarded entity by default but creates the legal separation a sole proprietorship lacks. This guide covers formation steps, the three tax election paths (Schedule C, S-corp via Form 2553, C-corp via Form 8832), and the bookkeeping discipline needed to preserve the liability shield.
From Sole Proprietor to S Corp: When the Switch Pays Off (and When It Backfires)
A sole proprietor netting $100,000 pays roughly $14,130 in self-employment tax that an S corp owner can legally avoid. This guide explains the break-even math, Form 2553 deadlines, reasonable compensation audit triggers, and the annual compliance costs that decide whether the switch actually saves money.
Uber Driver Taxes: The Complete Filing Guide for Rideshare Drivers
How rideshare drivers actually owe two federal taxes, why deadhead miles are worth thousands, and the quarterly-payment and 1099-K rules that trip up first-time filers.
Content Creator Taxes: The Complete 2026 Guide for Influencers, Streamers, and YouTubers
A 2026 tax guide for creators covering the new $2,000 1099-NEC threshold, self-employment tax at 15.3%, home office and Section 179 deductions, quarterly deadlines, and fair market value rules for gifted products.
Schedule C (Form 1040): The Complete 2025 Guide for Sole Proprietors and Single-Member LLCs
Schedule C reports business income and expenses for sole proprietors and single-member LLCs. This guide walks through every line of the form, the $400 filing threshold, the home office and 70-cent-per-mile vehicle deductions, and the recordkeeping that holds up under IRS review.
Schedule K-1 Explained: Partnership Income, Phantom Tax, and Six Costly Mistakes
Schedule K-1 reports your share of pass-through income from a partnership, S corporation, or trust — and you owe tax on your allocation, not on the cash you actually received. A working guide to each major box, the phantom income trap, partner basis rules, the 2026 filing timeline, and six mistakes that cost K-1 recipients real money every year.
Social Security Tax Explained: A Complete Guide for Employees, Employers, and the Self-Employed
A 2026 reference for Social Security tax: the 6.2% employee and employer rate, the $184,500 wage base, the 15.3% self-employment rate with its 92.35% adjustment, Form 941 deposit rules, and the six mistakes that most often trigger IRS payroll penalties against small businesses.
Tax Deductions for Real Estate Agents: The 2026 Complete Guide
A 2026 guide to Schedule C deductions for 1099 real estate agents, covering the 72.5-cent mileage rate, home office rules, marketing, dues, the 20% QBI deduction, and the write-offs most agents miss.
IRS Form 2210: How to Calculate and Avoid the Underpayment Penalty
How IRS Form 2210 works, when you must file it, the three safe harbors that prevent the underpayment penalty, and how Schedule AI reduces the bill for taxpayers with uneven income. Covers 2026 penalty rates (7% in Q1, 6% in Q2), due dates, and common mistakes.
How to Pay Small Business Taxes: A Complete Guide
A practical guide to small business taxes covering income tax, self-employment tax (15.3%), payroll taxes, 2026 quarterly estimated payment deadlines, IRS payment methods, and strategies to reduce your tax burden.
Independent Contractor Tax Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Independent contractors pay a 15.3% self-employment tax plus federal income tax on net profit. This guide covers quarterly estimated payment deadlines, every major Schedule C deduction, and year-round bookkeeping habits to minimize what you owe.
IRS Form 2553: The Complete Guide to Electing S Corporation Status
Filing IRS Form 2553 by the March deadline lets profitable small businesses and LLCs elect S-corp status, potentially saving over $12,000 annually by shielding distributions from the 15.3% self-employment tax.