How to do your taxes if you’re a freelancer
You’re free! Free to sleep in until 11 a.m., free to work while your adorable toddler plays at your feet, free to … keep really good records of all your expenses for your taxes!
We know. Not so fun. The reality is, being self-employed can be awesome for 11 months out of the year, and then come crashing down on your head in the form of lost receipts and unpaid estimated taxes in April. We want to save you from that sinking feeling. Read on for what every freelancer needs to know for your taxes.
Get Organized.
First, keep good records. Go paperless, get organised and keep track of two things:
1. Your business income. This is your responsibility, and it is a big one. The IRS is especially sensitive about freelancers fudging their income. Yes, you will receive 1099 Forms from clients with what you earned, but only for jobs worth more than $600. So make sure you have a good recording system, like a “Freelance Income” folder in the Money Center.
2. Your business expenses. You don’t want to miss out on deductions related to business expenses, so carefully record what you spent, the date, who you paid it to and the purpose for expenses such as:
▪ Business cards, online ads and other tools used to promote yourself and your business
▪ Business insurance
▪ Interest paid on your business credit card or business loans
▪ Lawyer fees and other professional services
▪ Rent or dues on a workspace
▪ Repairs for your computer, camera and other business-related equipment
▪ Routine office supplies like pens, paper, staples, etc.
▪ Travel costs like plane and train tickets
▪ Business meals with clients and other entertainment reasonable for your business
Find the Right Tax Preparer
We’ll be straight with you. Taxes for freelancers are complicated, so we recommend you invest in a tax preparer or cpa tax services. Look at it this way: You could pay about $300 to get your taxes done, and an accountant could easily save you $300 in fees, deductions you hadn’t heard of and more.
