For freelancers, gig workers & 1099 earners
Taxes and money, made simple for the self-employed.
Plain-English guides, free calculators and 2026 IRS numbers to help you save for taxes, deduct more and keep more of what you earn.
Every figure checked against IRS, SSA and HealthCare.gov sources · Updated for 2026
Quick calculator
What’s my self-employment tax?
15.3% on 92.35% of profit (Social Security part capped at $184,500). Income tax not included.
Add income tax with the full calculator →Free tools for freelancers
Built for 1099 workers. No sign-up, no email required.
Self-Employment Tax Calculator
SE tax, income tax and your quarterly payments for 2026.
GuideHow Much to Set Aside for Taxes
The share of every client payment to move into tax savings.
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Find a rate that covers taxes, expenses and time off.
Explore by topic
Everything about the money side of working for yourself, in nine clear sections.
Taxes
Self-employment tax, Schedule C and filing.
Quarterly Taxes
Due dates, safe harbor and paying online.
Deductions
Home office, mileage and write-offs by job.
Business Setup
LLC vs sole proprietor, S corps and EINs.
Banking
Business accounts and keeping money separate.
Getting Paid
Invoices, templates and payment terms.
Retirement
SEP IRA, Solo 401(k) and 2026 limits.
Insurance
Health insurance and the ACA Marketplace.
Money Management
Budgeting on irregular income.
Start Here →
New? Follow our first-year financial checklist.
The 2026 numbers
What every freelancer needs to know this year
Sources: IRS and Social Security Administration figures for the 2026 tax year. Each guide links to the official page.
Big decisions, explained
Straight answers with the math behind them: who should do it, and who should wait.
Latest guides
New articles every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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In the TurboTax vs H&R Block vs TaxAct match-up, there’s no single winner for 1099 income. TurboTax is … Read more - Deducting Software, Subscriptions and Equipment (Section 179 Basics)
The Section 179 deduction for freelancers lets you write off the full cost of business equipment in the … Read more - What Happens If You Don’t Report 1099 Income?
Unreported 1099 income almost never goes unnoticed. If you don’t report 1099 income, the IRS will very likely … Read more - How to Calculate Quarterly Taxes With Irregular Income
Paying quarterly taxes with irregular income is easier than it looks. You don’t have to split your tax … Read more - SEP IRA for Freelancers: How Much You Can Contribute
A SEP IRA for freelancers lets you save up to 20% of your net self-employment earnings for retirement, … Read more - Underpayment Penalty Calculator: What Missing a Quarter Costs You
Use this underpayment penalty calculator to see what a late or missed estimated tax payment will cost you. … Read more
How we research
Every rate, limit and deadline comes from the IRS or another official source, and we link to it in each guide.
Our research process →Independent and free
No paywall, no paid rankings and no sponsored articles. Advertisers never decide what we write.
How we make money →Updated every tax year
We review our figures each fall and winter, when the IRS sets new limits, and show the update date on every article.
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