1099 tax guides
Plain-English explainers for the tax questions the calculator raises — how self-employment tax actually works, when to pay, and what you can deduct.
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How self-employment tax works in 2026
The 15.3% breakdown, the 92.35% adjustment, the wage base, and why your effective rate is lower.
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Quarterly estimated taxes & 1040-ES
The four due dates, the safe-harbor rule, and how to avoid the underpayment penalty.
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Schedule C deductions master list
20+ write-offs almost every 1099 worker can claim, with the gotchas.
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1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC vs 1099-K
Which form you get, who sends it, the thresholds, and what you actually owe.
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1099 vs W-2: taxes and true cost
Who pays FICA, what a W-2 hides, and when 1099 take-home really wins.
Profession guides
Self-employment tax works the same federally for every 1099 worker — but the deductions, forms, and scenarios that apply to your line of work don't. We have profession-specific guides for 15 common occupations.