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The Tax Blog

Long-Tail Tax Guides for the Self-Employed

40 articles and counting — every one of them cross-linked so you can build a complete picture of your deductions, not just one write-off at a time.

01
Audits & Recordkeeping

1099-K Reporting Threshold Explained: What Changed and What It Means for You

Why more freelancers and side-sellers are getting a 1099-K than ever before, and why the form doesn't change what you owe.

⏱ 7 min readFebruary 1, 2027
02
Deductions

Crypto Taxes for Freelancers Paid in Bitcoin or Stablecoins

What happens at tax time when a client pays your invoice in crypto instead of dollars.

⏱ 8 min readJanuary 25, 2027
03
Audits & Recordkeeping

Tax Deadlines Calendar 2027 for Freelancers and Small Business Owners

Every date self-employed taxpayers need on their calendar in one place, from quarterly payments to filing deadlines.

⏱ 6 min readJanuary 18, 2027
04
Self-Employed & Freelance

S-Corp Election for Freelancers: When It Actually Lowers Your Tax Bill

The break-even math behind one of the most talked-about — and most overhyped — tax moves for high-earning freelancers.

⏱ 9 min readJanuary 11, 2027
05
Self-Employed & Freelance

LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Saves More on Taxes for Freelancers

The tax truth behind a common myth: forming an LLC by itself does not lower your tax bill.

⏱ 8 min readJanuary 4, 2027
06
Self-Employed & Freelance

Year-End Tax Checklist for Freelancers: 15 Moves to Make Before December 31

A practical, ordered checklist to lower your tax bill and avoid surprises before the year closes.

⏱ 9 min readDecember 28, 2026
07
Self-Employed & Freelance

Tutor and Online Educator Tax Deductions

What independent tutors and course creators can write off, from teaching materials to platform fees.

⏱ 7 min readDecember 21, 2026
08
Gig Economy

Truck Driver Tax Deductions: Per Diem, Fuel, and Logbook Rules

Owner-operators have one of the richest deduction lists of any self-employed field — here's the full breakdown.

⏱ 9 min readDecember 14, 2026
09
Gig Economy

Nanny and Caregiver Tax Deductions: What Household Workers Can Claim

Independent caregivers have a narrower set of deductions than most gig workers — here's exactly what applies.

⏱ 7 min readDecember 7, 2026
10
Self-Employed & Freelance

Bookkeeper and Accountant Tax Deductions for Solo Practitioners

The specific deductions that apply when the person doing the taxes also has to file their own.

⏱ 7 min readNovember 30, 2026
11
Self-Employed & Freelance

Virtual Assistant Tax Deductions for Home-Based Business Owners

What VAs can write off, from software subscriptions to a portion of the home internet bill.

⏱ 7 min readNovember 23, 2026
12
Self-Employed & Freelance

Consultant Tax Deductions: Travel, Client Meals, and Professional Liability Insurance

The write-offs independent consultants rely on most, and the QBI phase-out rule that makes consulting income different.

⏱ 8 min readNovember 16, 2026
13
Self-Employed & Freelance

Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor Tax Deductions

Certifications, liability insurance, gym rental fees, and the equipment write-offs trainers often miss.

⏱ 7 min readNovember 9, 2026
14
Self-Employed & Freelance

Photographer Tax Deductions: Gear, Editing Software, and Studio Space

From camera bodies to lightroom subscriptions, here's what working photographers can legitimately write off.

⏱ 8 min readNovember 2, 2026
15
Self-Employed & Freelance

Freelance Writer Tax Deductions: Subscriptions, Research, and Home Office

The specific write-offs that apply to freelance writers, from research materials to the software you draft in.

⏱ 7 min readOctober 26, 2026
16
Gig Economy

DoorDash and Instacart Driver Tax Deductions Checklist

A practical write-off checklist for delivery drivers, covering mileage, hot bags, phone costs, and the taxes nobody withholds for you.

⏱ 8 min readOctober 19, 2026
17
Real Estate Pros

Airbnb Host Tax Deductions: Depreciation, Cleaning Fees, and the 14-Day Rule

What short-term rental hosts can deduct, how depreciation works on a rental property, and the rule that can make two weeks of income tax-free.

⏱ 9 min readOctober 12, 2026
18
Gig Economy

Etsy Seller Tax Deductions: What Handmade Business Owners Can Write Off

From craft supplies to Etsy fees and shipping materials, here is everything handmade sellers can legitimately deduct.

⏱ 8 min readOctober 5, 2026
19
Deductions

Section 179 vs. Bonus Depreciation: Deducting Equipment Purchases Immediately

Two different ways to write off a laptop, camera, or work vehicle in the year you buy it — and when each one makes more sense.

⏱ 8 min readSeptember 28, 2026
20
Deductions

Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction Explained (Section 199A)

How the 20% pass-through deduction works, who phases out, and the paperwork that keeps it audit-proof.

⏱ 9 min readSeptember 21, 2026
21
Self-Employed & Freelance

SEP IRA vs. Solo 401(k) for Freelancers: Which Retirement Account Wins

Self-employed retirement accounts allow contribution limits far beyond a typical employer plan. Here's how to choose between the two most popular options.

⏱ 8 min readSeptember 14, 2026
22
Self-Employed & Freelance

Health Insurance Premiums Deduction for the Self-Employed

An above-the-line deduction that quietly saves self-employed taxpayers thousands — if the eligibility rules are met.

⏱ 6 min readSeptember 11, 2026
23
Audits & Recordkeeping

Record Keeping for Freelancers: What Receipts to Keep and For How Long

A simple system beats a shoebox of receipts every time. Here's what to save, how long, and how to organize it.

⏱ 7 min readSeptember 10, 2026
24
Audits & Recordkeeping

How to Avoid an IRS Audit While Maximizing Reductions

You don't have to under-claim your legitimate deductions to stay off the IRS's radar — you have to document them correctly.

⏱ 8 min readSeptember 9, 2026
25
Deductions

Charitable Donation Deductions: Cash vs. Non-Cash Contribution Rules

Giving is generous on its own — knowing the documentation rules is what actually protects the deduction.

⏱ 6 min readSeptember 8, 2026
26
Homeowners

Mortgage Interest Deduction Explained for Homeowners

One of the largest itemized deductions available — and one of the easiest to get slightly wrong.

⏱ 7 min readSeptember 7, 2026
27
Deductions

Medical Expense Deduction: How the 7.5% AGI Threshold Works

You can't deduct medical costs from dollar one — here's the exact math the IRS applies before anything counts.

⏱ 6 min readSeptember 4, 2026
28
Tax Credits

Lifetime Learning Credit vs. American Opportunity Credit: Which Education Credit Fits You

Two education tax credits, two very different rulebooks. Here's how freelancers investing in new skills should choose.

⏱ 7 min readSeptember 3, 2026
29
Tax Credits

Child Tax Credit: Eligibility and How Much You Can Claim

A dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax bill for every qualifying child — here's exactly how the qualification rules work.

⏱ 6 min readSeptember 2, 2026
30
Tax Credits

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Do You Qualify?

One of the most valuable — and most overlooked — credits for working individuals and families with modest income.

⏱ 6 min readSeptember 1, 2026
31
Real Estate Pros

Real Estate Agent Tax Deductions: MLS Fees, Mileage, and Marketing Costs

Commission-based income comes with commission-sized deductions — if you know where to look.

⏱ 8 min readAugust 31, 2026
32
Gig Economy

Content Creator Tax Deductions: Equipment, Software, and Subscriptions You Can Write Off

From ring lights to editing software, here's what YouTubers, streamers, and influencers can legitimately deduct.

⏱ 8 min readAugust 28, 2026
33
Self-Employed & Freelance

Quarterly Estimated Taxes: A Freelancer's Survival Guide

Four deadlines a year, no employer safety net, and real penalties for guessing wrong. Here is how to stay ahead of all of it.

⏱ 8 min readAugust 27, 2026
34
Self-Employed & Freelance

Self-Employment Tax Explained: What Freelancers Actually Owe

The 15.3% number that surprises every first-year freelancer, broken down piece by piece.

⏱ 7 min readAugust 26, 2026
35
Deductions

SALT Deduction Cap Explained: How the $10,000 Limit Affects You

State and local tax deductions used to be unlimited. Here is what changed, and how high-tax-state residents adjust.

⏱ 6 min readAugust 25, 2026
36
Deductions

Standard vs. Itemized Deductions: Which One Saves You More in 2026

The single most important decision on your tax return, explained with the exact IRS thresholds that decide it.

⏱ 9 min readAugust 24, 2026
37
Self-Employed & Freelance

1099 vs. W-2: How Your Tax Deductions Change When You Go Independent

The switch from employee to independent contractor rewrites your entire tax picture. Here is what opens up — and what disappears.

⏱ 7 min readAugust 21, 2026
38
Gig Economy

Uber and Lyft Driver Tax Deductions: The Complete Checklist

Every write-off a rideshare driver should be tracking, from phone mounts to platform fees.

⏱ 8 min readAugust 20, 2026
39
Deductions

Standard Mileage Rate vs. Actual Expenses: How to Deduct Business Driving the Smart Way

Two methods, one decision that can swing your deduction by thousands of dollars a year.

⏱ 7 min readAugust 19, 2026
40
Deductions

Home Office Deduction Guide for Freelancers: What You Can Actually Write Off

A practical breakdown of the simplified method vs. the regular method, and the exact square-footage math the IRS expects to see.

⏱ 8 min readAugust 18, 2026