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You literally can’t do gig work without your phone. Uber app, DoorDash app, client emails, mileage tracking—it’s all on that device. So can you deduct your phone bill? Yes. But not the whole thing. Here’s exactly how to do it right. The Rule: Business Use Percentage You can deduct the percentage of your phone bill […]

Got your first gig economy paycheck and wondering why everyone’s talking about “self-employment tax”? Yeah, this one surprised me too. It’s basically extra taxes that W-2 employees don’t think about—because their employers pay half. Here’s the self-employment tax explained simply, so you know exactly what you’re dealing with. What Is Self-Employment Tax? Self-employment tax covers

Work from home? You might be leaving money on the table. The home office deduction lets you write off part of your rent, utilities, and internet—but most gig workers don’t know they qualify. Here’s everything you need to know about claiming a home office deduction as a gig worker. Do You Qualify? Two requirements: Regular

When I started freelancing, I tracked everything in a spreadsheet. Income here, expenses there, receipts in a shoebox. It worked until tax time, when I spent three days sorting through chaos trying to figure out what I actually made. Never again. Here’s my breakdown of the best free accounting software for freelancers—tools that actually work

Started selling on Etsy? Congrats on the side hustle! Now here’s the part nobody talks about: taxes. I started my Etsy shop selling handmade jewelry three years ago. First year, I made $8,000 and thought, “Cool, extra money!” Then tax season came and I realized I owed the IRS $1,800. Hadn’t saved a penny for

Nobody warned me about quarterly taxes my first year freelancing. Tax day rolled around, I owed $8,000, and then the IRS hit me with a $400 penalty on top of that. For not paying throughout the year. Fun times. Don’t be me. Here’s everything you need to know about quarterly estimated taxes—the system that trips

First time getting a 1099 instead of a W-2? Yeah, it’s confusing. I remember staring at my first 1099 from Uber thinking, “Wait, where are all the tax withholdings?” Spoiler: There weren’t any. That’s the whole point. Let me break down the difference between 1099 and W-2 in plain English, and what it means for

Been shopping for Instacart? Then you’re self-employed—which means taxes work completely differently than a regular job. The good news? You can deduct a ton of expenses. The bad news? Nobody tells you what those are. After two years of Instacart shopping (and one expensive lesson with the IRS), I’ve figured out exactly what you can

Let me tell you about the $3,000 I left on the table my first year driving Uber. I didn’t track my mileage properly. Just… didn’t do it. Figured I’d remember. Spoiler: I didn’t remember. That mistake cost me real money. At 67 cents per mile (the 2024 rate), the 5,000 miles I forgot to log

Compare SEP IRA, Solo 401(k), and Roth IRA options for self-employed workers. Learn which retirement account is best for your gig income.