If you’re a freelancer or gig worker, you’re essentially a small business owner since you’re faced with all the same burdens and requirements as other sole proprietors. While there are likely several compelling reasons you chose to go your own way, you still have to deal with a variety of regulatory and tax challenges the average W-2 worker doesn’t need to worry about.
Irregular income throughout the year doesn’t lessen your overall tax burden under normal circumstances, and it can make estimating your tax payments a little more complicated. This is especially treacherous given the potential penalties involved with failing to make accurate and timely payments, which can include interest and additional fees.
There’s also the added cost of self-employment taxes (to cover Social Security and Medicare). Employees traditionally cover half of these costs, but as your own boss you’re expected to pay the entire amount yourself.
In addition to self-employment and estimated taxes, freelancers and gig workers also need to stay on top of things like health insurance and retirement savings. You’ll be responsible for paying for both on your own, and failure to do so can have serious financial ramifications for you and your family.
That being said, you might also be eligible for a host of potential deductions and credits that can drastically reduce your overall tax burden – if you’ve kept good records of expenses.
While there are many DIY tax filing options available, many of these recordkeeping tasks will still fall on you – the sole proprietor. That’s where having an experienced tax preparer, bookkeeper and accountant in your corner can be a huge benefit.
We can help you maintain accurate records of income and expenses is crucial for tax purposes. Doing so can help ensure you make full use of all eligible deductions and reduce your taxable income.
Record keeping is only half the battle. You also need to understand and properly claim all relevant tax deductions and credits, which can be extraordinarily complicated for the average freelancer or gig worker who is committed to their profession.
We can help ensure your deductions for things like home office expenses, business travel and professional development are properly documented so you never run afoul of IRS or state tax laws.
Our team also stays constantly apprised of all tax law changes to ensure our clients remain in compliance regardless of changes. We can make sure your strategy is updated as needed to legally minimize your tax liability every year.