Guides
Guides
The longer explanations behind the calculators — what the rules actually say, in plain English, without trying to sell you accounting software.
United States only. These guides cover US federal tax. They do not apply to Canada, the UK or other countries.
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The safe harbour rule: how to never owe an underpayment penalty
Pay 100% of last year's tax — 110% above $150,000 AGI — and you are protected regardless of how much you earn this year. The most useful rule in freelance tax, and the least explained.
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The QBI deduction: 20% off your business income, explained
Most self-employed people can deduct 20% of their business profit before income tax, with no spending and no receipts. How it works in 2026, including the new $400 minimum.
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The deductions self-employed people most often miss
The home office rule people wrongly fear, the mileage rate that beats actual costs, half your phone bill, and the retirement accounts that shelter far more than an IRA.
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Sole proprietor, LLC or S corp: when each one actually saves money
An LLC saves no tax at all. An S corp does, but only above a profit level most freelancers never reach — and it costs real money to run. The honest comparison.
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How much should you set aside for taxes as a freelancer?
The 30% rule is a cushion, not a calculation — federally it overshoots at almost every income level. Here is what the 2026 arithmetic actually says, and when 30% stops being enough.
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Quarterly estimated taxes: a plain guide for the self-employed
Who has to pay, the 2026 due dates, how to work out each payment, how to actually send it, and what happens if you skip one. Written for people who have never done this before.