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Let's make freelance taxes a lot less painful

No jargon, no legalese. Clear answers on deductions, quarterly payments, and how 1099 workers keep more of what they earn.

Q2 Estimated PaymentJune 15, 2026
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What can we help you with?

Guides, comparisons, and tools for every part of your freelance life — all through a tax lens.

Getting Started

New to freelancing? Start here.

Freelance Taxes

1099s, quarterly payments, Schedule C

Deductions

Every write-off you can legally claim

Tools & Software

Invoicing, bookkeeping, mileage

Business Setup

LLC vs S-Corp, EIN, banking

Retirement & Health

Solo 401k, SEP, HSA, insurance

Getting Paid

Invoicing, contracts, late payments

Niche Guides

Rideshare, design, writing, dev

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Calculators built for 1099 workers

Free, no signup, no email gate — just punch in your numbers.

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Tax tool
Self-Employment Tax Calculator

Estimate the 15.3% SE tax on your freelance net income — Social Security and Medicare combined.

Open calculator →
Tax tool
Quarterly Estimated Tax Calculator

Project your four 1040-ES payments based on expected income and deductions.

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Business
Freelance Rate Calculator

Find the minimum hourly rate you need to charge to hit your income target.

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Freelance software we actually recommend

Independently reviewed — nobody pays for placement here.

See the full comparison →
FreshBooks
Service-based freelancers

Clean invoicing, time tracking, and expenses. The workflow is built around billable hours — not product inventory.

From $19/moVisit site →
Bonsai
Solo consultants

Proposals, contracts, invoicing, and time tracking in one tool — with e-sign templates worth the price alone.

From $21/moVisit site →
QuickBooks Self-Employed
Tax-ready bookkeeping

Automatic quarterly estimates, mileage tracking, and a Schedule C export that saves hours at filing time.

From $15/moVisit site →
Wave
Brand-new freelancers

Free forever plan with unlimited invoices and basic accounting. Pay-as-you-go processing when you're ready.

Free · Pay-as-you-goVisit site →
Planning Ahead

Retirement, health & the full-stack freelancer

Three moves that quietly save 1099 workers thousands a year.

Solo 401(k)
Stash up to $70,000 a year — as employee and employer

A one-person 401(k) is the highest-limit retirement account a freelancer can open. Here's how to set it up and fund it before year-end.

Read the guide →
Self-Employment Tax
15.3% on top of income tax — until the right entity changes the math

Once freelance profit clears ~$40K, an S-Corp election can cut self-employment tax meaningfully. Calculate what you'd save.

SE Tax Calculator →
HSA & Health Insurance
Triple tax advantage — and freelancers can deduct premiums too

A high-deductible plan + HSA is one of the best deals in the tax code for self-employed workers. Figure your contribution ceiling.

HSA Calculator →
See all retirement & health guides →
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Worth reading right now

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Freelance TaxesHow to Handle Estimated Tax Payments When Your Freelance Income FluctuatesLearn how to calculate and adjust estimated tax payments when freelance income varies. Includes IRS safe harbor rules, a...Business SetupShould Freelancers Form an LLC or S-Corp in 2024? A Tax Savings Comparison with Real NumbersCompare LLC vs S-Corp tax structures for freelancers with real numbers. Learn when S-Corp elections save money and when ...DeductionsHome Office Deduction for Freelancers: How to Calculate Square Footage and Maximize Your 2024 Tax SavingsLearn exactly how to calculate your home office square footage, choose between simplified and actual methods, and maximi...Freelance TaxesHow to Handle Estimated Quarterly Taxes When Your Freelance Income Is UnpredictableLearn how to calculate and pay estimated quarterly taxes when freelance income varies, avoid penalties, and adjust payme...Tools SoftwareBest Accounting Software for Freelancers in 2024: QuickBooks vs FreshBooks vs WaveChoosing the right accounting software can save freelancers hundreds of hours. Compare QuickBooks, FreshBooks, and Wave ...Niche GuidesThe Complete Tax Guide for Freelance Graphic Designers and CreativesNavigate self-employment tax, maximize deductions, and file correctly as a freelance graphic designer or creative profes...
New to freelancing

Your first 1099, quarterly taxes, and what to deduct — all in one place

A starter path for new freelancers: what forms you'll get, what you'll owe, and the deductions worth tracking from day one.

Read the starter guide →

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1099Freelance provides free educational tax and business information for independent workers. We are not CPAs or licensed tax professionals. Nothing on this site is professional advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.