From First Brand Deal to S-Corp: A Content Creator's Tax Playbook for 2026
Creators owe 15.3% self-employment tax from $400 in net profit, plus quarterly estimates — and an S-corp election saves five figures past ~$60K profit.
#self-employment-tax
Self-Employment Tax
Self-employment tax rules, calculations, and strategies for business owners
Renting Out Your GPU on Vast.ai or RunPod? Why the Electricity Bill and Depreciation Schedule Belong on a Schedule C, Not Your Personal Utility Bill
GPU rental income is Schedule C business income: deduct metered electricity, expense the card under 100% bonus depreciation, and pay quarterly estimates.
Hull Cleaning Diver Bookkeeping: Per-Foot Pricing, Route Contracts, and Marina Insurance
Hull cleaners earn $2.50–$4 per foot on monthly routes. Minimums, deferred revenue, marina insurance, and IRS quarterly estimates — the bookkeeping playbook.
Building an Expert Witness Side Practice: Retainers, Rates, and the Bookkeeping Behind Testimony Income
Expert witnesses earn $245–$500+/hr with retainers up front; report 1099-NEC income on Schedule C and pay IRS quarterly estimates.
Freelance Interpreter Taxes: Your Agency 1099 Is Not Your Tax Bill
Agency 1099s report gross pay with zero withholding — the IRS still wants income tax plus 15.3% self-employment tax. Set aside 25–30% per job.
Real Estate Wholesaling in 2026: Assignment Fees, State Disclosure Laws, and Bookkeeping for Deals That Never Close in Your Name
Wholesale assignment fees are IRS ordinary income on Schedule C plus 15.3% SE tax, and 2026 state disclosure laws can void deals missing written notice.
Session Musician Taxes and Bookkeeping: Union Scale, Buyouts, 1099s, Royalties, and Deductions
Gig pay lands on 1099-NEC, royalties on 1099-MISC, and the IRS taxes it all. US guide to scale vs. buyouts, fund payouts, and session deductions.
The Kill Fee Clause Every Freelancer Contract Needs
A fair kill fee is 25% before kickoff or completed work plus 25–50% of the rest mid-project — and every retained dollar is Schedule C income.
Joint Venture Bookkeeping: Capital Accounts, Profit Splits, and Partnership Tax Filing
The IRS treats most joint ventures as partnerships: keep separate books, track capital accounts, and file Form 1065 by March 15.
Lay Shares and Settlement Sheets: How Fishing Vessel Operators Pay Crew and Handle Crewmember Taxes
Share-paid fishing crew are self-employed under IRC Section 3121(b)(20) — but one guaranteed day rate voids it. Report every share in Form 1099-MISC Box 5.
Self-Employment Tax Pricing: How to Build the 15.3% Into Your Rates
US self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit — about 14.1% effective. Price it in with a five-step rate formula, not salary divided by 2,080.
Furniture Flipping Isn't a Hobby to the IRS: A Reseller's Guide to COGS, Mileage, and the 2026 1099-K Rules
Flipping furniture is a Schedule C business, not a hobby: deduct per-piece COGS and 2026's split IRS mileage rate; expect no 1099-K under $20,000/200 sales.