#side-hustle
Side Hustle
Tax, accounting, and growth tips for side projects, freelancers, and part-time businesses
Why You Got a 1099-K for $650 When Your Friend Didn't: The $600 State Patchwork Behind the Federal $20,000
Congress restored the federal 1099-K threshold to $20,000 and 200 transactions in July 2025, but nine states still require a form at $600 and four more sit between $1,000 and $2,500 — so a $650 Etsy sale produces a 1099-K in Massachusetts and nothing in Texas. Includes the state-by-state threshold tiers and how to reconcile a gross form total down to actual taxable profit.
Does DAC7 Apply to US Sellers? What Etsy, eBay, and Amazon Report to the EU Every January 31
DAC7 (Council Directive 2021/514) makes marketplaces report seller data to EU tax authorities by January 31 each year. For goods, you stay exempt only if you are under both 30 transactions and €2,000 on that platform for the calendar year — miss either prong and you are reportable, and ignoring the verification request lets the platform withhold payouts after two reminders and 60 days.
Are Gifted Products Taxable Income? Reporting Creator Freebies on Schedule C When No 1099-NEC Arrives
Product sent to a creator in exchange for promotion is taxable at fair market value under IRC Section 61 — a $400 PR box you review is $400 of Schedule C gross receipts, plus 15.3% self-employment tax on net profit. The 1099-NEC filing threshold rising from $600 to $2,000 changes only when a brand must issue a form, never whether you must report the income.
Why Zelle Never Sends You a 1099-K (and Why That Doesn't Mean the Money Is Tax-Free)
Zelle is not a third-party settlement organization under Section 6050W, so it files no 1099-K at any amount — while Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, Stripe, and Square do once the federal threshold of more than $20,000 and more than 200 transactions is met, restored retroactively by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Income is taxable either way, and this guide shows the reconciliation system that keeps multi-rail freelance books accurate.
Gig Economy Driver Tax Deductions 2026: The 72.5-Cent Mile, the $25K Tips Break, and 100% Bonus Depreciation
For 2026, gig drivers deduct 72.5 cents per mile through June and 76 cents after, claim up to $25,000 in qualified tips as an above-the-line deduction, and expense vehicles at 100% bonus depreciation — if they log miles and tips contemporaneously and keep books on the right Schedule C lines.
Newsletter Writer Taxes: Schedule C, Quarterly Estimates, and When the IRS Calls It a Business
Self-employment income from newsletters triggers Schedule C filing, quarterly estimated taxes, and a critical 2026 IRS hobby-vs-business classification change worth tens of thousands of dollars over time.
From Gross Payout to Real Deposit: Reconciling Upwork and Fiverr Fees for Your 1099-K
Upwork and Fiverr 1099-Ks report gross payment volume before platform commissions and withdrawal fees are deducted, so freelancers must record both as separate Schedule C expense lines to reconcile reported income with actual bank deposits.
Cameo Creator Taxes: Why Your 1099 Won't Match Your Bank Deposits (and How to Book It Right)
Cameo's 1099-NEC reports your gross booking price, but the platform keeps 25% — and Apple takes another 30% on iOS orders — so booking only your net deposits creates an IRS mismatch and erases a deductible fee. Here's how to record gross revenue and platform fees separately, what the 15.3% self-employment tax costs once you clear $400, and the 2026 quarterly estimated-tax dates to calendar.
Form T2125 in 2026: How Canadian Sole Proprietors File Business Income, CPP, and NETFILE Without Triggering a CRA Review
Form T2125 turns a Canadian sole proprietor's invoices and receipts into taxable net business income on the T1 return. For 2026, gig platforms report earnings directly to the CRA, self-employed CPP totals nearly $9,300 at the earnings ceiling, and the June 15 filing extension still leaves payment due April 30.
eBay's 2026 Fee Overhaul: Flat Rates, a 5% Refurbished Discount, and the Math Resellers Should Run
On July 1, 2026, eBay replaced tiered final value fees with flat category rates for commercial sellers on its European marketplaces — roughly 7–14% on new goods and a flat 5% on used and refurbished items. Depending on price band, the change can cut or raise your fees, so here's a 90-day audit to run against your own sales data.
Why Your DoorDash 1099 Might Not Show Up This Year — and Why You Still Owe Taxes on Every Mile
The 1099-NEC threshold is now $2,000, so many part-time DoorDash, Instacart, and Grubhub drivers won't receive a form for 2026 — but the IRS still taxes net self-employment earnings above $400. How multi-app delivery drivers can capture the dead miles apps don't report (often 30% or more of total driving), choose between the standard mileage and actual expense methods, and set aside 25–30% of each payout for quarterly taxes.
The CRA Already Has Your Gig Income Data: Canada's Platform Reporting Rules, Explained
Since 2024, Part XX of Canada's Income Tax Act requires Uber, Airbnb, Etsy, and other platforms to report sellers with 30+ transactions or over $2,800 CAD directly to the CRA — including names, SINs, gross payouts, and fees. With two reporting cycles now on file and penalty relief expired, here's who gets reported, what data the CRA matches against your return, and how to reconcile before the next January 31 deadline.