Advertisements
Work

What are Freelance Taxes and how to file Taxes for Freelance work in the US

Advertisements

Filing taxes is not an easy task, especially if you are a freelancer. In this post we look at what are freelance taxes and how to file taxes for freelance work in the U.S.

United States Freelancing Taxes

As freelancers, working on your taxes is an overwhelming work. However, if you discover the in and outs, and the entire process, you might find it fun and satisfying.

Also, you can reduce your liability from taxes and gain back some cash for yourselves. Utilize these amazing tips and bring your freelancing work in a full new satisfying level of righteousness and lawfulness.

Understand Your Obligations when it comes to Tax

Companies and businesses are the ones expected to issue the forms for 1099-MISC to remote workers, contractors, and freelancers who earn a minimum of not more than $600 a year.

Every freelancer is expected to file their (ITR, income tax return) yearly tax return considering that their net revenue from their salary will be more than 400$ and/or if they met the filing requirements.

Employment Status Matters

In addition to a condition, be sure to look at your city and county taxation conditions, in order to not suffer penalties for non-payment.

If you are a serious freelancer who takes on new contracts and projects regularly, then it’s easy to prove you conduct a legitimate company and deserve federal tax advantages.

However, should you dabble in some places with no actual search for making a benefit, the IRS might classify your work as a spare time activity and disallow hobby-related tax obligations.

Retain all digital and hard copy receipts, bills, IRS forms, tax returns, along with other pertinent documentation for seven decades.

Fulltime work vs Freelancing

Remember, for those who have a fulltime W2 job and also a 1099 sideline project, then you are only regarded as self-employed. This is for 1099 place or position since the W2 work withholds tax out of your paychecks.

In addition, virtual and online money services such as PayPal are expected to communicate with the seller and issue a 1099-K form for every 20,000$ transaction in services and products and get 200 obligations for services and goods in the identical time.

Consequently, if you take wages through platforms like pay pal and adhere to their taxation report threshold. You will not get the form 1099misc from your customers.

So, if you did a w4 form, ought taxes taken from the paychecks, then receive a w2 form every start of the calendar year, you’re not just a freelance employee in the sights of the Internal Revenue Service.

In contrast, if you have completed a w9 form, should have zero deductions or withholdings from the paychecks, then receive a 1099misc kind, then you’re deemed self-employed.

Which usually means you’re responsible for handling your personal salary-related taxes. Though many traders usually take place on the web, retain duplicates of business-related receipts and tag them in accordance with their tax-deduction categories.

Save hard copy receipts in a document and shoot images of them with your mobile or scan them on your computer. If you feel the holidays are the ideal time of the year, you’ve definitely never experienced the magic of tax season.

Filing taxes as being a freelancer can be overwhelming, but when you learn the principles you might even think it is enjoyable. Plus, you might also reduce your tax liability and earn back some considerable coin.

15.3% is the existing self-employment tax rate of one’s net earnings. Withheld from the 15.3% is the 2.9% that goes towards Medicare and the larger share of 12.4% percent proceeds past Social Security.

Freelancers Quarterly Taxes

In the United States, taxation for freelancers should be done on a quarter scheme(every three months), that’s on top of the annual filing of income tax.

The most common and frequent filings are:

Income taxation –– some percentage from your gross net salary

Taxes for Self-employed — Medicare and Social Security taxes

Remember that your net salary is the one taxable. This is after the gains, deductions, or losses. It’s not required to pay a tax on every cent you will be earning, rather you will be taxed on whatever will be the remainder of your salary after all the deductions.

In the United States of America, 15.3% is the current tax for self-employed total or net earnings. The breakdown of the 15.3% will go to the Social Security (12.4%) and the remaining will be for medicare (2.9%)

Deductions

Since most employers or companies are obligated in sharing 6.2% for the tax for Social Security of their employees, you have the option to deduct that share from your net or taxable salary.

Since freelancers may land jobs or projects from a company that’s based overseas, you can be exempted from tax and have eligibility for a foreign earned income tax exclusion. Just bear in mind that the IRS will require all American citizens and residents to pay taxes and file a report based on an international income.

Personal Protection

For your own personal protection, which includes your belongings, investments, and properties, it’s important that your get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS rather than just using your SSN for your freelance contracts, transactions, and bank accounts.

It won’t matter to IRS if you will be using SSN or EIN, but using SSN will endanger you from malicious activities like Identification theft and fraud since you are giving away very sensitive information.

Check Local State Requirements on Freelance Taxes

Although self-employed workers are focusing massively on federal taxation, make sure you don’t forget about any local or state filing requirements. Remember that the rate for income tax in every state varies, and there are also states that doesn’t collect taxes for freelancers, here are the states:

  • Nevada
  • Florida
  • Alaska
  • Wyoming
  • Texas
  • Washington
  • South Dakota

Also, make sure to stay on top of your city tax requirement so you won’t suffer any penalties for non or late payment.

Don’t be afraid to Hire Help Services

If you are a freelancer and work under a company that withholds taxes from your pay, make sure it’s legitimate and will go to your benefits.

When you are not sure about the process of if you saw some glitch or discrepancies against your company’s withheld task, you can consult a workers compensation lawyer to fully understand the process. Also, you can hire some professional tax assistant companies or CPA if you feel that the tax filing flow is complicated.

Advertisements
Guest Author

Share
Published by
Guest Author

Recent Posts

How to Create a Professional Resume That Captures the Attention of Hiring Managers

It's a question everyone needs an answer for- how to create a professional resume that…

4 years ago

Basics of Accounting for Beginners in 2022

Basics of Accounting is something every business owner should know. Often, small business owners are…

4 years ago

What Is Going to Shape up Ecommerce in the Next Few Years?

With all the recent developments in ecommerce, it does not seem that the industry is…

4 years ago

5 Financial Tips Every Entrepreneur Needs To Know [2022]

You dont need to be an expert to give financial tips--especially if you have run…

4 years ago

9 Small Business Ideas That You Can Start Today

Small business is the backbone of every economy. It is estimated that there are over…

4 years ago

5 Tips On How To Have A Legal, Registered Business in Arizona [2022]

When starting up a business in Arizona, it's important to gather more than one local…

4 years ago
Advertisements