Tax Tips & Guides
Practical tax advice for freelancers, gig workers, and side hustlers.
March 10, 2026
DoorDash and Uber Taxes: The Complete Guide for Drivers
Congratulations — you're making real money as a gig worker. Now comes the question that keeps most DoorDash and Uber drivers up at night: "How much of this actually stays mine after taxes?" The short answer: you'll owe more than you think. The IRS doesn't withhold anything from your gig pay, which means you're responsible for paying both income tax and self-employment tax. For a full-time driver earning $53,000 gross, that's roughly $7,583 in total annual tax.
Read more →March 8, 2026
How Much Should You Set Aside for Taxes as a Freelancer?
The generic advice is almost always wrong: "Save 30% for taxes." That number sounds confident, is easy to remember, and is wildly inaccurate for most freelancers. If you earn $60,000 as a freelancer in California, the real answer isn't 30%. It's 26.8%. That difference — 3.2 percentage points — is $1,800 you've been over-saving per year. If you earn in Florida (no state income tax), it drops to 21.5%. Same income, $3,100 less owed annually.
Read more →March 5, 2026
Missed Quarterly Tax Payments? Here's What to Do
It's March, and you suddenly realize: you didn't pay Q4 estimated taxes. Or Q2. Or maybe all of them. Relax. The IRS isn't going to audit you. You won't wake up to federal agents at your door. You owe a relatively small penalty (roughly 8% annual interest on the late amount), and that's it. Missing a payment is a common mistake — and it's fixable.
Read more →March 1, 2026
2026 Quarterly Tax Deadlines: When to Pay and How Much
Tax deadlines are the same every year, but they fall on different days. Here's everything you need for 2026. The 2026 quarterly deadlines: Q1 due April 15, Q2 due June 16, Q3 due September 15, Q4 due January 15, 2027.
Read more →February 25, 2026
W-2 Job Plus Freelancing? Here's How Your Taxes Change
You have a full-time job with a steady W-2 salary. And you freelance on the side. Here's the problem: your W-2 employer withholds taxes based on that job alone. When you add freelance income on top, you've pushed yourself into a higher tax bracket — and your W-2 withholding isn't enough to cover it. Result? You get a surprise tax bill on April 15. Or you underpay quarterly taxes and owe penalties.
Read more →March 18, 2026
S-Corp for Freelancers: When the Tax Savings Actually Make Sense
Once you're earning $60K+ as a freelancer, people start telling you to "go S-Corp." But the real question is: does the tax savings actually exceed the admin costs? Here's how to tell.
Read more →March 17, 2026
The Airbnb 14-Day Rule: When Your Rental Income Is Tax-Free
There's a provision in the tax code (Section 280A) that many hosts don't know about: if you rent your property for 14 days or fewer per year, all the rental income is completely tax-free. You don't even have to report it.
Read more →March 16, 2026
Why Is Self-Employment Tax So High? Understanding the 15.3%
When you freelance for the first time, the 15.3% self-employment tax is the biggest shock. At a W-2 job, your employer pays half of Social Security and Medicare. When you're self-employed, you pay both halves.
Read more →March 15, 2026
The QBI Deduction: A 20% Tax Break Most Freelancers Don't Claim
The Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction lets eligible self-employed people deduct up to 20% of their business income from taxable income. Most basic calculators miss this — Qalm applies it automatically.
Read more →