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Guides by country: US tax guides, UK tax guides, Australian tax guides.

Self-Employment Tax Explained: The 15.3% Nobody Warns You About

In short: US self-employment tax is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base for 2026, plus 2.9% Medicare with no cap), applied to 92.35% of your net self-employment earnings. On $50,000 of net income that comes to about $7,065, on top of income tax. It applies once net earnings reach $400, and half of it is deductible when calculating adjusted gross income.

Simplified Expenses for UK Sole Traders: How Flat Rates Work

In short: HMRC's simplified expenses let UK sole traders, and partnerships with no limited company partner, claim flat rates instead of actual costs, most commonly a rate per business mile and a monthly amount for working from home based on hours worked. Limited companies can't use them, you still keep a mileage or hours log, and the current rates are on gov.uk.

Sole Trader Plus Landlord? How Combined Income Affects MTD

In short: HMRC adds your self-employment and property income together for the Making Tax Digital test: a £30,000 trade plus £25,000 of rent makes £55,000, over the £50,000 threshold, so MTD applied from 6 April 2026. The same test applies at the £30,000 (6 April 2027) and £20,000 (6 April 2028) thresholds, but once you're in, each income source gets its own quarterly updates.

Tax Deductions for Cleaners and Handymen: A 1099 Guide

In short: US cleaners and handymen paid on a 1099 can deduct cleaning supplies, tools and equipment, business insurance and bonding, and miles driven between jobs at the IRS rate of 72.5 cents per mile through June 30, 2026 and 76 cents per mile from July 1. The drive from home to the first job of the day usually counts as a commute and isn't deductible.

Tax Deductions for Consultants and Freelancers: A 1099 Guide

In short: US consultants and freelancers paid on a 1099 can deduct a home office ($5 per square foot up to 300 square feet, a maximum of $1,500 a year, under the simplified method), software subscriptions, subcontractors, professional liability insurance and, generally, 50% of business meals. Everyday business attire, the regular commute to a fixed client site and pure entertainment generally don't qualify.

Tax Deductions for Content Creators: A 1099 Guide

In short: US content creators paid on a 1099 can deduct cameras, lighting and microphones, editing software, props bought only for content, and a home studio used regularly and exclusively for filming, streaming or editing. Gear a brand sends you for free is taxable income at its fair market value, and everyday clothing doesn't become deductible just because it appears on screen.

Tax Deductions for Couriers and Gig Workers Running Multiple Apps

In short: US couriers and gig workers running several apps report all their income and expenses on one Schedule C, with one combined vehicle or bike total across every app. Deductible costs include the business share of a phone and data plan, insulated bags, and parking and tolls while working. Self-employment tax applies once combined net earnings reach $400, even if no 1099 arrives.

Tax Deductions for Etsy Sellers: A 1099 Guide

In short: US Etsy sellers who run their shop as a business can deduct Etsy's fees, shipping supplies and postage, packaging and craft fair booth fees, while materials are generally tracked as cost of goods sold. Etsy only has to send a Form 1099-K for more than $20,000 in gross payments and more than 200 transactions in a year, but all shop income is still taxable.

Tax Deductions for Freelance Designers: A 1099 Guide

In short: US freelance designers paid on a 1099 can deduct the business-use share of software subscriptions such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma, fonts and stock imagery, hardware like laptops and drawing tablets, and a home office used regularly and exclusively for design work. Ordinary clothing, the personal-use share of devices and courses for a completely different career generally don't qualify.

Tax Deductions for IT Contractors: A 1099 Guide

In short: US IT contractors and developers paid on a 1099 can deduct hardware and home lab equipment, cloud and API costs, paid developer tools such as JetBrains or GitHub Copilot, certifications in their current field and a home office used regularly and exclusively for client work. Larger hardware purchases may need to be depreciated, and training for an entirely different profession generally isn't deductible.