How 1099 Forms Impact Freelancers and Contractors

tax

For freelancers and independent contractors, receiving a 1099 is a clear indicator of taxable income. Here’s how these forms affect self-employed individuals during tax season.

What a 1099 Means for Freelancers

Receiving a 1099-NEC indicates that you earned at least $600 from a single client during the tax year. However, even if you don’t receive a 1099 (e.g., for payments under $600), you’re still required to report all income to the IRS.

Tax Obligations

Unlike employees, freelancers don’t have taxes withheld from their payments. Instead, they must pay:

  • Income Tax: Based on your total earnings.
  • Self-Employment Tax: Covers Social Security and Medicare contributions (15.3%).

How to Prepare for Tax Season

  1. Track All Income: Use tools like QuickBooks or Wave to monitor your earnings throughout the year.
  2. Save for Taxes: Set aside 25-30% of your income for taxes to avoid surprises.
  3. File Quarterly Taxes: Freelancers must make estimated tax payments quarterly to avoid underpayment penalties.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how 1099 forms impact your tax obligations helps freelancers stay compliant and avoid unnecessary penalties.

We work as an extension of your business by handling your accounting needs and keeping your finances in order.
Services

Accounting and Controller Services
Tax Planning and Preparation
Business Advisory

Contact Us
Copyright © NeatBooks LLC. All Rights Reserved
Budget Buddy
The purpose of a budget is to provide a financial roadmap that helps individuals or businesses plan, control, and manage their income and expenses.

Financial confusion? Not on our watch.

At NeatBooks, we know you want to focus on growing your business without the stress of messy books, missed deadlines, or worrying if you’re leaving money on the table. The problem is, financial complexity and unreliable support from previous accountants can leave you feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and vulnerable to costly mistakes.

It doesn’t have to be this way! Every entrepreneur deserves a financial partner who simplifies the chaos, provides proactive guidance, and empowers them to make confident decisions.

With over 300 businesses transformed and a team that speaks your language (no jargon, just straight talk), NeatBooks combines expert financial strategies with a personal touch. We’re here to turn complexity into clarity and help you ProsperNeatly™.

Here’s how we do it:

Step 1: Schedule a Discovery Call - Let’s understand if we are a good fit, first. Then, we’ll move
into an assessment of where you are and what actions we need to take together to help you gain
clarity and financial organization.

Step 2: Strategize & Optimize - Together, we build a plan customized for your business and
your goals, and we execute.

Step 3: ProsperNeatly™ - You gain the confidence that comes with having a reliable, competent
partner managing the financial side of your business.

Let’s get started by scheduling a Discovery Call today. In 15 minutes, you’ll know how we can impact your business.

In the meantime, we invite you to download any of our free resources that have been built to support entrepreneurs in the food service, construction, and real estate development and investment spaces