Retired VS non-retired tax reporting

Do you mean you are working now as an independent contractor?   Are you doing some sort of consulting etc?   If so you will have self-employment income from which you will pay self-employment tax for Social Security and Medicare, and for which you will prepare a Schedule C for business expenses.

 

As for licensing---that would be a state matter which you would have to explore with your state.  The IRS does not require you to have a license to do business as an independent contractor.

 

 

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2926899-how-does-my-side-job-affect-my-taxes

 

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/form-1099-nec/1099-nec/L5qTsBiSe_US_en_US

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/how-do-i-report-income-from-self-employment/00/26653

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/self-employed/help/what-is-the-self-employment-tax/00/25922

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902389-why-am-i-paying-self-employment-tax

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901340-where-do-i-enter-schedule-c

 

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3398950-what-self-employed-expenses-can-i-deduct

 

 

https://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/self-employed/self-employed-tax-deductions-

calculator-2021-2022-50907/

 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901110-do-i-need-to-make-estimated-tax-payments-to-the-irs

 

 

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/calculators/self-employed/

You can only deduct those expenses if you have a business so you would need self employment income on which you would pay self employment tax as well as regular income tax   

Thanks.  I would like to be an independent contractor if any project come along but I  would go all out to get a business.  What if, I don't have any project for the whole year?  

Thanks.

That mean if I don't get any income as an independent contractor, I won't be able to deduct my expenses?

If you do not have a  business and do not have Schedule C to report expenses on then, sorry, you have no place to deduct ongoing or renewed certification expenses.  That will simply be a personal expense.

Because I have to pay licenses and other continue education expenses, can I just report making say, $200 and filed a form C ? 

“can I just report making say, $200”

Are you implying that you would just make up income to be able to deduct expenses?  That would be fraud. 

Understood! That is illegal. what if I made $500 and reported $1,000?

 

Thanks