Yes, you can still claim expenses from income received on form 1099-NEC as an independent contract. The standard deduction or itemized deduction is separate from business income. Your business income is reported above the line where you see the standard or itemized deductions.
The income and expenses as an independent contractor will be reported on Schedule C which is part of your overall tax return. This also means you will be subject to the 15.3% SE Tax. If you did not pay Self Employment (SE) Taxes in 2025, and if you plan to do this again in 2026, it may be a good idea to make estimated quarterly payment to avoid penalties.
Taking Business Expense Deductions
To enter your self-employment income select the following:
- Federal
- Income and Expenses
- Show More next to Self-Employment
- Start next to Self-Employment
- Yes, to you have any self-employment income or expenses
- Enter the type of self-employment work you do and you can select that you use your name for your business
- Click through a few more screens and you will get to a screen that says "Your XX info"
- Click Looks good
- Then you will come to a screen that says Let's enter the income for your business. It will give you the option of 1099-NEC or Other self-employed income including the 1099K , cash and checks. Here is where you will enter your 1099
- If you do not select one, it will not let you enter your income
- Enter your self-employment income on the next screen
- Continue and on the next screen click add expenses
* Please note navigation may differ slightly depending on which version of TurboTax you are using*
**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
