Tax Advice

[MilitaryMama]

Hello!

I was an employee for the first 6 months of this year and then became an independent contractor for that employer starting in July because I relocated states. From what I've read, I can just file a 1040 return & fill out a Schedule C to report my self-employment income and expenses? 

My husband and I usually file married filing joint but since starting 2023 I will be self-employed full time and more than likely have to file my taxes quarterly, I'm assuming we will have to start filing separately?

Thank you!

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

No you still file a Joint return with Schedule C for your self employment.  

To report your self employment income you will fill out schedule C in your personal 1040 tax return and pay SE self employment Tax. You will need to use the Online Premium or Self Employed version or any Desktop program but the Desktop Home & Business version will have the most help.

Turbo Tax Beginners Tax Guide for the Self Employed
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/self-employment-taxes/beginners-tax-guide-for-the-self-employed...

Here is some IRS reading material……
IRS information on Self Employment
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employed-individuals-tax-center

Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf

Publication 535 Business Expenses
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p535.pdf

You pay Self Employment tax on $400 or more of net profit from self-employment in addition to any regular income tax. You pay 15.3% SE tax on 92.35% of your Net Profit greater than $400. The 15.3% self employed SE Tax is to pay both the employer part and employee part of Social Security and Medicare. So you get social security credit for it when you retire.

You may need to send in quarterly estimated payments. You must make quarterly estimated tax payments for the current tax year if both of the following apply:
- 1. You expect to owe at least $1,000 in tax for the current tax year, after subtracting your withholding and credits.

- 2. You expect your withholding and credits to be less than the smaller of:
90% of the tax to be shown on your current year’s tax return, or
100% of the tax shown on your prior year’s tax return. (Your prior year tax return must cover all 12 months.)

Here are the blank Estimates and instructions…..
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf

Or you can pay on the IRS website. Be sure to pick 2023 1040ES payment
https://www.irs.gov/payments

[rjs]

You don't file taxes quarterly. You make quarterly estimated tax payments. There is no quarterly tax return. Your quarterly payments are applied to the total tax on the joint tax return that you file at the end of the year. Your joint tax return shows all your income for the year.