SelfEmploymentTaxEstimator.com

Tax Guides & Resources

Plain-language guides on self-employment taxes, quarterly payments, deductions, and more.

Guide · Series: Freelance Finance New

Tax Week Checklist: What to Do Before April 15

Three tasks, three days: pay your Q1 2026 estimated taxes, file or extend your 2025 return, and consider a last-minute SEP-IRA contribution. A step-by-step action guide with worked examples.

Published April 12, 2026
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Guide New

Lyft Driver Taxes: 1099s, Mileage, and Quarterly Payments

Lyft-specific tax guide covering income reporting, deductible expenses (mileage, phone, car costs), quarterly estimated payments, and how to avoid underpayment penalties.

Published April 8, 2026
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Guide · Series: Freelance Finance

Last-Minute Tax Deductions You Might Be Missing

Home office, health insurance premiums, professional subscriptions, and the SE tax deduction itself. Make sure you are not leaving money on the table before April 15.

Published April 5, 2026
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Guide

DoorDash Taxes: The Complete Dasher Tax Guide

How DoorDash reports your income, what Dashers can deduct (mileage, hot bags, phone), how to calculate quarterly payments, and how to avoid an April tax surprise.

Published April 1, 2026
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Guide · Series: Freelance Finance

Tax Extension 101: Should You File for an Extension?

April 15 is two weeks away. Learn what a tax extension actually does, when it makes sense for freelancers, and the critical difference between filing late and paying late.

Published March 29, 2026
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Guide

Uber Driver Taxes: What You Owe and How to Reduce It

Complete tax guide for Uber drivers: 1099-K and 1099-NEC income, mileage deduction (standard vs. actual), quarterly payments, and key deductions.

Published March 25, 2026
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Guide · Series: Freelance Finance

How to Calculate Your Quarterly Estimated Tax Payment

Step-by-step formulas for calculating your Q1 payment before April 15. Covers the safe harbor rules, a worked example, and how to handle combined W-2 and 1099 income.

Published March 22, 2026
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Guide · Series: Freelance Finance

Quarterly Estimated Taxes: How They Work (and Why You'll Get Penalized If You Skip)

Q1 is due April 15. Learn how the quarterly system works, what triggers the underpayment penalty, and how the safe harbor rules protect you.

Published March 15, 2026
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Guide · Series: Freelance Finance

The Freelance Finance Mindset: Why Freelancers Need to Think Differently About Money

No employer safety net, no automatic withholding, and no one setting aside taxes on your behalf. How to reframe your relationship with money as a self-employed worker.

Updated March 2026
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Guide

Why Quarterly Estimated Taxes Matter: How to Calculate Yours

Who needs to pay quarterly, how underpayment penalties work, and how to use the SE tax calculator as an ongoing planning tool throughout the year.

Updated March 2026
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