How to File Taxes With 1099 Tax Form

If you're a 1099 worker, your tax life is very different than that of employees. It's vitally important to understand how to file your taxes when you're a 1099 worker, or you can end up in big trouble with the IRS. Here's how to file taxes with 1099 tax form.

What is a 1099 tax form?

The IRS refers to the 1099 tax forms as "information returns" which document income you receive that doesn't come directly from an employer. 1099 tax forms include the 1099-MISC, which shows income you've received from your self-employed businesses. Other 1099 tax forms can show dividends, interest payments, government payments and more.

How to file taxes with 1099 tax form

Remember, 1099 workers are independent contractors, not employees. Independent contractors are treated very differently from employees for tax purposes.

For one thing, no taxes are withheld from your pay. Employers must withhold federal and state income tax, as well as Social Security and Medicare tax, from their employees' pay and send it the IRS and state tax agencies.

Instead of having their tax withheld, 1099 workers must pay estimated taxes four times per year directly to the IRS and their state tax agency (see below). 1099 workers can deduct any necessary expenses related to their business. Employee's work-related deductions are severely limited.

Some deductions available to 1099 workers may not be taken by employees. 1099 workers ordinarily file more complex tax returns than employees because they must list their business income and expenses in a separate tax schedule.

What taxes do 1099 workers have to pay?

Your taxes will consist of income taxes, and Social Security and Medicare taxes (also called self-employment taxes when paid by 1099 workers).

The vast majority of 1099 workers are sole proprietors. A sole proprietorship is a one-owner business. The business owner (proprietor) personally owns all of the assets of the business and controls its operation. If you're running a one-person business and haven't incorporated or formed a limited liability company, you're automatically a sole proprietor.

When you're a sole proprietor, you and your business are one and the same for tax purposes. Businesses that are sole proprietorships don't pay taxes or file tax returns directly. Instead, you must report the income you earn or losses you incur on your own personal tax return, IRS Form 1040, which is due each year by April 15. If you earn a profit, the money is added to any other income you have.

How much money do you have to make to get a 1099?

Your payer should provide you a 1099 tax form if you've earned more than $600 a year. Even if you never receive a 1099 tax form, you must report your payments on your tax return.

Do you pay more taxes if you get a 1099?

It depends mainly on how much income you're making. A 1099 worker doesn't have money withheld from pay for taxes but they still owe income and self-employment tax on those wages. The new tax law provides some relief for pass-through small businesses, which may net out to a lower tax rate.

How to determine if your business is profitable

Although you are taxed on your total income regardless of its source, the IRS does want to know about the profitability of your business. To show whether you have a profit or loss from your sole proprietorship, you must file IRS Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, with your tax return. Use this form to list all your business income and deductible expenses.

Sole proprietors are not employees of their proprietorships; they are business owners. Their businesses don't pay payroll taxes on a sole proprietor's income or withhold income tax from their compensation. Yet, sole proprietors do have to pay self-employment taxes.

This includes Social Security and Medicare taxes on net self-employment income.

Note that 1099 workers and employees are each entitled to Social Security and Medicare benefits, but independent contractors must pay twice as much Social Security and Medicare taxes as do employees. The reason is that employers must pay 50 percent of such taxes on their employees' behalf.

Quarterly payment of your estimated taxes covers business income and self-employment taxes (see below).

State taxes for 1099 workers

All states except Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming impose income taxes on the self-employed. New Hampshire and Tennessee impose income taxes on dividend and interest income only. Most states charge a percentage of the income shown on your federal income tax return.

In most states, you have to prepay your state income taxes during the year in the form of estimated taxes. These are usually paid at the same time you pay your federal estimated taxes. You'll also have to file an annual state income tax return with your state tax department.

Tax deductions for 1099 workers

You only need to pay income and self-employment tax on your net business income. This is the income you have left over after you subtract all of your deductible business expenses from the total amount you earned from your design business during the year.

Business deductions are quite valuable. If you're in the 25 percent income tax bracket, each $100 in deductions saves you $25 in income tax. It will also usually save you about $15 in self-employment taxes as well.

You may deduct any expense that is:

• directly related to your business
• ordinary and necessary, and
• not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances

What are some common deductions for 1099 workers?

• Outside and home office expenses
• Local travel expenses
• Business travel expenses
• Equipment and other long-term property
• Software and online service subscriptions
• Supplies
• Dues
• Education
• Promotional expenses
• Legal and professional services
• Insurance
• Business-related meals and entertainment
• Business start-up expenses

How to pay estimated taxes

1099 workers don't have any tax withheld from their pay by their clients. Instead, they must make four estimated tax payments to the IRS each year. If you fail to pay estimated tax, you could have a whopping tax bill due on April 15 and you'll also have to pay a penalty to the IRS.