Topic

Self-employment

Working for yourself adds a second payroll tax, quarterly payments and a deduction for business income. These pieces work the numbers for side businesses, small firms and household employers.

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Estimated tax: the safe harbors

Articles

Nothing paid until December on a $40,000 side business cost a $10 penalty, because last year's tax set the bar

Nov 5, 2026 · 9 min read

A $65,000 earner with a new $40,000 side business owed $17,941 of 2025 tax, yet paying $386 on December 15 held the underpayment penalty to $10, because the prior-year rule capped what she had to prepay at $6,141. For 2026 that bar rises to $15,896, with the last installment due January 15, 2027.

Bonus Depreciation Is 100% in 2026, and Permanent

May 22, 2026 · 6 min read

Public Law 119-21 repealed the TCJA phase-down before the 20% year arrived: property acquired after January 19, 2025 gets a permanent 100% first-year write-off. The 2026 Section 179 cap is $2,560,000, and the 20% QBI deduction no longer expires.