Guides
Plain-terms guides on estimated taxes, self-employment tax, and the other money mechanics of freelancing, each one traced back to an IRS or SSA source.
Estimated taxes
What are safe harbor tax rules for IRS estimated taxes?
The 90%/100%/110% thresholds, why a lump-sum payment in December still fails, and the zero-prior-year-liability exemption most articles skip.
Nicolas Straut · July 31, 2026
Estimated taxes
Underpayment penalty guide: How to avoid IRS tax penalties
Why the penalty is simple interest, not daily compounding, plus a worked 2026 example using the actual mid-year rate change.
Nicolas Straut · July 31, 2026
Estimated taxes
When are estimated tax payment dates? The 2026 and 2027 quarterly schedule
The 2026 and 2027 due dates, why none of the 2026 ones shift, and the double weekend/holiday shift that lands Q4 2027 on January 18, 2028.
Nicolas Straut · July 31, 2026
Estimated taxes
Estimated tax payments guide: Federal and state rules for 2026
Federal due dates, safe harbor thresholds, and how California and New York each run their own schedule and threshold.
Nicolas Straut · July 24, 2026
Self-employment tax
What is self-employment tax? How much it costs and how to calculate it
The 15.3% rate, the Social Security wage base cap, the 50% deduction, and worked examples at three profit levels for 2026.
Nicolas Straut · July 24, 2026