Tax Guide for Schedule C Filers & Sole Proprietors: How to Stay on Track

At Rise Tax Pro, We’re Here to Help Self-Employed Professionals

Welcome to Rise Tax Pro, where we specialize in helping self-employed individuals—sole proprietors, freelancers, and independent contractors—navigate their tax obligations. Filing under Schedule C can be complex, but with our step-by-step guidance, it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re balancing self-employment with a traditional job or solely focusing on your own business, we’re here to help you get organized, stay compliant with IRS requirements, and track your income and expenses accurately. If you’re behind, don’t worry—we can assist in restructuring your income records and getting you back on track.

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What You Need to Know as a Sole Proprietor (Schedule C Filer)

As a sole proprietor, all business income and expenses are reported on Schedule C of your personal tax return (Form 1040). This means your business profits (or losses) directly affect your personal taxes, and you’ll also need to pay self-employment taxes. Here’s how to prepare.

Step 1: Organize Your Income Documentation
Report every dollar earned from your business. Be diligent in keeping accurate records for 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC forms from clients, bank statements or invoices for non-1099 income, and other income streams like direct sales, online platforms, or cash payments. Remember, even if a client didn’t send you a 1099, that income must still be reported.

Step 2: Track Your Business Expenses for Deductions
Self-employed individuals are eligible for a wide range of deductions that reduce taxable income. Organize receipts and records for supplies, equipment, home office expenses, vehicle mileage, marketing costs, insurance, travel, meals, phone, and internet bills. Using an app or accounting software throughout the year can make tracking easy and stress-free.

Step 3: Handle Self-Employment Taxes
Being self-employed means paying both the employer and employee portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes, known as self-employment tax, totaling 15.3%. The good news? You can deduct half of your self-employment tax when calculating your adjusted gross income (AGI).

IRS Compliance & Restructuring Your Income Tracking
Staying compliant with the IRS is crucial to avoid penalties or audits. If your record-keeping has been inconsistent, we can help you restructure your tracking system to ensure that all income and expenses are correctly categorized. We also offer IRS compliance checks to identify and correct any potential issues before filing, and if you’re behind on quarterly payments, we’ll help you catch up and create a system to stay on track.

If You’re Employed and Self-Employed
Balancing a traditional job and a side business? You’ll report your W-2 income as usual, then file Schedule C for your business income and expenses. Keep your business records separate from W-2 income for easier tracking and filing. You’ll also need to pay self-employment tax on your business income, even if you have W-2 earnings.

Quarterly Estimated Taxes
Self-employed individuals are required to pay taxes throughout the year. Use Form 1040-ES to calculate your estimated taxes, and remember quarterly deadlines in April, June, September, and January. You can pay online through IRS Direct Pay, and we’re here to help estimate your payments to avoid underpayment penalties.

Maximize Your Deductions
At Rise Tax Pro, our mission is to ensure you’re claiming every possible deduction to keep your tax liability low. We’ll help identify deductions for business expenses, travel, meals, home office costs, and payments to contractors, so you’re not paying more than necessary.

How Rise Tax Pro Can Help You
We’re experts in helping self-employed individuals manage their taxes smoothly. Here’s how we support you:

  • Organize Your Finances: We’ll get your income and expense records ready for tax season.

  • Maximize Your Deductions: We ensure every deduction you’re entitled to is claimed.

  • IRS Compliance: We help you avoid common issues with income reporting and compliance.

  • Quarterly Tax Support: Let us assist you with estimating and staying on top of quarterly payments.

Get Started with Your Schedule C Filing
Ready to simplify your tax filing? Whether you need help organizing records, calculating estimated taxes, or filing your Schedule C, we’re here to make it easy. Contact Rise Tax Pro today or securely upload your documents through our portal, and let us take care of the rest.

We’re here to help you navigate self-employment taxes with confidence, stay compliant, and keep more of what you earn.

File Your Taxes Now
You can count on us for professional, timely, and reliable tax and accounting services. If you’re ready to get started, just fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.