Guides

Estimated taxes

How to pay quarterly taxes in 2026

Every IRS payment channel compared on fee, speed and limit, plus what to do when a payment does not show up.

Nicolas Straut · August 22, 2026

Tax software

6 best tax software options for the self-employed

FreeTaxUSA, Cash App Taxes, TurboTax Premium and three more, compared on real Schedule C pricing, free-tier limits and hidden fees, all read from vendor pages.

Nicolas Straut · August 21, 2026

Estimated taxes

How to make California estimated tax payments in 2026

California's front-loaded 30/40/0/30 schedule, the $500 threshold, and the three-tier safe harbor most guides leave out.

Nicolas Straut · August 19, 2026

Estimated taxes

How to make New York estimated tax payments in 2026

The $300 combined threshold, how state, city, Yonkers, and the MCTMT bundle onto one voucher, and the MCTMT self-employed threshold for 2026.

Nicolas Straut · August 19, 2026

LLC formation

How much does an LLC cost?

Formation and recurring fees for all 51 US jurisdictions, plus the minimum state taxes most comparison tables leave out entirely.

Nicolas Straut · August 14, 2026

Estimated taxes

What is Form 1040-ES?

The 15-line Estimated Tax Worksheet explained line by line, the two February 2026 corrections, and the 2026 due dates for all four vouchers.

Nicolas Straut · August 14, 2026

LLC formation

LLC vs sole proprietorship

An LLC changes nothing about federal income or self-employment tax. The 2026 figures side by side, and what the structure actually buys you.

Nicolas Straut · August 14, 2026

LLC formation

How to get an EIN

Current IRS application hours including weekends, the one-per-day limit, the CP 575 notice you cannot go back for, and who actually needs one.

Nicolas Straut · August 14, 2026

LLC formation

Do freelancers need an LLC?

Most freelancers don't need one. What the liability shield actually covers, when a free EIN is enough instead, and the four situations where forming one pays off.

Nicolas Straut · August 14, 2026

Tax software

Keeper Tax review 2026

What each Keeper Tax tier includes, why a third state return costs $200, and when a cheaper filing product does the same job.

Nicolas Straut · August 14, 2026

Estimated taxes

How to calculate quarterly taxes in 6 steps

A six-step worked example from $90,000 of net profit to one payment figure, plus whether you can pay estimated taxes all at once.

Nicolas Straut · August 11, 2026

Estimated taxes

How much to set aside for taxes when you're self-employed

The real federal reserve rate by income level, from roughly 17% of net profit at $40,000 up to roughly 26% at $200,000, plus state and safe harbor adjustments.

Nicolas Straut · August 11, 2026

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

How to avoid the IRS underpayment penalty

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 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 in 2026, federal and state

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?

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