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Self Employed

41 posts tagged Self Employed. Browse the rest of the blog or pick a different tag below.

All posts· 43 Self Employed· 41Tax Deduction· 40Schedule C· 38Mileage Tracking· 27Gig Driver· 21Obbba· 16Audit Defense· 14IRS Mileage Rate· 9QBI· 9Home Office· 2

  1. tax deduction · self employed

    Texas Mileage Reimbursement (2026)

    Texas has no law forcing employers to reimburse mileage and no state income tax. Here's how that changes the math for self-employed drivers and W-2 workers.

    EveryLastMile

  2. tax deduction · self employed

    Are Tolls Tax Deductible? (2026)

    Yes — business tolls are deductible on Schedule C in 2026 under either the standard mileage rate or actual expenses. The §162 + Pub. 463 rules, explained.

    EveryLastMile

  3. mileage tracking · audit defense

    Can I Use Google Maps for Mileage Tracking? (2026)

    Google Maps Timeline tracks where you went, not why. Here's what the IRS actually requires under §274(d) — and why Timeline alone won't survive an audit.

    EveryLastMile

  4. tax deduction · self employed

    Are Vehicle Registration Fees Tax Deductible? (2026)

    Sometimes. Whether you can deduct car registration in 2026 depends on work status, mileage method, and whether your state's fee is value-based.

    EveryLastMile

  5. tax deduction · mileage tracking

    Is a Car Allowance Taxable? (2026)

    Most car allowances are taxable W-2 wages. The exception — an accountable plan under Treas. Reg. §1.62-2 — is everything in 2026. Here's why.

    EveryLastMile

  6. tax deduction · self employed

    Is Car Insurance Tax Deductible? (2026)

    Car insurance is deductible only if you use the actual expense method on Schedule C. If you take the 72.5¢/mile standard rate, it's already baked in.

    EveryLastMile

  7. tax deduction · self employed

    Are You a 1099 Employee? (2026)

    The IRS treats workers as W-2 employees or 1099 contractors — no third category. Here's how to tell which you are, and what to do if you're misclassified.

    EveryLastMile

  8. tax deduction · self employed

    1099-K Threshold 2026 — What Gig Drivers Need to Know

    OBBBA §70432 restored the $20,000 + 200-transaction federal 1099-K threshold for 2026. What that changes for self-employed drivers — and what doesn't.

    EveryLastMile Cornerstone

  9. tax deduction · self employed

    QBI Deduction 2026: Complete Self-Employed Guide

    A primary-source 2026 guide to the §199A QBI deduction for gig workers and freelancers — OBBBA permanence, the new $400 minimum, and 2026 thresholds.

    EveryLastMile

  10. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    California Mileage Reimbursement (2026)

    California is one of three states that legally require employers to reimburse mileage. The 2026 guide to §2802 for W-2 employees and Schedule C drivers.

    EveryLastMile

  11. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Instacart Driver Tax Guide 2026

    The definitive 2026 tax guide for Instacart Full-Service Shoppers — Maplebear 1099-NEC, mileage, QBI, OBBBA tip deduction, and Schedule C done right.

    EveryLastMile

  12. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Walmart Spark Driver Tax Guide 2026

    The 2026 tax guide for Walmart Spark drivers — 1099-NEC, Schedule C, SE tax, QBI, mileage, quarterlies, and the OBBBA changes that actually matter.

    EveryLastMile

  13. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Does Amazon Flex Track Miles? (2026)

    Amazon Flex doesn't track miles for taxes — and unlike most gig platforms, it doesn't even show estimated miles on most blocks. Here's what to do about it.

    EveryLastMile

  14. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Does Instacart Track Miles? (2026)

    Instacart shows distance on batch offers — but it's not an IRS mileage log. Here's what Instacart reports, what it misses, and how to fix it.

    EveryLastMile

  15. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Does Lyft Track Miles? (2026)

    Lyft gives drivers an Annual Summary with 'online miles,' but that number is not an IRS-compliant mileage log. Here is what is missing and how to fix it.

    EveryLastMile

  16. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Does Walmart Spark Track Miles? (2026)

    Walmart Spark doesn't track your miles. Not a single one. Here's what that means for your taxes, and what to do about it before April.

    EveryLastMile

  17. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Does DoorDash Track Miles? (2026)

    DoorDash's January mileage email covers only on-delivery miles — missing 30–40% of your deductible driving. Here's what's missing and how to fix it.

    EveryLastMile

  18. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    Does Uber Track Miles? (2026)

    Uber tracks more miles than DoorDash does — but still not all of them. Here's exactly what Uber's Tax Summary captures, what it misses, and what it costs you.

    EveryLastMile

  19. schedule c · audit defense

    The IRS Commuting Rule, Explained (2026)

    Rev. Rul. 99-7, plain English. The IRS rule that decides whether your drive from home is deductible business mileage or a personal commute on Schedule C.

    EveryLastMile

  20. schedule c · real estate

    Schedule C vs Schedule E: Which Form to File 2026

    Agents file Schedule C. Landlords file Schedule E. Some file both. A 2026 decision tree, SE tax math, and the §469(c)(7) confusion fixed.

    EveryLastMile

  21. schedule c · self employed

    Schedule C NAICS Codes for Self-Employed Drivers 2026

    The right Schedule C business code for rideshare, delivery, real estate, and contractor drivers — from the 2025 IRS instructions, with audit-trigger notes.

    EveryLastMile

  22. tax deduction · self employed

    Can I Deduct My Car Payment? A Self-Employed Guide

    The car payment itself isn't deductible — but the business use, the interest, and a new OBBBA deduction for personal car loan interest may be.

    EveryLastMile

  23. irs mileage rate · tax deduction

    Can I Deduct Gas If I Use the Standard Mileage Rate?

    No — the standard mileage rate already includes gas. But you can still deduct parking, tolls, interest, and a few other costs on top.

    EveryLastMile

  24. self employed · schedule c

    Do I Need an EIN as a Gig Driver?

    Most gig drivers don't need an EIN — your SSN works fine on Schedule C. Here's when an EIN actually matters, and when it doesn't.

    EveryLastMile

  25. irs mileage rate · tax deduction

    IRS Standard Mileage Rate History (2010–2026)

    IRS mileage rate history 2010–2026 — business, medical, and charitable rates, the depreciation component schedule, and the inflection points behind them.

    EveryLastMile

  26. self employed · schedule c

    QBI Deduction 2026: What It Is and How to Claim It

    The 20% Section 199A deduction explained — 2026 thresholds, SSTB rules, the W-2/UBIA limit above the threshold, and the new $400 floor under OBBBA.

    EveryLastMile Cornerstone

  27. schedule c · tax deduction

    Multi-Vehicle Mileage Tracking for Schedule C (2026)

    How to track two or more vehicles on a single Schedule C in 2026: per-vehicle method elections, §274(d) substantiation, and automatic per-VIN trip tagging.

    EveryLastMile

  28. tax deduction · self employed

    Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Drivers (2026)

    A 15-minute calculator for your June 15 estimate — safe harbors, penalty math, and state-by-state mechanics for self-employed drivers in 2026.

    EveryLastMile

  29. audit defense · tax deduction

    Audit Response Letter & IDR Templates

    Copy-ready IDR response, §6662 abatement, Form 12203, and Form 911 templates to defend a self-employed mileage deduction. Verified Tax Court case law. 2026.

    EveryLastMile

  30. tax deduction · self employed

    Delivery Driver Mileage Tax Guide 2026

    DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, Spark, Grubhub, Amazon Flex. The 2026 tax guide — Schedule C, §224 No Tax on Tips, and the multi-app reporting gap.

    EveryLastMile Cornerstone

  31. schedule c · tax deduction

    Schedule C Vehicle Expenses: 2026 Walkthrough

    Line-by-line guide to vehicle expenses on Schedule C for 2026 — Line 9, Part IV, Form 4562 Part V, Schedule SE — with a worked example.

    EveryLastMile

  32. tax deduction · self employed

    Section 179 Heavy Vehicle Deduction (2026)

    For most drivers standard mileage beats §179. For the slice it fits, OBBBA 100% bonus + $32k SUV sub-cap can be huge. Here's the decision framework.

    EveryLastMile

  33. tax deduction · self employed

    OBBBA Tax Changes for Self-Employed Drivers

    The OBBBA rewrote the rules for 2026 — what changed for rideshare, delivery, real estate, and freelance drivers, with worked dollar examples.

    EveryLastMile

  34. audit defense · self employed

    Mileage Audit Defense for Self-Employed Drivers

    What to do before, during, and after an IRS mileage audit — §274(d), §6662 penalties, Form 4564 response, and the 30/30/90 timeline.

    EveryLastMile

  35. tax deduction · self employed

    Uber & Lyft Driver Mileage Tax Guide 2026

    Uber and Lyft tax summaries undercount your business miles by 30–40%. The complete 2026 guide — P1/P2/P3, Schedule C, SE tax, and audit defense.

    EveryLastMile Cornerstone

  36. tax deduction · self employed

    What Counts as a Business Mile? 47 Examples

    47 real-world driving scenarios with verdicts, the IRS authority, and the 'but if' caveat — for every self-employed driver in 2026.

    EveryLastMile

  37. irs mileage rate · tax deduction

    IRS Mileage Rate 2026: Complete Self-Employed Guide

    The 2026 IRS business mileage rate is 72.5¢/mi. How to use it, who qualifies, what's new under OBBBA, and how to log miles to survive an audit.

    EveryLastMile Cornerstone

  38. real estate · tax deduction

    Mileage Tracking for Real Estate Agents: 2026 Guide

    Real estate agents drive 10K–30K business miles a year. Here's how IRC §3508 + the home office rule turn that into your biggest Schedule C deduction in 2026.

    EveryLastMile

  39. tax deduction · self employed

    Freelancer + 1099 Mileage: 2026 Schedule C Guide

    How freelancers and 1099 contractors deduct business miles on Schedule C in 2026 — Rev. Rul. 99-7, the home office unlock, and Tax Court audit defense.

    EveryLastMile

  40. tax deduction · self employed

    Standard Mileage vs. Actual Expenses: 2026 Guide

    Standard mileage rate or actual expenses for 2026? The decision framework, the irreversible lock-in trap, and worked math for self-employed drivers.

    EveryLastMile Cornerstone

  41. mileage tracking · tax deduction

    How to Track Mileage for Taxes: A Complete Guide

    Self-employed? What the IRS requires, what Tax Court cases teach about audit defense, and the smartest way to track miles in 2026.

    EveryLastMile