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Freelance writers

Writer taxes,
handled.

Whether you're full-time freelance, ghostwriting, on Substack, or juggling retainers — 1099Guru handles your quarterly taxes so you can get back to the cursor blinking at you.

Try the live demo Get the free checklist

Estimates only · Not official tax advice · Consult a CPA for big decisions

You know the feeling.

The stuff your accountant friend doesn't want to keep explaining.

✗Income from 5+ clients on 5+ different payment schedules.
✗You forget to invoice, then April hits and you're underwater.
✗Home office, books, software, conferences — you don't claim any of it.
✗Substack / Patreon payments feel weird to report. They shouldn't.
Pre-filled for freelance writers

See your tax number in 10 seconds

What you get

For 1099 income & gig work

Drivers, freelancers, Etsy sellers, consultants, coaches.

  • Set-aside number

    One big green number: the exact $ to pull from every paycheck. No spreadsheets, no math.

  • Next IRS deadline

    We tell you the date, the amount, and add it to your calendar. One click to Google or Apple.

  • Deductions you're missing

    Personalized to your hustle — driver, designer, Etsy seller — with rough dollar savings.

  • Safe-harbor protection

    Hit our recommended number and the IRS legally can't hit you with underpayment penalties.

  • Reminders that actually work

    We nudge you before every quarterly due date so you never get a surprise April bill.

See full plan comparison →
Preview · Sample data

Set aside from every paycheck

$0

That's about 28% of every check. Move it to a separate savings account the moment it lands.

Next IRS deadline

September 15, 2026

Pay $3,690 via IRS Direct Pay.

Safe harbor

$4,059

Pay this and the IRS can't penalize you.

Federal

$0

Self-Employment

$0

State (CA)

$0

Total this quarter

$0

Top deductions for you

Home office~$312
Software subscriptions~$198
Phone & internet (60%)~$144
Waitlist only · No charge until launch

Want this for your real numbers?

Join the waitlist and get early access the moment we open the doors — plus a free first quarter of Pro and a referral skip-the-line link.

  • First-quarter Pro plan free at launch
  • Skip 50 spots for every friend you refer
  • Founding-member pricing locked in for life

🎉 2,847 freelancers already in line. Free Quarterly Tax Checklist on signup.

Get the free Freelance writers tax checklist

Join the waitlist and we'll email you the one-page checklist of every deduction you should be tracking — built for freelance writers.

🎉 2,847 freelancers already in line. Free Quarterly Tax Checklist on signup.

The deductions most freelance writers miss

1099Guru catches these for you automatically.

Home office

If you write from a dedicated space (even a corner desk that's only used for work), you can deduct a percentage of rent, utilities, internet, and renters insurance.

Software subscriptions

Notion, Scrivener, Grammarly, ChatGPT Plus, Ulysses, Substack Pro — all 100% deductible.

Books, courses, conferences

If it sharpens your writing or grows your audience, it's a deduction. Save the receipts.

Internet & phone (business %)

Estimate the percentage you use for work (usually 60–80% for full-time freelancers) — that's your deduction.

Health insurance premiums

Self-employed writers can deduct health insurance premiums above-the-line. This is a big one most writers miss.

"I used to spend a whole Sunday every quarter spreadsheeting my taxes. 1099Guru gave me a number and a plan in 8 seconds. I cried, then I went outside."

Maya P.

Freelance Writer · Brooklyn, NY

Questions freelance writers actually ask

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