A field guide for self-employed filers
Find the deduction. Understand the form. File with confidence.
Deduction Atlas is a focused, browseable reference for small-business owners, freelancers, and sole proprietors. Every IRS form, publication, and Schedule C deduction explained in plain English — with the tradeoffs that matter for your return.
Start with the deductions most filers miss
Schedule C deductions reduce both income tax and self-employment tax — the double benefit that makes diligent recordkeeping pay off.
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Home OfficeHome Office Deduction
Sole proprietors who use part of their home regularly and exclusively for business may deduct an allocable share of home expenses.
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VehicleVehicle Expenses: Standard Mileage vs Actual
Self-employed taxpayers may deduct vehicle expenses using either the IRS standard mileage rate or actual expenses prorated by business-use percentage.
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Health & InsuranceSelf-Employed Health Insurance Deduction
Self-employed taxpayers may deduct 100% of health, dental, vision, and qualified long-term care insurance premiums above the line, reducing AGI.
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QBIQualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction
Pass-through business owners can deduct up to 20% of qualified business income on their personal return.
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DepreciationSection 179 Expensing
Section 179 lets active small businesses immediately expense qualifying tangible personal property up to an annual cap.
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RetirementSolo 401(k) Contributions
A solo 401(k) is a 401(k) plan covering only an owner (and optionally a spouse), permitting both employee deferrals and employer contributions.
The forms you'll actually file
Plain-English walkthroughs of the IRS forms a sole proprietor or single-member LLC owner encounters each year.
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Schedule CSchedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Business
Schedule C is the primary return that sole proprietors and single-member LLCs file each year to report business income and deduct ordinary…
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Schedule SESchedule SE (Form 1040), Self-Employment Tax
Schedule SE calculates the Social Security and Medicare tax owed on net earnings from self-employment.
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1040Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Form 1040 is the master return that ties together all your income, adjustments, deductions, credits, and payments for the year.
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1099-NECForm 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation
Form 1099-NEC reports payments of $600 or more made to nonemployee service providers during the calendar year.
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8829Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home
Form 8829 calculates the deductible portion of home expenses attributable to a qualified home office.
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4562Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization
Form 4562 reports depreciation, Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation, listed property, and amortization.
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8995Form 8995, Qualified Business Income Deduction Simplified Computation
Form 8995 calculates the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction for taxpayers below the income threshold.
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1040-ESForm 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals
Form 1040-ES is the worksheet and payment voucher set for paying federal income and self-employment tax in quarterly installments.
Topical guides for situations that matter
Strategy, planning, and decision frameworks for the questions that come up year after year.
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Estimated TaxesEstimated Taxes for the Self-Employed
Self-employed taxpayers pay federal income tax and SE tax in four quarterly installments throughout the year.
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Entity ChoiceChoosing a Business Entity: Sole Prop, LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp
Entity choice affects taxes, liability, complexity, and exit options. The right choice changes as the business grows.
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Entity ChoiceReasonable Compensation for S-Corp Owners
S-corp owner-employees must take "reasonable compensation" through W-2 wages before distributions to avoid IRS reclassification and back payroll taxes.
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Tax PlanningQuarterly Tax-Planning Checklist
Review business performance and tax position every quarter to avoid year-end surprises.
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RecordkeepingRecordkeeping Basics for Small Business
Good records help you monitor business progress, file accurate returns, and survive an audit with less stress.
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Worker ClassificationIndependent Contractor vs Employee
Misclassifying workers exposes you to back payroll taxes, FUTA, state unemployment, and personal liability. The IRS common-law test is fact-specific.
Reference publications
Annotated summaries of the IRS publications worth keeping bookmarked.
- Pub 15 — IRS Publication 15 (Circular E): Employer's Tax Guide
- Pub 15-B — IRS Publication 15-B: Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits
- Pub 225 — IRS Publication 225: Farmer's Tax Guide
- Pub 334 — IRS Publication 334: Tax Guide for Small Business (Detailed)
- Pub 463 — IRS Publication 463: The Per-Diem Substitute for Meals & Lodging
- Pub 463 — IRS Publication 463: Travel, Gift, & Car Expenses (Detailed)
- Pub 505 — IRS Publication 505: Tax Withholding & Estimated Tax
- Pub 526 — IRS Publication 526: Charitable Contributions
- Pub 535 — IRS Publication 535: Bonuses, Awards, & Compensation Limits
- Pub 535 — IRS Publication 535: Business Expenses Overview
- Pub 544 — IRS Publication 544: Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets
- Pub 560 — IRS Publication 560: Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE, & Qualified Plans)
- Pub 583 — IRS Publication 583: Starting a Business and Keeping Records
- Pub 587 — IRS Publication 587: Business Use of Your Home (Detailed)
- Pub 587 — IRS Publication 587: Storage of Inventory or Product Samples Exception
- Pub 590-A — IRS Publication 590-A: Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- Pub 590-B — IRS Publication 590-B: Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- Pub 946 — IRS Publication 946: Listed Property Limits & the 50% Cliff
- Pub 946 — IRS Publication 946: The Mid-Quarter Convention
- Pub 969 — IRS Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts & Other Tax-Favored Health Plans
- Pub 15 — Publication 15, Employer's Tax Guide
- Pub 15-B — Publication 15-B, Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits
- Pub 1779 — Publication 1779, Independent Contractor or Employee
- Pub 334 — Publication 334 Chapter 8: Depreciation
- Pub 334 — Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business
- Pub 463 — Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses
- Pub 505 — Publication 505, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax
- Pub 535 — Publication 535, Business Expenses (Historical)
- Pub 538 — Publication 538, Accounting Periods and Methods
- Pub 560 — Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business
- Pub 583 — Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records
- Pub 587 — Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home
- Pub 590-A — Publication 590-A, Contributions to Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- Pub 590-B — Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- Pub 946 — Publication 946, How To Depreciate Property
- Pub 969 — Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans