First-Year Freelancer / 1099

“This is my first year as a freelancer, what do I need to know about taxes?”

Leaving a W-2 job for independent work often changes how income is reported, how withholding is handled, and how records are tracked during the year. The answer usually depends on whether the new work is treated as self-employment, whether there is any remaining wage income, and how business expenses and estimated tax payments fit into the picture. Health insurance, retirement savings, and state filing rules can also affect the overall result. In many cases, the shift is less about a single tax rate and more about managing income timing, deductions, and documentation throughout the year. A CPA who reads your specifics can usually tell you, in plain English, where this lands.

This page is a prompt to start a conversation, not tax or legal advice, and states no tax-law specifics as fact. A consult session does not by itself create an ongoing engagement. We do not promise specific outcomes or savings. Kohari Gonzalez Oneyear & Brown PLLC — Charlotte, NC.