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The last 2026 estimated tax payment is due Friday, January 15, 2027.
Cover of The Side Hustle Tax Kit 2027, with a spreadsheet and printable logs badge
Work & income · PDF + spreadsheet · Tax year 2026–27

How to Track Side Hustle Income and Taxes (and Know What to Set Aside)

Know exactly how much of your side-hustle money to set aside for taxes.

$12.99one-time · Printable PDF (16 pages) + Excel / Google Sheets spreadsheet
Get the kit — $12.99
  • A set-aside calculator that turns your profit into one percentage
  • Income, expense and mileage logs, printable and in a spreadsheet
  • The 2026 1099 rules in plain English ($2,000 1099-NEC, $20,000 1099-K)
  • Quarterly dates and a payment tracker, so April is not a surprise

Look inside

Guide page: the six-step side hustle tax system
The six-step system
Printable worksheet: side hustle income log
Worksheet 1 · Income log
Guide page: how much to set aside for taxes, with 2026 brackets
How much to set aside

What's inside

  • The six-step system: separate, log, set aside, pay quarterly, close the year
  • Worksheet 1 · Income log: gross, fees, net, and which payments bring a 1099
  • What you can deduct: supplies, fees, software, mileage, simplified home office
  • Worksheets 2 and 3 · Expense and mileage logs: what the IRS wants to see
  • 1099 forms in 2026: the new $2,000 1099-NEC threshold and the 1099-K rules
  • How much to set aside: the math, with 2026 brackets
  • Worksheet 4 · Set-aside calculator: your percentage, line by line
  • Quarterly estimated tax and Worksheet 5: dates, safe harbors, and a payment tracker
  • Tax-time checklists, seven costly mistakes, one-page summary: plus a sources page
  • Spreadsheet: income, expenses, mileage (rate switches July 1), set-aside and quarterly tabs
Printable PDF (16 pages) + Excel / Google Sheets spreadsheet

The Side Hustle Tax Kit 2027

  • 16-page PDF + Excel / Google Sheets spreadsheet
  • Income, expense and mileage logs, plus a set-aside calculator
  • 2026 IRS rates and 1099 rules, with sources
$12.99one-time
Get the kit — $12.99

14-day money-back guarantee

Read it, print it, try the worksheets. If it isn’t useful, ask for a refund within 14 days of purchase and we refund it in full. No questions asked. Refund policy

Free preview · the short answer

Side hustle taxes: the short answer

If you net $400 or more from self-employment in a year, you owe self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of your profit) plus regular income tax, and nobody withholds it for you (IRS). If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS expects quarterly payments; the last one for 2026 income is due January 15, 2027.

1. Separate the money

Use one account or card for the side hustle only. Every other step gets faster.

2. Log every dollar in

Gross payments and platform fees. All income is taxable, whether or not you get a 1099. For payments made in 2026, clients send a 1099-NEC at $2,000+ (it was $600); payment apps send a 1099-K over $20,000 and 200 transactions.

3. Log costs and miles

Deduct ordinary and necessary business costs, business share only. The 2026 standard mileage rate is 72.5¢ a mile Jan 1–Jun 30 and 76¢ from July 1, with a log of date, place, purpose and miles.

4. Set aside your share

Profit × 0.9235 × 15.3% (SE tax) + profit × your bracket + state tax = set-aside

Example: $10,000 profit in the 12% bracket ≈ $1,413 + $1,200 = about $2,613, or 26%.

5. Pay four times a year

Use IRS Direct Pay or your IRS Online Account. Dates: Jan 15, Apr 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, 2027. Paying 90% of this year's tax or 100% of last year's (110% above $150,000 AGI) generally avoids the penalty.

6. Close the year

Total the logs, check every 1099 against them, and file Schedule C and Schedule SE.

General education about U.S. federal taxes, not tax advice. Facts checked October 27, 2026 (IRS Form 1040-ES, Rev. Proc. 2025-32, Publication 1099, 2026 mileage rates).

Get the full 16-page guide — $12.99

Questions

How much should I set aside for taxes from a side hustle?

Enough for self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of your profit) plus income tax at your bracket and any state tax. In the 12% federal bracket that is roughly 26% of profit before state tax. The calculator in the kit gives your own number.

Do I have to pay taxes if I don't get a 1099?

Yes. All income is taxable whether or not you receive a form. For payments made in 2026, businesses send a 1099-NEC only at $2,000 or more, so many small payments come with no form.

When are quarterly estimated taxes due?

For 2026 income, the last payment is due January 15, 2027. For 2027 income: April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2027, and January 18, 2028 (Jan 15 falls on a Saturday that year).

What is the 2026 mileage rate?

72.5 cents a mile for business driving from January 1 to June 30, 2026, and 76 cents from July 1, 2026, per IRS announcements.

What's in the kit?

A 16-page printable PDF (system, logs, deductions, 1099 rules, set-aside calculator, quarterly tracker, checklists, summary) and an Excel / Google Sheets spreadsheet with income, expense, mileage, set-aside and quarterly tabs.

Is this tax advice?

No. It is general education about U.S. federal rules. For complex situations, talk to an enrolled agent or CPA, or IRS VITA if you qualify.

How do I get the guide after I pay?

Right after checkout you land on a download page with your files, and Stripe emails your receipt. The download links keep working, so you can bookmark the page and download again later.

Is this a physical book?

No. It is a digital download: a printable PDF (US Letter) you can read on a phone, tablet or computer, or print at home. Nothing is shipped.

What if it isn't right for me?

Email support@getguideshelf.com within 14 days of purchase and we refund it in full. See the refund policy.

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