THE SUNLIGHT TAX BLOG:

Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs

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How Taxes Can Unlock Your Financial Health

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How Taxes Can Unlock Your Financial Health

Today, I’m giving some guidance on how you can use tax time as an opportunity to improve your finances and set yourself up for retirement. I’m diving into the importance of getting organized with systems to track tax documents, receipts, and bookkeeping so you can prevent stress and surprises during tax season. 

Join me in this episode as I outline the steps you need to take to improve your financial security as a creative entrepreneur.

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

Today, I’m giving some guidance on how you can use tax time as an opportunity to improve your finances and set yourself up for retirement. I’m diving into the importance of getting organized with systems to track tax documents, receipts, and bookkeeping so you can prevent stress and surprises during tax season. 

 

Join me in this episode as I outline the steps you need to take to improve your financial security as a creative entrepreneur.

 

Also mentioned in today’s episode:  

  • Why tax time is a key time to assess your financial situation 2:42

  • Why being organized with your finances is so important 7:24

  • High-level steps you can take to prevent stress and surprises at tax time 12:35

  • How you can easily calculate profit as a self-employed person 14:40


If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

The De-Stress Your Taxes Checklist Episode 

Sign up for the free class: Make Taxes Easier and Stash an Extra $130k in your Savings.

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

Insider Deduction Tips

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Insider Deduction Tips

Today, I’m giving you some insight into deductions and details on categories when it comes to your schedule C deductions. I talk about key categories for deductions like advertising and supplies and why it’s so important to keep proper documentation when it comes to deductions on your taxes. 

Join me this week, to get some strategic guidance on maximizing your deductions and avoiding audits by putting expenses in their appropriate categories.

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

Today, I’m giving you some insight into deductions and details on categories when it comes to your schedule C deductions. I talk about key categories for deductions like advertising and supplies and why it’s so important to keep proper documentation when it comes to deductions on your taxes. 

 

Join me this week, to get some strategic guidance on maximizing your deductions and avoiding audits by putting expenses in their appropriate categories.

 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • Advertising and why website hosting fee’s go there 3:00

  •  2 common categories where tax preparers may dump expenses without proper documentation 5:20

  • How to avoid an audit when it comes to listing your deductions 12:40

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

sunlighttax.com/deductions

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

Tips to Make Your Taxes Better Right Now

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Tips to Make Your Taxes Better Right Now

In this week’s episode, I’m giving you some of my best tips when it comes to tax preparation and financial planning if you’re self-employed or a small business owner. I’m giving advice on completing bookkeeping, issuing 1099 forms, and why you need to schedule an early tax appointment with accountants. 

Join me in this informative episode as I try to make your taxes as easy as possible so you can reduce stress and manage your money better.

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

In this week’s episode, I’m giving you some of my best tips when it comes to tax preparation and financial planning if you’re self-employed or a small business owner. I’m giving advice on completing bookkeeping, issuing 1099 forms, and why you need to schedule an early tax appointment with accountants.

 

Join me in this informative episode as I try to make your taxes as easy as possible so you can reduce stress and manage your money better.

 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • Why you should associate bookkeeping with self-care activities 5:53

  • When you should book your appointment with a tax advisor and why it helps if it’s earlier 10:33

  • What is the triple deadline of April 15th? 17:52

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

De-stress your taxes checklist: https://pod.link/1640538610/episode/829669c4f27589e3572ba3c2c497f24b

Issuing 1099s:

https://pod.link/1640538610/episode/5e3fdee788bf841e0aaeb5b3734e395b

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

The De-Stress Your Taxes Checklist

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The De-Stress Your Taxes Checklist

This week on the podcast, I’m giving you a checklist so you can get organized for this upcoming tax season once January comes and sharing some of my biggest tips for tax organization and planning. 

Join me today to learn the action steps you can take to get a head start on your taxes and finances at the start of the year instead of waiting until the last minute. 

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This week on the podcast, I’m giving you a checklist so you can get organized for this upcoming tax season once January comes and sharing some of my biggest tips for tax organization and planning. 

 

Join me today to learn the action steps you can take to get a head start on your taxes and finances at the start of the year instead of waiting until the last minute. 

 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

 

  • Business mileage 2:54

  • Should you have a physical or digital folder of your tax records 5:42

  • Why you need a separate business bank account 10:08

  • Do you need to keep your receipts? 12:05

 

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

 

Links:

FREE LIVE CLASS

Make Taxes Easier and Stash an Extra $130k in Your Savings:

https://go.sunlighttax.com/free

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

Set Up Your Calendar for Tax Success

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Set Up Your Calendar for Tax Success

Today, I’m sharing with you how you can set up your calendar for success as an entrepreneur so you never miss any tax deadlines and why it’s so important to have all of the important tax dates outlined. 

Join me in this episode to find out how you can grab my calendar filled with important tax dates so you can stay prepared for tax season!

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Today, I’m sharing with you how you can set up your calendar for success as an entrepreneur so you never miss any tax deadlines and why it’s so important to have all of the important tax dates outlined. 

 

Join me in this episode to find out how you can grab my calendar filled with important tax dates so you can stay prepared for tax season!

 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

 

  • The importance of tax deadlines 13:56

  • Some of the most important deadlines you need to know 19:00

  • How you can get my free tax nudge calendar 22:02


If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

 

Links: 

Register for the free class “Make Taxes Easier and Stash an Extra $130k in Your Savings” https://go.sunlighttax.com/free

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

The Right Step at the Right Time

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The Right Step at the Right Time

Are you an entrepreneur who has wondered if it’s time for you to form an LLC or an S Corp?

Today, I’m going over the business order of operations and why it’s so important to focus on the next level of your business instead of planning far ahead so you don’t waste valuable time and money. 

 Join me in this important episode as I go over some of the important steps in entrepreneurship and when you might want to consider taking the leap. 

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Are you an entrepreneur who has wondered if it’s time for you to form an LLC or an S Corp?

Today, I’m going over the business order of operations and why it’s so important to focus on the next level of your business instead of planning far ahead so you don’t waste valuable time and money. 

 Join me in this important episode as I go over some of the important steps in entrepreneurship and when you might want to consider taking the leap. 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • LLC as liability protection and do you need liability insurance? 4:22

  • The importance of bookkeeping with Schedule C 8:50 

  • S Corporations and taxes 12:42

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

 

Links:

Visit my opening at the Tracey Morgan Gallary November 3rd

http://www.traceymorgangallery.com/

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

Mistakes People Make When Working with an Accountant

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Mistakes People Make When Working with an Accountant

Have you ever wondered what questions you should ask when you’re hiring a new accountant?

Today, I’m explaining some of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they begin to work with an accountant and clarifying what you don’t get when hiring an accountant. 

Listen to today’s episode to learn how working with an accountant could work for your small business, some of the benefits and how you can make sure you pick the right one for you. 

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Have you ever wondered what questions you should ask when you’re hiring a new accountant?

Today, I’m explaining some of the biggest mistakes I see people make when they begin to work with an accountant and clarifying what you don’t get when hiring an accountant. 

Listen to today’s episode to learn how working with an accountant could work for your small business, some of the benefits and how you can make sure you pick the right one for you. 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • The disconnect between art and business 10:19

  • Learning about new tax credits 14:14

  • How to know which questions you should ask your new accountant 20:13

  • Estimated quarterly taxes and why they are so important 24:42

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

 

Links:

Join the free live class, Understand Your Taxes and Make Money

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3 Secrets to Extra Money in Your Tax Deductions

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3 Secrets to Extra Money in Your Tax Deductions

Today, I want to talk about 2 areas of the tax code where you can get more money as a deduction than you actually spent and how you can make the most of these deductions during tax season.

Join me in this episode to learn how you can maximize your tax deductions and get the most money in your pocket. 

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

Today, I want to talk about 2 areas of the tax code where you can get more money as a deduction than you actually spent and how you can make the most of these deductions during tax season.

Join me in this episode to learn how you can maximize your tax deductions and get the most money in your pocket. 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • Tracking your mileage deduction 4:08

  • The expense method vs. mileage method 8:31

  • Standard vs. standardized per diems 16:33

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

 

Links:

And here are the links for the show notes for it:

Free visual tax deductions guide

MileIQ  Use code HCOL124A for a 20% discount

Per diem meals rate lookup

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

LLCs & Why You Need to Separate Your Accounts

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LLCs & Why You Need to Separate Your Accounts

Today, I’m sharing an article I wrote about why it’s so important to keep your personal and business bank accounts separate as an entrepreneur. I’m also sharing information about LLC’s vs. a sole proprietorship and if having an LLC really changes anything during tax time. 

Join me in this episode to hear why mixing your personal and business accounts can hurt your business and to learn more about whether you should switch to an LLC.  

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

Today, I’m sharing an article I wrote about why it’s so important to keep your personal and business bank accounts separate as an entrepreneur. I’m also sharing information about LLC’s vs. a sole proprietorship and if having an LLC really changes anything during tax time. 

Join me in this episode to hear why mixing your personal and business accounts can hurt your business and to learn more about whether you should switch to an LLC.  

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • LLC’s and your taxes 1:09

  • Why your personal and business accounts should be separated 2:19

  • Can you operate as a sole proprietorship or do you need an LLC? 6:04

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

VVRKSHOP, Paddy Johnson: https://www.vvrkshop.art/

IRS 9 point list for hobby vs business

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The Child Care Tax Credit

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The Child Care Tax Credit

Today, I’m sharing important details about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and how you can use it during the summer months when sending your children to summer camp. 

I’m also talking about the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction and why a credit is more beneficial to the taxpayer. 

Join me in this episode to learn how you can take advantage of this tax credit and how it can apply to you. 

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

Today, I’m sharing important details about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and how you can use it during the summer months when sending your children to summer camp. 

I’m also talking about the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction and why a credit is more beneficial to the taxpayer. 

Join me in this episode to learn how you can take advantage of this tax credit and how it can apply to you. 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • What is the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit? 1:00

  • Tax credit vs. deduction 6:44

  • What qualifies for this credit and how much can you claim? 9:56

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

VVRKSHOP, Paddy Johnson: https://www.vvrkshop.art/

Read the Original Article

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podcast Hannah Cole podcast Hannah Cole

10 Minute Tax Fix: Do a Paycheck Checkup

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10 Minute Tax Fix: Do a Paycheck Checkup

In this quick and easy episode, I’m talking about something practical you can do in just 15 minutes to make your life easier during tax time.  

 Join me today to learn how you can do an easy paycheck checkup to prepare for tax season, avoid any surprise tax bills and ensure your withholding is at the right level. 

LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE

In this quick and easy episode, I’m talking about something practical you can do in just 15 minutes to make your life easier during tax time.  

Join me today to learn how you can do an easy paycheck checkup to prepare for tax season, avoid any surprise tax bills and ensure your withholding is at the right level. 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • Adjusting your taxes 2:20

  • Finding your federal income tax rate 4:47

  • Checking your withholdings 7:45

  • Using the IRS to calculate your taxes 9:12

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

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Oops! How to Fix a Tax Mistake

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Oops! How to Fix a Tax Mistake

Have you ever wondered what happens when you make a mistake on your taxes? 

In this episode, I’m talking about the most common mistakes people make when filing their taxes, how you can fix them and the basics of an amended tax return.  

Join me today to learn how you can easily amend your taxes when you accidentally make a mistake and when you can skip filing an amended return. 

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Have you ever wondered what happens when you make a mistake on your taxes? 

In this episode, I’m talking about the most common mistakes people make when filing their taxes, how you can fix them and the basics of an amended tax return.  

Join me today to learn how you can easily amend your taxes when you accidentally make a mistake and when you can skip filing an amended return. 

Also mentioned in today’s episode: 

  • What is an amended tax return? 2:15

  • Some of the most frequent mistakes made on taxes 4:35

  • When you need to file an amended tax return 13:20

  • Statute of limitations when it comes to filing a tax amendment 18:05

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

 

Links:

Where’s my amended return?

Amended tax return instructions

Visual Guide to Your Tax Deductions

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