Bookkeeping & Tax Tips for Trades Business Owners

Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Contractors: What to Pay

Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Contractors: What to Pay

Quarterly Estimated Taxes for Contractors: What to PayJoseph Rios, PhD, EA
Published on: 10/09/2026

How much contractors should pay in quarterly estimated taxes, the safe harbor that stops penalties, the Jan. 15, 2027 deadline, and California's schedule.

1099 for Subcontractors: What Contractors Need to File

1099 for Subcontractors: What Contractors Need to File

1099 for Subcontractors: What Contractors Need to FileJoseph Rios, PhD, EA
Published on: 10/09/2026

Which subs get a 1099-NEC, the new $2,000 threshold for 2026, the February 1, 2027 deadline, and the California rule that turns some subs into employees.

Contractor Tax Deductions: What You Can Write Off

Contractor Tax Deductions: What You Can Write Off

Contractor Tax Deductions: What You Can Write OffJoseph Rios, PhD, EA
Published on: 10/05/2026

Truck, tools, subs, home office, health insurance. The contractor tax deductions that cut your tax bill, and the California rules that don't follow them.