January 10, 2025

Taxes and Paid Work From Home

Doing paid work at home is considered being self employed and unlike working an outside job, you are responsible for paying all of your taxes. The good news is that there are many things that can be deducted lowering the amount you may owe if any, such as a home office. The idea of taxes can cause apprehension at first but it is not as difficult as it may seem especially with the different tax preparing software that is out there.

There are possibly three different taxes that you may have to pay which include city, state, and federal taxes. The tax for your city may be in the form of a business license to allow you to legally work either as a business or even an independent contractor. State tax may be yearly or quarterly through out the year and federal is normally reported annually. All of this depends upon your location and different zoning laws and such and should be researched prior to working as to avoid any possible fees.

Deductions come in all different forms from the office itself to any supplies and equipment that are necessary for the business operation. There are tax breaks for the use of vehicles, including gas, and communications separating the usage amounts for personal and business. This is usually good news for hobbyists that have large amounts of supplies they rely on to create products with as they will be a major part of their taxes.

People tend to become reluctant when it come to doing paid work at home because of the complexity of taxes but having a professional or software tax preparation can help elevate the stress of it. The taxes for an individual or even small business is not nearly as involved as they would be with a larger company and most people are able to do it themselves so in reality there is more over reaction than necessary.

Health Insurance and Working From Home

You own your own business or are thinking of working at home. You wonder, can you get health insurance when working at home? Actually, it is easier today, because of the Internet, to find insurance, if you work at home, even though the cost may be expensive. You can reduce your costs, however.

While working at home, many people do not have health insurance. You would rather not be one of them. You have a variety of options. If your spouse works and has health insurance through his or her employer, that might solve your problem. Some insurance companies in some states are now offering group health insurance for a company, even if the company is only one. You might check into that, and you can get that kind of insurance, even if you have a pre-existing medical condition. If, on the other hand, you do get an individual policy, you might not be accepted if you have a pre-existing condition.

If you do an Internet search, for working at home and health insurance, you can find a variety of companies to assist the self-employed. With some policies it is possible to have the freedom of choice as far as doctors and hospitals, many plans to choose from, Dental, Vision, Prescription, Accident, and Disability Insurance. One company that provides assistance for the self-employed on a variety of issues, including health insurance is the National Association for the Self Employed, and their website can provide help in finding insurance.

When working at home it is possible to deduct 100% of your costs in obtaining health insurance. There are a lot of places to find information. An Internet search will display websites that will provide quotes for several different kinds of insurance, including dental and health. You can be matched with companies that will provide full coverage. There are also websites that provide information about health insurance in different states that you can find, if you search for them. Companies such as Blue Cross and Humana often offer insurance that is in the price range of those who work at home.

When working at home, there are other things to consider in finding health insurance. You may want to opt for a higher deductible, because your monthly premium may be less. If you have a chronic condition, consider full coverage plans, even though the cost will be more, from large companies such as Aetna, Blue Cross, or United. If you have one other person who works with you, look for group coverage look for group insurance. Look for a health care sharing program, which may be through a church or a Christian organization. Because it is not considered true medical insurance, contributions can’t be deducted, but medical expenses still can.

You have a wide variety of insurance options if you work at home.