Customer Reviews

Self-employed Tax Solutions, 2nd: Quick, Simple, Money-Saving, Audit-Proof Tax and Recordkeeping Basics for the Independent Professional (Self-Employed Tax Solutions: Quick, Simple, Money-Saving,)

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2008 was the first year I earned most of my income from freelance work. I started to freak out in February, worried that I'm going to be saddled with a crazy tax payment in April, so I started shopping around for books that will help me know how and what to deduct. Don't ask me why I didn't do this at the beginning of last year, when I started working contractually and invented a crazy expense journaling method and compulsive receipt-saving habit. (I think having an actuary for a father and a stableful of CPA relatives warped my brain advantageously in this case.)

Anyway, there are heaps of lengthy, boring, expensive tax prep books out there that are, above all else, irrelevant to freelancers' situations. At best, you ignore them. At worst, you follow advice that costs you at tax time.

June Walker, the author of this great book, makes it clear from the outset that she's looking out for the self-employed, home office-operating "indie." And it's true. Before I found her book, I caught myself muttering in bookstore aisles, in response to other authors' recommendations, "Jesus Christ! The whole federal tax code is written to perpetuate dishonest business practices and encourage capitalist greed" - among other ridiculous bitter statements.

But June's examples and advice clearly come from years of experience working with folks like me, plus her solutions are easy to implement. An unexpected perk was that I found the book empowering - it encourages boss-less workers to take themselves seriously and be proudly independent. Can't recommend it highly enough!

I found this book really disappointing. As another reviewer mentions, the title is very misleading. From reading the back, and the beginning, one might get the idea that this book will help with doing your own independent contractor taxes.

It isn't until you actually get into the book that the author begins to repeat, "make sure to ask your tax professional about this", and similar statements. She writes the book with the assumption that you have been an independent contractor for a while, already have a tax preparer, and are just trying to figure out better record/bookkeeping so the tax professional you already have can get you more deductions next year. (see the section on estimated payments for an example of this)

I am in a really basic independent contractor situation, and at least through the first year, I'd like to take care of my taxes for myself. I regret wasting my time reading this book, Tax Savvy for Small Business by Frederick Daily is turning out to be much more helpful.

As a small business owner and a person who hates math, taxes, or anything resembling the two, this book is a godsend! I still can't believe I read the entire thing! I reference it often, and have changed my entire way of book keeping (or lack thereof). This is the best tax book ever! Simple to read and understand, full of easy to use and implement ideas. I can't say enough about how this book has changed my entire view of the dreaded book keeping end of my business!

Preamble: What this book is and isn't. This isn't really a book that you get because you are now doing your taxes. It is a help in that regard because it will help you sort through your receipts and expenses and utilize the ones that count.. but, this book is much more suited toward helping you keep easy and straight forward records throughout your year so you can make the absolute most out of your taxes when it comes time to do them.

Okie here is my review:

Tax season is here and I ordered six of these books. Saved this one for last because it has the least appealing cover and title. Wow, was that a mistake. I should have read this one first. I slowly and laboriously read through all the other ones, after a while I was seeing double because they all repeated the same things over and over again -- until I got to this one - wham, it was like a whack on the side of the head. This book is fresh and unique. (hard to believe when we are talking taxes huh?) Hey, good record keeping is key to getting the most out of tax time. But as a independent small business owner I don't want to spend my time as a record keeper/accountant I want to spend my time doing what I love to do. Hey, voila this book simply and easily tells you how to keep records in a way that makes sense and..
And it gives you all kinds of scenarios for what is tax deductible and what is not. Business travel? Business transportation? Is there a difference? There sure is. Business meals? Have more questions? Using your car for business transportation? Spending money on things and not sure if you can claim them? This book gives you a common sense and honest approach to what is fair and deductible. And how to easily keep track of it.

I highly recommend this book. Now don't just get this book. But get it along with any other(s) you get. Order any other tax books that seem to be right for you then tack this one onto the end.
Give this book six stars if I could. Breath of fresh air in the middle of a tax season hurricane.

I first found this book in the library one year when I'd just finished my taxes. It definitely provided me with numerous light bulb moments. I realized my CPA or accountant (I'd used both) knew very little about what a freelancer should or should not do, or even what rules and regulations applied to us. June Walker has specialized in working with people like me (self-employed independent contractors) and not only had all of the answers to my questions (mostly about travel v. transportation and meal v. entertainment), but also provided me with crucial information that I didn't know that I didn't know...like the per diem that the government allows people who travel but don't have all of their meal receipts (or can use if your receipts are less than the per diem). Yes, there are a few places where she defers to asking an accountant or the government (those per diem tables are a bit confusing), but personally I never found the need to as the book answered all of my questions sufficiently.

Good, simple examples too. And some wonderful advice on keeping records...from milage to those things you fail to get receipts for (lay a paper trail!).

After recommending the book to everyone I know that is an independent contractor, I went online and found there was a second edition and bought it right away. It deserves an initial read-through, and then serves as a wonderful reference resource. I'm sure I'm deducting more now than I did before reading this book and I'm positive the book has paid for itself.

This is a well-written and engaging book! My only complaint is the book's title, which IMO is misleading. A far better title would be something like "The Most Simple System: Recordkeeping for Sole Proprietors" (alternative version: replace 'Sole Proprietors' with 'Independent Professionals'). I've been an 'independent professional' for quite a few years, but still picked up a few useful tips.