If you’re self-employed in Georgia, know your tax laws
No one wants to face a tax audit. But it can happen if you don’t follow Georgia’s tax laws. Finding the required documents and dealing with the Department of Revenue can be stressful and time-consuming. That’s why it’s best for those who are self-employed to understand the state’s income tax laws.
If you’re a self-employed individual, your income tax situation may be quite different from those who work for someone else. When you act as your own employer, you must decide how you wish to deal with paying taxes to the state, and you are responsible for knowing and following the laws. It’s important to be aware of these laws, and to keep up with state tax law changes, to ensure you’re always in compliance.
Understanding tax laws for the self-employed
When you’re self-employed in Georgia, you have options when it comes to choosing how to pay your state income taxes. Most self-employed individuals pay an estimated tax based on income earned as they receive the funds. This estimated tax is based on the amount of income you believe you will earn during the year.
For those new to paying self-employed income taxes, estimating a yearly income can be challenging. The Georgia Department of Revenue has a guide to help you estimate your yearly income as well as a tax rate schedule available online. Some choose to pay a lump sum while others choose to pay their estimated taxes in quarterly installments. Quarterly installments are due on or before the following dates: April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 of the next year.
Once you decide how much you need to pay, and choose your payment schedule, you can pay online through the Georgia Tax Center. You also have the option to pay through mail or in person using an estimated tax payment voucher. If you don’t have a voucher, you can create one using the online instructions.
Legal help is available when challenges arise
Sometimes, even when you believe that you have followed all the proper tax laws, things can still go wrong. This may prompt the Georgia Department of Revenue to contact you. If this happens, it’s important not to panic but to act promptly to gather the information or documents the department asks you for.
Not all dealings with the department may be easy to resolve. You may require legal assistance to take care of the issue. When you do need legal help regarding self-employment taxes, it’s helpful to know that there are tax attorneys who can provide guidance to help you resolve the matter.