If you are a personal trainer, whether or not you must take out your own income tax money is a matter of the gym for which you work. According to the Protraineronline website, whether you work in a particular facility, but not for it, depends on whether you control the times you conduct your training sessions, and the fitness training methods you use -- at least in the eyes of the Internal Revenue Service. As the ProTrainer website points out, you should see an attorney if you have questions about any aspect of your agreement with your facility.
Ask your gym for a copy of your work status forms. Retain copies of your I-9 form, the independent contractor's tax form, or W-4 form, employer and employee agreement.
Set aside money for taxes. According to fitness industry expert Catherine Tully, prepare to pay taxes on a quarterly basis if you are an independent contractor.
Hire an accountant. Listen to his advice on organizing your tax returns.
Save all of your receipts. Keep them in a safe place where you will remember them. File them in chronological order.
Allow your accountant to file your tax returns. She will catch mathematical errors and deductions you will most likely miss. For example, according to the Personal Trainer Business Coach website, you can deduct expenses such as gas mileage and hotel stays for business conventions.
Warnings
Educate yourself on the tax laws for independent contractors. Take detailed notes, as the laws are radically different from those of employees. The IRS.gov website is an instructive source of information on these laws.
Tips
As the PTBC website says, you may also deduct promotional and marketing expenses. This holds true even if you advertise on the Internet.
In addition, the Protrainer website says that the IRS also looks at how much control the company with which you work exerts over the financial issues surrounding your job. If you have expenses the company does not reimburse, then you are acting more as an independent contractor in the eyes of the IRS.
References
Tips
- As the PTBC website says, you may also deduct promotional and marketing expenses. This holds true even if you advertise on the Internet.
- In addition, the Protrainer website says that the IRS also looks at how much control the company with which you work exerts over the financial issues surrounding your job. If you have expenses the company does not reimburse, then you are acting more as an independent contractor in the eyes of the IRS.
Warnings
- Educate yourself on the tax laws for independent contractors. Take detailed notes, as the laws are radically different from those of employees. The IRS.gov website is an instructive source of information on these laws.
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