Tax Talk & Business Tips

Case Study:

 Many 1099 workers learn the hard way that not planning for taxes ahead of time can end up resulting in a large bill with an even larger head ache come tax season. This case study outlines our clients' experience with 1099 income, the consequences of not planning ahead, and how Certus can help. Here is Audrey and Braden's real life experience:

The Challenge:

"My husband and I were both working as 1099 contractors in 2024. Our income was all over the place, and honestly, we spent most of what we earned as it came in. We figured we would deal with taxes when tax season rolled around. That was a massive mistake. We didn't set aside money for quarterly estimated taxes. We didn't have any tax strategy in place. We just kept our heads down, worked hard, and assumed everything would work itself out."

What we Discovered (the hard way): 

"When tax season hit in 2025, we got a rude awakening —we owed over $7,000 in taxes. Money we didn't have sitting around because we had already spent it throughout the year. Suddenly, we were scrambling to figure out how to pay a massive tax bill we hadn't planned for. The stress was overwhelming, and we realized we couldn't keep operating this way. We needed professional help."

Why we Turned to Certus:

"After our tax nightmare, we knew we needed to get serious about our finances. That's when we reached out to Certus Accounting & Tax Services. Working with Certus, we were able to:

✅ Set up an S corporation structure to optimize our tax situation and reduce our self-employment tax burden
✅ Create a real tax strategy instead of just reacting when tax season arrives
✅ Build a system for setting aside money throughout the year so we're never caught off guard again
✅ Get ongoing advisory support to ensure we're making smart financial decisions as our income fluctuates"

The Outcome:

"We're heading into 2026 with a completely different mindset—and a plan. Instead of dreading tax season, we actually feel prepared. We know exactly how much to set aside, we understand our deductions, and we have a team we can turn to with questions.

Don't be like us. Don't wait until you owe thousands in unexpected taxes to get your finances in order. If you're a 1099 earner without a tax strategy, you're playing with fire.

Talk to Certus before you learn this lesson the expensive way."