If you're a gig worker, freelancer, or have a side hustle, managing your taxes can be tricky. Unlike traditional employees, gig workers don't have automatic tax withholding from their income. That means you may face an unexpected tax bill or even penalties if you don't plan ahead. To avoid surprises at tax time, it's crucial to regularly review your tax situation, ideally before the end of the year.

In the past few years, self-employment, or working as a freelancer, has become a popular means to earn a living while pursuing creative ideas or working on passion projects. However, along with the many benefits of being your own boss, such as scheduling and completing work at your convenience, there are tax repercussions of which you need to be aware. For self-employment tax reporting, there’s some specific information and documentation you must have on hand when tax time rolls around. If you’re self-employed, here’s what to expect when you file your taxes.