Independent CFIs run a teaching business in the cockpit — your ratings, charts, and currency are deductible tools of the trade.
Self-employed flight instructors who teach independently rather than as employees report instruction income on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax on the net.
Your deductions center on the certificates, currency, and instructional materials that keep you legal and effective, plus the costs of getting to and using aircraft you do not own.
Income you’ll report on: 1099-NEC.
Most people in this line of work leave money on the table. Here's what we make sure to capture:
If you earn as an independent contractor, yes — self-employment tax is 15.3% (Social Security and Medicare) on your net profit, on top of regular income tax. You deduct half of it, and every business deduction lowers what you owe. We handle the calculation on Schedule SE.
Common write-offs include instructor certificate and rating renewal and currency costs, charts, sectionals, and electronic flight bag subscriptions, aviation headset, kneeboard, and instructional materials, logbook software and student record-keeping tools, plus a share of your phone and any home-office use. We go through your year line by line so nothing legitimate gets missed.
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS generally wants quarterly estimated payments to avoid an underpayment penalty. We calculate them so next April isn't a surprise.
Yes. Your income is taxable whether or not a client or platform sent a 1099. We report it correctly and offset it with every deduction you qualify for.
Tell us what you've got and we'll come back within one business day with the plan and the price · from a preparer who knows your line of work.
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