Healthcare

Tax help for home health aides

Home health aides working as independent contractors offset self-employment income with mileage, supplies, and required training.

Prepared by real tax specialists — with Enrolled Agent or CPA review when your return calls for it.

Aides paid as independent contractors report on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax on net earnings.

Mileage between clients and the cost of supplies and certifications are the most common deductions.

Income you’ll report on: 1099-NEC.

Save money

Deductions for home health aides

Most people in this line of work leave money on the table. Here's what we make sure to capture:

  • Mileage between client homes
  • Certifications, training, and continuing education
  • Gloves, masks, and medical supplies you buy
  • Uniforms and required protective clothing
  • Liability insurance
  • Background check and registration fees
  • Business-use portion of phone service
Watch out for

What makes your taxes different

  • Many aides are employees who receive a W-2 and cannot use Schedule C for that pay
  • Travel between clients is deductible but commuting from home to the first client generally is not
  • A contemporaneous mileage log is needed to support vehicle deductions
  • Income is reportable with or without a 1099
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do home health aides pay self-employment tax?

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.

What can home health aides write off?

Common write-offs include mileage between client homes, certifications, training, and continuing education, gloves, masks, and medical supplies you buy, uniforms and required protective clothing, plus a share of your phone and any home-office use. We go through your year line by line so nothing legitimate gets missed.

Do home health aides need to pay quarterly estimated taxes?

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.

Do I have to report income if I didn't get a 1099?

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.

Taxes handled · so you can get back to work.

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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