1040 Schedule C - How IRS Works

You can use 1040 Schedule C to report a profit or loss as a small business. Entities that may use the form include freelancers, workers with side gigs, and single-member LLCs. However, if the side gig is farming, then you have to file Schedule F instead of C. For those that have side gigs from rental income or royalties, they need to fill Schedule E instead of C. Individuals providing retail or professional services can use Schedule C as long as they are doing business for profit. And they should be doing it with continuity and regularity. So you should fill and attach Schedule C to Form 1040 or file it electronically together. Overall, you can fill out and sign these documents online.

What is on Schedule C?

On Schedule C, you report all your small business or side gig transactions by listing all your incomes and expenses. Then you take the total income and subtract the total expenses. The result is your net profit or loss. You then have to report a net profit as income on Form 1040.

What Information Do You Fill in Schedule C?

You must include your business’s income statement and balance sheet for the tax year. You must also provide all receipts of your expenses.If you have any inventory, it should also be listed there. You should also add mileage and vehicle records if you use a vehicle to run your business.

Schedule C Sections and How to Fill Them

Part 1

This is where you enter the sales made and the cost of goods sold in order to calculate the profit or loss made.

Part II

In part II, you report any business expenses, except the cost of goods that you included in Part I. This section lists various expense categories that businesses commonly incur. They include advertisements, legal and professional expenses, travel, rent, meal expenses, and car and truck expenses. There are rules that you must follow when adding each expense. After adding all the expenses, you have to subtract them from the gross profit to get the net profit. This net profit is taxable, and you have to include it in your income tax return filing (Form 1040).

Part III

This section helps you to calculate the cost of goods sold. There is a similar section for people trying to file a sales tax return in California.

Part IV

If you have a car or truck-related business, this section provides you with a place where you can fill in specific vehicle details.

Part V

This last section provides a section where you can fill in any details that don’t fall into any of the previous categories. You can use it if your business expenses are listed there.

Conclusion – Form 1040 - Schedule C

Schedule C helps small business owners to manage their business taxes and file the income from those businesses alongside their income tax. Where individuals have multiple side gigs, they may have to fill in more than one Schedule C form. Overall, Form 1040 - Schedule C helps small business owners keep track of their business expenses and claim them from their taxes.

Check out our useful articles:

1040 Schedule C - How the IRS Works for Small Businesses