Self-Employed Tax Preparation in Columbus, OH
If you're self-employed in Columbus — even part-time — your tax return is fundamentally different from a W-2 employee's. Schedule C reports your business income and expenses; Schedule SE calculates the 15.3% self-employment tax. Done right, your deductions can cut both numbers significantly. Done wrong, you either overpay or trigger an IRS audit. We prepare Schedule C returns for hundreds of Central Ohio self-employed filers every year.
Serving Columbus, Franklin County · Conveniently located on Morse Rd
Self-employed return with Schedule C: $250 (single business, simple expenses) to $450 (multiple income streams, depreciation, home office)
Columbus · Columbus Metro
Why this Self-Employed Tax Preparation page is written for Columbus
In Columbus Metro, taxpayers most often come to us for ITIN preparation, mixed-status returns, and prior-year cleanup — the kind of work that requires careful identity-document review. For Columbus taxpayers, we review every W-2, 1099, ITIN letter, and dependent ID against the return before anything is e-filed or mailed.
a remarkably diverse metro with established Somali, Bhutanese-Nepali, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Mexican, Guatemalan, and West African communities — and Columbus, with a population near 905,748, reflects that mix in its schools, workplaces, and houses of worship.
I-270 outerbelt access makes our Morse Rd office reachable from any direction in 20-30 minutes. From Columbus (ZIP 43215), the trip is roughly 0 miles each way.
Columbus sits in Columbus Metro, anchored by state government, OhioHealth, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Honda manufacturing east of the city, and a fast-growing logistics corridor along Rickenbacker. Franklin County, where Columbus is located, is a major metropolitan center where county-level vital records, federal building access, and immigration-related services are all locally available.
At roughly 0 miles (~0 min drive) from Columbus, we plan return prep to finish in one sitting whenever possible. We also serve families across the rest of Columbus Metro, where many of our Columbus clients have relatives, coworkers, and shared community ties.
Our Columbus clients commonly include families served by Columbus City Schools and workers and patients tied to OhioHealth / Mount Carmel / Nationwide Children's.
Self-Employed Tax Preparation for Columbus Residents
Self-employed Columbus residents pay both federal and Ohio income tax plus self-employment tax (15.3%) on net business income. Franklin County is home to thousands of independent contractors, gig workers, and freelancers — your tax situation is far from unusual. We help reduce SE tax through legitimate deductions: home office, mileage, equipment, health insurance, and retirement contributions.
What We Handle
Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) preparation
Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax) calculation
Home office deduction (simplified or actual expense method)
Business vehicle mileage and Section 179 / bonus depreciation
Health insurance deduction for self-employed
Self-employed retirement contribution analysis (SEP-IRA, Solo 401k)
Quarterly estimated tax projection for next year
Pricing
Self-employed return with Schedule C: $250 (single business, simple expenses) to $450 (multiple income streams, depreciation, home office).
Turnaround
48 hours from your appointment, assuming clean records. Complex multi-business filings may take 3–5 days.
What to Bring
Frequently Asked Questions
What is self-employment tax and why is it 15.3%?+
Self-employment tax is Social Security (12.4%) + Medicare (2.9%) on your net business income — both the employer and employee portions, since you are both. W-2 employees only pay half of these (the other half their employer covers). You can deduct half of SE tax on the front of Form 1040 to partially offset this.
Can I deduct my home office?+
Yes, if you use part of your home regularly and exclusively for business. Two methods: simplified ($5 per sq ft up to 300 sq ft = $1,500 max) or actual expense (a percentage of utilities, mortgage interest, insurance, depreciation). We calculate both and use whichever gives you the bigger deduction.
Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?+
Generally yes — if you expect to owe more than $1,000 at year-end. Estimated tax payments are due April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. We project your next-year estimates as part of your return preparation so you can avoid underpayment penalties.
Where is your office in Columbus?+
Our office is at 3185 Morse Rd, Suite 15, Columbus OH 43231 — in the heart of Columbus. Walk in any day Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm. No appointment needed.
Do Columbus residents owe school district income tax?+
If you live within the Columbus City Schools boundary, you may owe Ohio school district income tax on top of federal and Ohio IT-1040 state tax. The SD-100 return is filed alongside your Ohio return. We handle all three (federal, state, school district) as part of standard tax preparation.
Self-Employed Tax Preparation in Nearby Cities
Also serving these Columbus Metro communities:
Self-Employed Tax Help in Columbus — Schedule C Specialists
We catch deductions DIY software misses. Walk in to our Columbus-area office on Morse Rd. Open every day.
3185 Morse Rd, Ste 15, Columbus, OH 43231 · Mon–Sat 10am–6pm · Sun 10am–4pm