Can I file taxes without my nail license if I do nails from home?

You should definitely report the income regardless of whether you have a license or not. The IRS cares about your income, not your licensing status with state boards. You'd report this as self-employment income on Schedule C as part of your tax return. Not reporting income is a much bigger problem with the IRS than working without a professional license (which is a state regulatory issue, not a federal tax issue). Just make sure you're tracking all your business expenses too - products, tools, a portion of your utilities if you're working from home, etc. These can offset your income and reduce your tax burden.

I was in a similar situation last year doing makeup for events without my cosmetology license. I was so confused about how to handle all my income, especially with clients paying me through different apps. I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful for sorting out my self-employment situation. They walked me through exactly how to report my income as a self-employed person, what expenses I could deduct (SO many things I didn't know about!), and how to handle the fact that I was working on getting licensed but wasn't there yet. They even helped me understand how to calculate my quarterly estimated tax payments so I wouldn't get hit with penalties.

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it was exactly what I needed! I was super nervous about my unlicensed hair braiding business, but they helped me understand that reporting income and having a license are separate issues. I uploaded my payment records and they sorted everything out, showed me which supplies were deductible (even stuff I didn't realize like my phone bill since I use it for booking!), and explained how the self-employment tax works. They even helped me set up a system for tracking everything going forward. I'm still working on getting my license, but at least I know my taxes are handled correctly. Honestly wish I'd known about this last year!

If you're worried about the IRS, just know that trying to contact them directly is almost impossible these days. I spent weeks trying to get someone on the phone when I had questions about my side gig income. Finally used https://claimyr.com and got through to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I asked specifically about working without industry licenses and they confirmed what others have said - the IRS cares about you reporting income, not whether you have state-level professional licensing. They're separate issues. The agent actually gave me really clear advice about how to properly report my crafting business income even though I was selling without proper permits at the time.

I have to admit I was COMPLETELY wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself because I was desperate to talk to someone about my side business tax situation. It actually works exactly as described - they called me back when they got an IRS agent on the line! I was able to ask directly about reporting income from my unlicensed woodworking business. The agent confirmed that I need to report ALL income regardless of licensing status and explained exactly how to fill out Schedule C for my situation. Saved me hours of stress and hold music, and now I know exactly what to do. Sorry for doubting!

Just want to add something important - make sure you're setting aside money for taxes as you go! Self-employment income gets hit with both income tax AND self-employment tax (15.3%). I learned this the hard way with my photography side hustle and ended up owing WAY more than I expected. A good rule of thumb is to save about 25-30% of what you make for taxes. Better to have extra money saved than not enough when tax time comes.

Just a heads up from someone who's been doing nails without a license for years - yes you should DEFINITELY report the income, but be smart about your deductions! Keep ALL receipts for: - Nail products and tools - Sanitizing supplies - Portion of your utilities - Advertising costs (even if just Instagram posts) - Mileage if you ever drive to clients - Continuing education (youtube premium if you learn techniques there!) The IRS doesn't care about your license, but they do care if you're not reporting income. I got away with no license for years but got in trouble when I didn't report some cash clients.

I'm in a similar situation with my small tutoring business! I've been putting off dealing with taxes because I wasn't sure about the proper way to report everything. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening. The key takeaway I'm getting is that the IRS requirement to report income is completely separate from state licensing requirements. It makes sense when you think about it - the federal government wants to know about your income for tax purposes, while professional licensing is handled at the state level. I'm definitely going to start keeping better track of my business expenses. I had no idea things like a portion of my phone bill or home utilities could be deductible! Also going to start setting aside that 25-30% for taxes - I've been spending everything I make and would be in trouble come tax time. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's reassuring to know I'm not the only one navigating this gray area between getting licensed and reporting income properly.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation doing freelance graphic design without any formal business registration. I've been terrified about reporting the income because I wasn't sure if I was "official" enough. Reading everyone's experiences really clarifies that reporting income and having proper licensing/registration are two completely separate issues. The IRS wants to know about ALL income regardless of whether you have the right permits or certifications. I'm definitely going to start implementing some of the tracking systems mentioned here - especially using an app to photograph receipts right away. I've probably missed out on so many legitimate deductions because I'm terrible at keeping paper receipts organized. The advice about setting aside 25-30% for taxes is also a wake-up call. I've been treating all my freelance income as "fun money" and would be in serious trouble come tax season. Starting a separate savings account for taxes this week! Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to figure this stuff out from confusing government websites.

This whole discussion has been a lifesaver! I've been doing mobile pet grooming without proper licensing and was losing sleep over whether to report my income. Seeing everyone's experiences makes it so clear that the IRS and state licensing boards operate completely independently. I'm definitely going to implement the expense tracking tips mentioned here - I had no idea I could deduct things like my phone bill or even YouTube Premium if I use it to learn new grooming techniques! I've probably been leaving hundreds of dollars in deductions on the table. The 25-30% tax savings rule is going to be a game changer too. I've been spending everything I make and would have been in serious trouble come tax time. Opening a separate savings account tomorrow and starting fresh with better habits. One thing I wanted to add for other mobile service providers - don't forget to track your mileage between clients! I drive all over town for appointments and apparently that's a legitimate business deduction I've been missing out on. Every mile adds up! Thanks everyone for sharing your real-world experiences. It's so much more helpful than trying to decode IRS publications on your own!