What TurboTax version do I need as a 1099 self-employed barber with a W2 spouse?

You'll need the Self-Employed version of TurboTax if you're filing with 1099 income. Unfortunately, there's no way around it. The distinction isn't about how big your business is - it's about having to file a Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) which is required for all independent contractors. When you receive 1099 income as a barber, the IRS considers you self-employed, regardless of whether you think of yourself as a "business" or not. The cheaper versions of TurboTax simply don't include the forms needed to report self-employment income properly. The other important consideration is that you'll need to track and deduct business expenses like supplies, tools, chair rental fees, continuing education, etc. Only the Self-Employed version allows you to properly claim these deductions, which can significantly reduce your tax liability.

I went through this exact same situation last year! I'm a freelance makeup artist (also 1099) and my husband has W2 income. I tried using the cheaper "Deluxe" version first and got stuck when trying to enter my 1099 income properly. Ended up having to upgrade and pay the difference anyway. I found an awesome AI tool that saved me from making other expensive mistakes - https://taxr.ai - it actually scans all your tax documents and explains exactly what TurboTax version you need based on your specific situation. It also highlighted some deductions I was missing as a beauty professional that ended up saving me way more than the cost difference between TurboTax versions.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai - wow, I'm impressed! I uploaded my 1099s and last year's return, and it immediately confirmed I needed the Self-Employed version of TurboTax (which I suspected), but then it showed me almost $3,200 in deductions I completely missed last year as a self-employed piano teacher. Car mileage to students' homes, portion of internet for virtual lessons, sheet music purchases, etc. The document analysis part was super helpful too - it caught that one of my 1099s had my SSN wrong, which could have caused major headaches with the IRS. Definitely saved me more than the difference in TurboTax packages!

I was in the same boat trying to file my taxes with both W2 and 1099 income. After endless hold times with TurboTax support (literally 2+ hours), I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed exactly what I needed: https://claimyr.com They have a demo of how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent told me that yes, with ANY 1099-NEC income, I legally need to file Schedule C which means Self-Employed version is required. But she also mentioned a potential workaround if your self-employment income is very minimal (under $400) since you wouldn't owe self-employment tax in that case. But at $8k, you're definitely over that threshold.

Well I'm eating my words! I tried Claimyr yesterday after posting that skeptical comment because my curiosity got the better of me. I had been trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS about a notice I received questioning my 1099 income from last year. The service called me back in about 40 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. Got my issue resolved in one call. The agent confirmed I was right to challenge the notice since I had already reported that income correctly (using TurboTax Self-Employed, ironically). I've literally never been able to reach a human at the IRS before despite many attempts, so this was kind of mind-blowing. Saved me from potentially paying taxes twice on the same income.

Another option you could consider is FreeTaxUSA. I've used it for years with my self-employment income. They charge nothing for federal filing (even with Schedule C) and only $15 for state. Saved me a ton compared to TurboTax's $160+ pricing.

I do taxes for several barbers and I'll tell you what I tell them - if you're getting a 1099-NEC, you NEED the self-employed version of whatever tax software you choose. Here's why: 1) You have to file Schedule C to report your income properly 2) You're missing out on THOUSANDS in deductions if you don't track business expenses 3) You have self-employment tax to calculate (extra 15.3% on your profits) Most barbers I work with can deduct: - Chair rental - Supplies (clippers, scissors, products) - Continuing education - Uniforms/work clothes - Business percentage of phone - Mileage if you travel between locations Don't cheap out on the software and miss these deductions!