MoneyMap Money Basics helps freelancers, gig workers, 1099 earners, and entrepreneurs take control of irregular income. Learn how to track income and expenses, understand real profit, prepare for taxes, calculate what’s safe to spend, and build better financial habits. Simple, practical lessons make managing money easier—plus learn how MoneyMap AI can help you gain clearer financial insights and make smarter decisions. Your money has a destination. Let’s map it.

Build better money habits in just 7 days. Track what you earn, understand what you spend, prepare for taxes, and learn what may actually be safe to spend. Complete one simple action each day and finish the week with a clearer picture of your finances.

One of the biggest financial mistakes people make is waiting until tax season to start thinking about taxes. By then, the money has already been earned, expenses have already been paid, documents may have been lost, and opportunities to plan may have already passed. Prepare before tax season. Organize during tax season. Plan immediately after tax season. Learning how to understand that story can help you make better decisions for the next year.

How to Organize Your Money, Track Expenses, Prepare for Taxes & Stop Getting Surprised in April

Federal vs. State Tax Withholding — Where Your Money Goes & What You Need to Know

If you worked as an employee, your employer generally sends you a: FORM W-2 — WAGE AND TAX STATEMENT Your W-2 summarizes important information about your wages and taxes for the year. It tells you things such as: How much taxable wage income was reported How much federal income tax was withheld Your Social Security wages and tax Your Medicare wages and tax Certain retirement and benefit information State wages and state income tax withheld You use this to prepare your tax return.

WHAT IS A 1099? A 1099 is a family of tax forms used to report certain types of income and payments that generally aren't reported to you on a W-2. You might receive a 1099 because you: Worked as an independent contractor Drove Uber or Lyft Did freelance work Earned bank interest Received dividends Sold investments Took money from a retirement account Received certain government payments Received payments through certain platforms