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12 Retirement Jobs You Can Do From Your Recliner

Open expense ledger, pen, and calculator resting on an armchair lap desk beside a savings jar and tax books.
Contrary to popular belief, independent contractors must pay self-employment tax once net profit reaches $400 in a calendar year.

Tax Rules for Independent Contractors

Most home-based roles classify you as a freelance contractor rather than an employee on payroll. This arrangement gives you immense freedom, but it changes your tax responsibilities.

The IRS requires you to report earnings and pay self-employment tax once your net profit reaches $400 in a calendar year. The current self-employment tax rate is 15.3% to cover Social Security and Medicare.

Clients will send you a Form 1099-NEC in January showing your gross earnings for the previous tax year. Consider setting aside 25% of your earnings to cover federal and state obligations.

You can lower your tax bill by deducting ordinary business expenses like internet service, printer paper, and office software. Keep receipts organized throughout the year to simplify your tax filing.

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36 Comments

    1. I would love to do this. I have a daughter who is currently the Court Attny in NM and I have worked as an advocate for criminal justice since I retired as a therapist for federal people returning home from prison.

  1. I am a retired therapist and have been the director of several organizations over the years. I’ve done a good deal of public speaking in affituon to working with a diverse group of individuals and families.

  2. I would like information on these jobs, please.
    How do I go about getting one of these jobs?
    I’m a 4 time cancer survivor and I’m on disability and can’t find a job I can do because of it.

  3. I am retired as a paralegal and legal assistant since 1995 and have been transcribing for court reporters for the past 30 years. I would be interested in proofreading related jobs.

  4. Dear Sir,

    My background is capital formation and the capitalization on the equity side of oil and gas ventures, motion picture budgetary arrangements, and the business plan development and preparation of project implementation. I’m a graduate of SMU (BBA) and post graduate (MFA) from UCLA. I would like to provide my resume for consideration.

  5. I am interested in this job. A retired RN and was in clinical research. The last 20 years I went to doctors offices in hospitals. The staff had to use the new drug and clinical trials. I had to send all the data of the clients to the pharmaceutical companies. Very detailed job. I just explained it easily. It’s more difficult than that. I love that job.

  6. I’m very interested in working from home.
    Please send application to apply or the link.
    Thank you in advance.
    Linda Cossey

  7. Hello Team,

    Yes, please hurry , I need to live instead of survive for once in my life.

    Warmest thanks.
    Tracie Stapleton

  8. I’m a retired physical therapist assistant. I’m very much interested in boosting my social security income with a remote job. Preferable in health care.

  9. I’m interested in working at home. I have an extensive editorial background. Please send me info. Thank you.

  10. I’ve over 30 years experience as an Executive Assistant in the corporate environment. This entails interacting with clients, editing reports and memoranda, etc. Now that I’m retired, I’m hoping to supplement Social Security by utilizing these skills. Thank you.

  11. I enjoy guiding participants in the right direction and sharing with them the best choces of knowledge and information to guide them in the most beneficial way.

  12. I have work all my life doing office job I am an accountant, know how to do income tax returns for people and all kinds of office job. I am retired very interested in working from home.

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