Tax Center Overview
Self-employed photographers owe quarterly estimated taxes. Missing a payment means penalties. Underestimating means a surprise bill in April. The Tax Center gives you a running picture of where you stand so nothing catches you off guard.
Accessing the Tax Center
Go to Money > Tax Center. You will see four main sections.
Income Summary
A running total of all income recorded in creavio for the current tax year:
- Total income — all paid invoices and manual income entries
- By quarter — Q1 (Jan-Mar), Q2 (Apr-Jun), Q3 (Jul-Sep), Q4 (Oct-Dec)
- By category — session fees, print sales, licensing, etc.
This pulls directly from your invoice and transaction data. No duplicate entry needed.
Expense Summary
Total expenses from your expense tracking, broken down the same way:
- Total expenses for the year
- By quarter
- By category — equipment, software, travel, etc.
Net Profit
Income minus expenses. This is your taxable income before deductions. The Tax Center shows this as a running number that updates every time you record income or log an expense.
Quarterly Tax Estimates
Based on your net profit and the tax rate you configure (in Money > Settings > Tax Rate), creavio calculates estimated quarterly tax payments.
Set your estimated tax rate based on your tax bracket. Most self-employed photographers set 25-30% to cover federal income tax plus self-employment tax. Adjust as needed based on your accountant's guidance.
The Tax Center shows:
- Estimated quarterly payment — what you should set aside
- Due dates — April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15
- Paid vs. outstanding — mark payments as made to track your progress
Year-End Report
At the end of the year, generate a Year-End Summary that includes:
- Total income by category
- Total expenses by category
- Net profit
- Quarterly tax payments made
- Mileage log summary
Export this as a PDF to share with your accountant. It is not a substitute for professional tax preparation, but it gives your accountant everything they need without a shoebox of receipts.
Important Notes
creavio is not tax software. It tracks and summarizes your financial data. It does not file taxes, calculate deductions beyond what you enter, or provide tax advice. Use it alongside a tax professional.
Set your tax rate accurately. The quarterly estimates are only as good as the rate you configure. If you are unsure, ask your accountant what percentage to set aside.
Log expenses consistently. The Tax Center only knows about expenses you record. Missing expenses mean your net profit looks higher than it is, and your estimated payments will be too high.