Yeah, I’m 1099 and the standard deduction for a married person is 24k. I get as squirrelly as I can with my deductions and still usually don’t get close. Obviously some things are schedule A versus C or whatever, but I’m not sure I pay less than someone who grosses what I do but as a W2. I take the hit on FICA, since I don’t get to split that with an employer. I’ve been doing it going on 16 years and so my W2 days are hazy, but I’ve never been convinced I’m somehow paying less. Maybe the benefit I get is when I get a new chair to sit at my PC, I write it off, bt they didn’t mean I get $500 back.