Taxes for Independent Doulas

You're self-employed — here's what that means

As a postpartum doula working through Swaddl, you're classified as an independent contractor, not an employee. This means taxes aren't withheld from your earnings — you're responsible for paying them yourself.

The good news: self-employment comes with significant tax advantages. You can deduct business expenses, set up retirement accounts with tax benefits, and structure your finances to minimize your tax burden legally.

What is a 1099-NEC?

If you earn $600 or more through Swaddl in a calendar year, you'll receive a 1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation) form by January 31 of the following year. This form reports your total earnings to you and to the IRS.

You don't need to attach the 1099-NEC to your tax return, but you'll use the amount on it to fill out Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) and Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax).

Swaddl generates an informational preview of your 1099-NEC in your Tax Center dashboard throughout the year so you always know where you stand.

Estimated quarterly taxes explained

Unlike W-2 employees who have taxes withheld every paycheck, self-employed workers pay taxes four times a year through estimated quarterly payments. The IRS expects you to pay as you go — waiting until April to pay the full year's taxes can result in penalties.

The quarterly deadlines are:

• Q1 (January–March): Due April 15
• Q2 (April–May): Due June 15
• Q3 (June–August): Due September 15
• Q4 (September–December): Due January 15 (of the next year)

You can make payments through IRS Direct Pay (irs.gov/directpay) or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (eftps.gov). Many doulas set up automatic quarterly payments to avoid missing deadlines.

Swaddl's Tax Center calculates your estimated quarterly payment based on your year-to-date earnings. You can opt in to receive email and text reminders before each deadline.

Common deductions for postpartum doulas

As a self-employed doula, you can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses from your income, reducing your tax bill. Common deductions include:

• Mileage: Driving to and from client homes. The IRS standard mileage rate for 2026 is $0.70 per mile. Keep a mileage log.
• Supplies: Swaddles, nursing pillows, cleaning supplies, and other items you bring to client homes.
• Certifications: DONA, CAPPA, or other doula certification fees, renewal costs, and continuing education.
• CPR/First Aid: Training and certification costs.
• Insurance: Professional liability insurance premiums.
• Phone and internet: The business-use percentage of your phone plan and home internet.
• Platform fees: Any Swaddl membership and per-booking platform fees are deductible business expenses.
• Home office: If you use a dedicated space for administrative work (scheduling, billing, client notes), you may qualify for the home office deduction.

Keep receipts for everything. A simple folder (physical or digital) organized by month is enough. Many doulas use apps like Expensify or simply a dedicated photo album on their phone.

Self-employment tax: the basics

In addition to federal income tax, self-employed workers pay self-employment tax — which covers Social Security (12.4%) and Medicare (2.9%) contributions. As an employee, your employer would pay half. As a self-employed doula, you pay both halves — 15.3% total.

The silver lining: you can deduct half of your self-employment tax from your adjusted gross income, which lowers your income tax. Swaddl's Tax Center accounts for this automatically in its estimates. (When you're thinking about how this affects your effective hourly rate, our guide to setting doula rates covers what to charge to actually take home what you need.)

When to hire a CPA

You don't necessarily need a CPA when you're just starting out. Many doulas successfully file their own taxes using software like TurboTax Self-Employed or FreeTaxUSA.

However, consider hiring a tax professional if:

• Your annual doula income exceeds $50,000
• You have other self-employment income or complex deductions
• You want to set up an S-Corp or LLC for tax advantages
• You received an IRS notice or have back taxes
• You simply want peace of mind and to maximize your deductions

A CPA who specializes in self-employment typically costs $200–$500 for an annual return and often saves you more than their fee in deductions you'd otherwise miss.

Swaddl's Tax Center tracks it for you

When you join Swaddl, your dashboard includes a Tax Center that automatically tracks your:

• Year-to-date gross income and Swaddl fees (deductible)
• Quarterly earnings breakdown
• Estimated self-employment and federal income tax
• Recommended quarterly payment amounts
• 1099-NEC preview (official form mailed by January 31)

You can also opt in to quarterly tax reminders — we'll send you an email and text 7 days before each IRS deadline with your estimated payment amount.