Self-Employed in Kansas City? Your 2026 Tax Checklist
Working for yourself in the Kansas City metro means juggling federal tax, a state return (or two), and possibly a city earnings tax. Here is a practical checklist for freelancers, contractors and one-person businesses on both sides of State Line Road.
Federal: the big three
Self-employment tax (15.3%) on about 92.35% of your net profit. I explain the math step by step in How Self-Employment Tax Works.
Income tax on profit after deductions, including half of your self-employment tax.
Quarterly estimates (Form 1040-ES) in April, June, September and January.
Missouri side
Missouri residents file a state return and may need to make state estimated payments if they expect to owe a meaningful balance.
Kansas City, Missouri earnings tax: KCMO residents, and nonresidents who earn money working inside KCMO, can owe the 1% city earnings tax. Self-employed people generally handle it themselves because no employer withholds it.
Many Missouri cities require a business license; check with your city before you start invoicing.
Kansas side
Kansas residents file a Kansas return and may need Kansas estimated payments when withholding will not cover the tax.
If you live in Kansas but do work in Missouri (or the reverse), you may owe tax to both states, with a credit to avoid double taxation. Keep track of where you actually did the work.
Year-round habits that save money
Open a separate business checking account
Save 25 to 30 percent of every payment for taxes
Log mileage as you drive (KC is a driving town, and those miles add up)
Keep receipts digitally and reconcile monthly
Collect W-9s from anyone you pay so 1099s are easy in January
Before December 31
Review your profit, top up estimated payments, and consider retirement contributions. My year-end tax moves checklist covers the details.
This is general information, not tax advice for your situation. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm current requirements with the IRS, the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Kansas Department of Revenue, or the City of Kansas City.
About the author
Robert Allen Bautista is a Kansas City tax preparer and accountant. He spent four years at PwC in IT audit and tax, served as Chief Accountant at a CPA firm, holds an M.S. in Accounting, and is a CPA candidate. He has worked with 350-plus individual and small business clients and writes plain-English tax guides in English and Spanish. Read more on LinkedIn and the Kansas City Tax Guides blog.
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