The Schedule C Built for Self-Employed Professionals
As a 1099 agent, every dollar of profit on Schedule C is taxed at ordinary income rates plus 15.3% self-employment tax. Getting it right (and complete) is the single highest-leverage tax move you make all year. Here's how KeyTax handles it line-by-line. If you're self-employed in any field — real estate, freelancing, or contracting — Schedule C is your form.
Why Realtors Get Schedule C Wrong
Most agents either over-report income (forgetting commission splits and brokerage fees on Line 9) or under-report expenses (missing categories they're legally entitled to claim). Both cost real money.
How KeyTax Builds Your Schedule C as You Go
Every expense you log in KeyTax is pre-mapped to the exact Schedule C line it belongs on. At year-end, the report is already grouped the way the IRS wants it — Lines 8 through 27a — totaled and ready for your CPA.
Pre-Mapped IRS Lines
Mileage goes to Line 9 (with the standard mileage calculation), marketing to Line 8, MLS/lockbox to Line 27a, brokerage fees to Line 10 — categorized the moment you log them.
Commission Splits Handled
Log gross commission once. KeyTax tracks the split paid back to your brokerage so Line 1 shows what you actually netted, not the inflated 1099 number.
Home Office Worksheet (Line 30)
Pick simplified ($5/sq ft up to 300 sq ft) or actual-expense method. KeyTax computes both and shows which one gives you more, then writes the number to Line 30.
One-Click Prefilled PDF
Generate a Schedule C with every line populated — Gross receipts, COGS (if applicable), totals on Line 28, net profit on Line 31 — ready to hand to your CPA or upload to TurboTax.
What You Get at Tax Time
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule C. Realtors are 1099 independent contractors providing a service, not landlords collecting rent. Schedule E is for rental real estate income — which is separate and would only apply if you also own investment properties.
Yes. Schedule C applies to any sole proprietor or single-member LLC taxed as a sole proprietor — freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, rideshare drivers, delivery workers, and any other self-employed professional. The form and the process are the same regardless of industry.
Two valid approaches: (1) Report the net commission on Line 1 — only what you actually received after the split — or (2) Report the gross on Line 1 and the split on Line 10 (commissions and fees) as an expense. Most CPAs prefer option 1 because it matches what hits your bank account. KeyTax supports both.
Line 9 (Car and truck expenses). You either claim the standard mileage rate (72.5¢/mile for business in 2026) or the actual-expense method. The standard rate wins for most realtors who drive a personal vehicle. KeyTax calculates both and recommends the higher one.
MLS dues and lockbox fees go on Line 27a (Other expenses), itemized as 'Dues & subscriptions' and 'Professional fees.' Yard signs and lockboxes themselves go on Line 22 (Supplies) if under $200 each, or get depreciated on Line 13 if they're more expensive equipment.
Yes, if you have a space used regularly and exclusively for your real estate business. Use Line 30 — either the simplified method (square footage × $5, up to 300 sq ft = $1,500 max) or actual expenses (% of home × utilities, mortgage interest, insurance, etc.). KeyTax computes both and uses whichever is higher.
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