What I check on every return
- Every credit you qualify for checked, including the Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit
- Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and cash income added up and matched
- Supplies, equipment and mileage between houses deducted
- Payments to helpers documented, with 1099s when required
- Texas sales tax situation checked
Deductions cleaners often miss
- Cleaning products, mops, vacuums and microfiber
- Mileage between clients' homes (72.5 cents a mile in 2026)
- Gloves, uniforms and shoe covers
- Liability insurance and bonding
- Pay to helpers (collect a W-9 before you pay them)
- Business share of your phone, and ads on Nextdoor, Facebook or Google
Houston and Texas rules that apply to you
- Sales tax on cleaning: the Texas Comptroller treats maid and janitorial services as taxable, for homes as well as offices. Whether you must register and charge 8.25% depends on how you work, for example as a business serving many clients versus as one household's own employee. I check your setup with you.
- Tolls and traffic: EZ TAG tolls driving between houses are deductible on top of mileage.
- No Texas income tax: your return is federal only, but self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) applies once your net self-employment income reaches $400.
New for 2026 returns (filed in 2027)
- No tax on tips: home cleaning service workers and housekeepers are on Treasury's list of tipped occupations, so reported tips can be deducted, up to $25,000 a year (2025 through 2028). For self-employed workers the deduction can't exceed your net profit from that work, and it phases out above $150,000 of income ($300,000 married filing jointly).
- 1099 forms: clients and companies now send a 1099-NEC only when they pay you $2,000 or more in 2026 (it was $600). Payment apps send a 1099-K only above $20,000 and 200 payments. All of your income is still taxable, form or no form.
- Mileage: the IRS rate for 2026 is 72.5 cents per business mile, up from 70 cents. Tolls and parking for work are deductible on top of that.
What to bring
- Zelle, Venmo, Cash App and bank statements for the year
- Your list of clients and what each paid, if you keep one
- Receipts for supplies and equipment
- Mileage log or a list of addresses you clean each week
- Names, amounts and W-9s for helpers you paid
Common questions
Clients pay me by Zelle. Will the IRS know?
Zelle doesn't send a 1099-K, but the income is taxable and bank deposits are where the IRS looks first in an audit. Reporting it also builds your Social Security record and lets you deduct your costs.
I pay a helper in cash. What do I need to do?
Get a W-9 from them before you pay. If you pay one helper $2,000 or more in 2026, you file a 1099-NEC for them. If they work under your direction on your schedule, they may be an employee instead; we'll look at that together.
Where I work
I'm based in Houston and work with clients across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria counties, including Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Katy, Cypress, Spring, Humble, Baytown and The Woodlands. Meet in person in Houston or do everything online, in English, Spanish or Portuguese. I also work by video with clients in Beaumont & Port Arthur, Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill & Lancaster.
Get a flat-fee quote before I start
Book a free 15-minute call. I'll tell you what your return needs and what it costs. Fees are never a percentage of your refund.
Book a free callSee typical pricesOfficial sources: Texas Comptroller: taxable services ↗ · IRS: tips and overtime deductions ↗ · IRS: Self-Employed Tax Center ↗
Updated October 2026 for 2026 returns filed in 2027. General information only, not tax advice for your situation. Rules and amounts can change; your situation is confirmed when your return is prepared.
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