Stewarding Matters

Stewarding your work

A job, a contract, or working for yourself: who it's for, how you're engaged, and when it started.

This guide goes with the Work Recipe. Everything here is a suggestion: keep what helps, and leave the rest.

In short

  • Name it: The day job, Driving for delivery, My bookkeeping clients.

  • Know it: what you do, how you're engaged, who it's for, and when it started.

  • Connections: your employer or clients, any platform, your accountant or tax preparer, and any license the work needs.

  • Contents: the offer letter or contract, pay stubs or earnings statements, tax forms, receipts and a mileage log — and where each one is.

  • Needs: tax dates, contract dates, and renewals.

How you're engaged matters

Employee, independent contractor, or self-employed: it changes what you keep track of at tax time.

In the US, an employee usually has taxes withheld and gets a W-2. An independent contractor or self-employed person usually gets 1099 forms, and may owe estimated taxes during the year. Ask a tax professional what applies to you, and write their answer here.

Know what you know

The Recipe asks: What do you do? How are you engaged in this work? Who employs you for it, if you're not self-employed? When did it start?

Connections

  • your employer, or your clients

  • any platform you work through: Stewarding your platform account

  • your accountant or tax preparer

  • any license or registration the work needs

Contents, and where they are

What

Where it often lives

The offer letter or contract

email, or a folder

Pay stubs or earnings statements

the employer's portal, or the platform's app

Tax forms (W-2, 1099)

the mail or email, early in the year

Receipts

a folder, or photos on your phone

A mileage log

an app, or a notebook in the car

Needs

  • Estimated taxes, if they apply to you. In the US they're paid in installments through the year.

  • Year-end tax forms. Gather them early in the year.

  • A contract's end or renewal date.

  • A business license renewal, if your work needs one.

Come back to it as each date comes near. Between those dates, it can be quiet.

Where to next