IMPORTANT UPDATE + WHAT'S NEXT (Patreon)

Hello, everyone! A big update I wanted to share with each and every one of you!

As you might recall last year, when my wife and I went to have our taxes handled, we were dealt a serious blow. I had received a Form 1099 for the 2024 tax year, and presented it when it came time to have our taxes reviewed. We learned then that my Patreon income was high enough to qualify as "self-employment income", and because I had paid exactly zero dollars in estimated payments throughout 2024, we were heavily penalized, and were required to pay the self-employment tax as well as the penalty. This news hit us right after I had just spent my entire annual bonus on a brand new PC, and right before a major hailstorm that resulted in us having to buy a new car to replace our damaged one. This is the reason I was forced to take on so many commissions last year, as well as why progress on 7Eves has slowed significantly.

I already had the suspicion that, with the webcomic project, I was going to be seeing an increase in my Patreon income. So, preparing for the worst, I began making quarterly payments to the IRS. I'd missed the first quarter, so I overcompensated and made larger payments throughout the rest of the year, totaling $2,700. This is more than 20% of my yearly Patreon income, which was the recommended amount to pay in for self-employment and freelance income.

As we entered the new year, I kept a close watch on my Patreon Payouts page, which lists my available tax documents. The forms for the 2025 tax year were listed as being available to view on February 1st, so I waited patiently for the day to arrive. When it finally did, I was shocked to see that, despite predictably making more money last year than I did in 2024... I didn't meet the tax threshold to receive a 1099 form in 2025. How??

After discussing the situation with a close friend, we made a bizarre discovery. As it turns out, the threshold for receiving a 1099 in 2025 was a whopping $20,000, which I didn't even come close to reaching. So why did I receive the form in 2024? Because for that tax year alone, the self-employment threshold was only... $600. Absolutely ridiculous. Imagine anyone with a Patreon account, making only $50 a month, receiving a Form 1099 and expected to pay a self-employment tax with that. Evidently it was a huge hassle not only for taxpayers, but also the IRS, because it was changed back to the original $20,000 threshold.

This essentially meant that I was in the clear, and wouldn't have to consider my Patreon payouts as taxable income, just as has always been the case since I've had this account. Running with that assumption, we filed our taxes online, and had absolutely none of the issues we did the previous year. I also immediately got a confirmation email saying that our tax return had been accepted, and we would be seeing our expected refund arriving in the bank in about ten business days.

Long story short...

We're getting the full amount I paid in back!!

The entire $2,700 I paid across 2025 is coming back to me, because I didn't actually owe anything in at all! What a relief!! I can even look at my bank account right now and confirm that the refund is pending, and the transaction will be hitting my account this weekend. This is incredible news!!

This means that I won't be forced to take on an excess of commissions just to make ends meet this year, and I can finally put more of my focus onto the 7Eves project! In the very near future, we'll at last be seeing a steady continuation of Chapter 2!

I couldn't have made it here, though, without the tremendous help of every single one of you. My patrons kept me afloat throughout all of last year, keeping a roof above our head. And my commissioners allowed me to pay off all of my taxes and penalties accrued for the 2024 tax year.

I mean this sincerely, from the bottom of my heart...

Thank you, all of you, so very much, for all you've done for us.

So what's next?

My wife and I had a discussion about how to handle future production on the comic. As it stands, I'm still employed full-time, with only two days off every week. Once I take care of a few additional obligations and other personal projects, I'll be dedicating time on select days to work exclusively on the comic, so I can pick up the pace and get back into the work flow. In time, we'll see a steady release of pages once more, and you guys will finally be able to enjoy the continued adventures of Hazel & Liv!

There's still a few personal pieces I want to complete and share with you guys before work continues on 7Eves, a few of which I've already shared WIP's for right here on Patreon! I know it means waiting just a bit longer before the comic continues in earnest, but I'm sure you'll be happy to see these new pieces completed at last!

Until next time, take care of yourselves, everyone, and thank you, once more, for your incredible support!!