Radar
Radar: freelance news, deadlines and briefings
Radar is where Freelance Codex publishes short, dated briefings on what is changing for freelancers in the U.S., UK, Canada and Australia, from tax deadlines and platform rules to scams and rates, each with who it affects and what to do next.
Check each post's date and whether it applies to you, then follow its linked guide for the full method. How to read Radar briefings
Latest briefings
Read each one like a checklist: confirm it applies, do the actions it lists, then open the maintained guide it links to.
1099-NEC and 1099-K forms for 2026: thresholds, what to expect, and fixing errors
Higher 1099 thresholds for 2026 mean fewer forms, not less taxable income. Here is which form to expect from clients, marketplaces and payment apps, and how to check each one before you file.
Read: 1099-NEC and 1099-K thresholds for 2026ACA Open Enrollment for 2027: health insurance for U.S. freelancers and the self-employed
HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment for 2027 is open until January 15, with December 15 the cutoff for January 1 coverage. Here is how self-employed buyers estimate income, handle mid-year changes, reconcile on Form 8962, and use the self-employed health insurance deduction.
Read: ACA Open Enrollment 2027 for freelancersAI in client work: disclosure, confidentiality, and who owns the deliverables
You can only assign copyright that exists. Check client AI terms, keep confidential material out of unapproved tools, and use a sample clause and proposal line that keep your ownership promises accurate.
Read: AI clause for freelance contracts: sampleFake client and job scams that target freelancers: red flags and where to report
Most fake-client scams end with you sending money, data, or free work. Use this red-flag checklist and verification routine before you start, and know where to report in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Read: Fake client scams targeting freelancersFreelance demand tracking: leads, replies, and decisions
Track a few signals you can measure in 10 minutes a week. Don’t change strategy based on one bad week. Use your close rate and lead flow to choose the next move.
Read: Track freelance demand: leads and repliesFreelance tax calendar, November 2026 to April 2027: U.S., UK, Canada and Australia
January 15 in the U.S., 31 January in the UK, December 15 in Canada, and a February BAS in Australia. Here are the winter tax dates for freelancers in one place, with a November and December checklist.
Read: Freelance tax deadlines calendar 2026-27How to read Radar briefings
Radar is for timely changes. Each post answers what changed, who it affects, what to do this week, and where the evergreen Codex page lives.
Read: How to read and use Radar briefingsLate payment checklist: find the blocker and follow up
Late payment is usually process, not personality. Use this template to diagnose patterns, run follow-ups procedurally, and tighten terms so it stops repeating.
Read: Late client payments: find the blockerMaking Tax Digital for Income Tax: 2026 to 2027 checkpoint for UK sole traders
The second Making Tax Digital quarterly update for 2026 to 2027 is due 7 November. This checkpoint covers what updates are and aren't, first-year penalties, the January 2027 Self Assessment bill, and what to do now if your turnover is between £30,000 and £50,000.
Read: Making Tax Digital deadlines for 2026-27Q2 2026 estimated tax payment (June 15): reconcile and catch up
Archived checkpoint for the June 15, 2026 payment. Reconcile what you paid, catch up a missed or short installment, then plan the last 2026 payment, due January 15, 2027.
Read: Q2 2026 estimated tax (June 15): catch upQ4 2026 estimated tax payment: January 15, 2027 deadline for U.S. freelancers
The final 2026 estimated tax payment is due January 15, 2027. Use this checkpoint to hit a safe-harbor target, reconcile earlier installments, and close out year-end records before 1099 season.
Read: Q4 2026 estimated tax due January 15, 2027Raise your freelance rates for 2027: notice, numbers, and a script
Give existing clients written notice of 2027 rates before budgets lock. Use your own demand numbers and the latest inflation figures to size the increase, then trade rather than discount when clients push back.
Read: 2027 freelance rate increase: notice emailTwo full-time jobs vs freelancing: a better alternative to overemployment
Compare freelance projects, fractional work, and a second full-time job. Includes September 2026 BLS figures, the original late-2025 snapshot, and practical tradeoffs.
Read: Two full-time jobs vs freelancing