So Money with Farnoosh Torabi 1907: A Tax Strategy That Puts Humans First
Nov 19, 2025
Hannah Cole, founder of Sunlight Tax and author of Taxes for Humans, brings humor and practicality to navigating taxes for the self-employed. She emphasizes the importance of tax education as a form of empowerment, helping freelancers overcome limiting beliefs and shame. Her simple three-system organization for tax documents makes the process accessible. Hannah also demystifies audits, explains how to handle unpaid taxes, and highlights tax-advantaged accounts like HSAs. This conversation transforms tax knowledge into a tool for advocacy and financial security.
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Shamed By An Accountant Sparked Change
- Hannah described sitting with her dad's accountant who asked, "so when are you going to get a real job?" which felt shaming.
- That experience motivated her to make taxes less intimidating for creatives.
Reframing Taxes As Public Investment
- The phrase "tax burden" frames taxes as inherently negative and discourages civic engagement.
- Taxes fund public goods many middle- and working-class people receive more from than they pay in.
Separate Receipts, Docs, And Bookkeeping
- Keep three separate systems: receipts, tax documents, and bookkeeping to avoid confusion.
- Store receipts chronologically and treat bank/credit card statements as bookkeeping tools, not receipts.
