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u/_littledonut

r/quantitysurveying r/braces r/food r/R4Rstralia r/DentistPh r/taxPH r/VirtualAssistantPhil r/askdentists
▲ 2 r/taxPH+1 crossposts

First-time freelancer/VA — need help with BIR taxes

Hi! I started working as a freelance/remote VA in February 2026, and this is my first time handling my own taxes.

I initially thought I could compute and file everything at the end of the year, but I recently learned that there are quarterly filing requirements as well. I’m trying to understand what I should do at this point and how to properly handle everything moving forward.

Quick background, my expected gross income for 2026 is below ₱500k, including an additional year-end payment equivalent to around one month of my usual pay.

A few questions:

  1. Since I started earning in February and haven’t filed yet, what should I do first?
  2. How should I handle the quarterly filings I may have missed?
  3. Are there penalties, and how are they usually calculated?
  4. What filings and deadlines should I be aware of as a freelance VA?
  5. How do I know whether the 8% option or graduated rates would apply to me?
  6. Where can I find reliable and beginner-friendly references that explain the whole BIR process for freelancers?
  7. Is this manageable to sort out myself through BIR’s online systems, or would it be better to consult an accountant for the first year?

Would really appreciate advice from PH freelancers/VAs who have gone through the process, especially those who started freelancing before fully understanding the filing requirements, as well as accountants or anyone familiar with BIR requirements for freelancers.

Thank you!

reddit.com
u/_littledonut — 4 days ago
▲ 44 r/food

[Homemade] Easy sun dried tomato pasta with sausage, mushrooms and chili flakes

u/_littledonut — 8 days ago
▲ 35 r/DentistPh

Dentist or Orthodontist?

Hi!

Napapansin ko kasi na dito sa Philippines, common na ang general dentists ang nagha-handle ng braces. Curious lang ako—how does that compare sa treatment ng orthodontist?

Gusto ko lang maintindihan kung ano yung differences sa approach nila, and kung kailan okay lang magpa-braces sa general dentist versus kailan mas recommended talaga ang orthodontist.

Yung case ko is minor flaring and pagsara ng gaps dahil may mga naalis akong molars. Since hindi naman ako expert, curious lang ako kung may difference ba sa approach ng general dentists at orthodontists, and kung may advantage ba ang orthodontist kahit sa mga ganitong relatively simple cases.

Would love to hear insights from dentists, orthodontists, and pati na rin sa mga may personal experience.

Salamat!

reddit.com
u/_littledonut — 25 days ago
▲ 1 r/askdentists

Need some advice

Hi Reddit,

I'm 30 years old and considering getting braces as an adult. I've already consulted an orthodontist, but keen to hear more so I'd appreciate any insights from people who have gone through something similar.

A bit of background:
I lost two molars: one on my upper right side (which left a visible gap) and one on my lower left side. The lower-left gap has partially closed over time because the wisdom tooth has drifted forward. Recently, my upper front teeth have started developing a small gap, which is what initially made me look into braces.
My orthodontist's proposed treatment is to extract two wisdom teeth (upper left and lower right), then use braces to close the missing-tooth spaces and correct my flaring.

A few things I'm worried about:

  1. Extracting a healthy wisdom tooth vs. a chipped second molar
    Since my panoramic X-ray was taken, the second molar next to the upper-left wisdom tooth has chipped. My first thought was: why remove a healthy wisdom tooth when there's already a damaged tooth there?
    My orthodontist advised against removing the second molar and still recommends extracting the wisdom tooth instead. Is there a reason why this would generally be preferred?

  2. Tooth count imbalance
    Originally, I wanted to keep the lower-right wisdom tooth and just use a prosthetic tooth on a retainer to fill the upper-right gap.
    If I only extracted on one side, I think I'd end up with 8 teeth from the center on one side and 7 on the other. Does this kind of imbalance actually matter from an orthodontic standpoint?

  3. Lip support and flaring
    This is probably my biggest concern.
    My upper teeth flare a bit, but I also feel like they provide some support to my upper lip. My upper lip is relatively long, and my teeth don't show much when I talk, which is something I'm already insecure about.
    I'm worried that correcting the flaring might reduce lip support even more and make my teeth less visible when speaking or smiling.
    Has anyone had braces that corrected flaring while still maintaining or even improving lip support and smile aesthetics?

  4. Is braces treatment even worth it in my situation?
    Part of me wonders if I'm opening a can of worms and should just leave things alone.
    I'm honestly really nervous because my smile is one of the few things I genuinely like about myself, and I'm afraid of ending up with a result I don't like.

Any advice, experiences, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading!

u/_littledonut — 2 months ago
▲ 3 r/braces

Adult Braces - Help!!!

Hi Reddit,

I'm 30 years old and considering getting braces as an adult. I've already consulted an orthodontist, but keen to hear more so I'd appreciate any insights from people who have gone through something similar.

A bit of background:
I lost two molars: one on my upper right side (which left a visible gap) and one on my lower left side. The lower-left gap has partially closed over time because the wisdom tooth has drifted forward. Recently, my upper front teeth have started developing a small gap, which is what initially made me look into braces.
My orthodontist's proposed treatment is to extract two wisdom teeth (upper left and lower right), then use braces to close the missing-tooth spaces and correct my flaring.

A few things I'm worried about:

1. Extracting a healthy wisdom tooth vs. a chipped second molar
Since my panoramic X-ray was taken, the second molar next to the upper-left wisdom tooth has chipped. My first thought was: why remove a healthy wisdom tooth when there's already a damaged tooth there?
My orthodontist advised against removing the second molar and still recommends extracting the wisdom tooth instead. Is there a reason why this would generally be preferred?

2. Tooth count imbalance
Originally, I wanted to keep the lower-right wisdom tooth and just use a prosthetic tooth on a retainer to fill the upper-right gap.
If I only extracted on one side, I think I'd end up with 8 teeth from the center on one side and 7 on the other. Does this kind of imbalance actually matter from an orthodontic standpoint?

3. Lip support and flaring
This is probably my biggest concern.
My upper teeth flare a bit, but I also feel like they provide some support to my upper lip. My upper lip is relatively long, and my teeth don't show much when I talk, which is something I'm already insecure about.
I'm worried that correcting the flaring might reduce lip support even more and make my teeth less visible when speaking or smiling.
Has anyone had braces that corrected flaring while still maintaining or even improving lip support and smile aesthetics?

4. Is braces treatment even worth it in my situation?
Part of me wonders if I'm opening a can of worms and should just leave things alone.
I'm honestly really nervous because my smile is one of the few things I genuinely like about myself, and I'm afraid of ending up with a result I don't like.

Any advice, experiences, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading!

u/_littledonut — 2 months ago
▲ 7 r/R4Rstralia

29 [F4M] - Seeking mutual company, calls & an LDR fling

Hi there. I’m a 29-year-old Asian woman, recently single, and looking for a high-quality distraction. I really want some sweet company right now, and I’m very keen to share my own time and attention with the right guy in return. Let's start with casual banter, voice calls, and see where the fun takes us. I am not entirely sure what I am looking for yet, so surprise me!

reddit.com
u/_littledonut — 3 months ago
▲ 5 r/quantitysurveying

How to make tender markups look more professional?

Hi,

I recently started working for a NZ subcontractor and I've been figuring out a way to present my markups better for the client and the team. While I'd like the markups to be equally informative for the client, myself (in case the project returns), and the foreman, I know that sometimes less is more.

I'm thinking of the following options but please feel free to suggest on how you do yours. I believe a put-together markups help win projects and I want to win bids for my company.

Option A. Limit the pages and where blow up detail is necessary, just include a screenshot of the detail and attach on the demarcation page.

Option B. Keep pages as clean as possible - only legends and take-off demarcations. Other details leave in separate pages and highlight necessary information allowed/excluded.

Option C. Limit pages and only present demarcations. Details on references to be kept in my own copy to be shared with the team but not with the client.

Keen to getting insights from different QS perspectives - client QS, MC/SC QS, and QS's everywhere especially NZ/AU/UK as they probably have the same preferences. Thanks heaps!

reddit.com
u/_littledonut — 3 months ago
▲ 7 r/quantitysurveying

I’m interested in migrating and knowing where I’m needed helps in the decision making to where to go. On top of that would it be hard to get visa sponsorship in said country? I have 5 years estimator background, I wouldn’t say it’s very strong but I’m hoping I’d pitch myself well.

reddit.com
u/_littledonut — 4 months ago