Mike Thrift
Marketing Manager
Foreign Tax Credit vs. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion: Which Should Expats Pick in 2026?
A side-by-side guide to Form 1116 (Foreign Tax Credit) and Form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion) for expats and cross-border workers in 2026 — the $132,900 FEIE cap, the five-year revocation lock-in, the FTC stacking rule, and a worked example showing when each one actually saves money.
Form 1023 vs Form 1023-EZ: Choosing the Right 501(c)(3) Application
A side-by-side guide to Form 1023 ($600, 30+ pages) and Form 1023-EZ ($275, three pages) — including the $50,000 gross receipts test, $250,000 asset cap, the 27-month retroactive recognition deadline, and why 37% of streamlined approvals failed to meet legal requirements.
Form 2553 Late S-Corp Election: How Rev. Proc. 2013-30 Cures Missed Deadlines Without PLR Fees
A practical walkthrough of how Revenue Procedure 2013-30 lets businesses cure a missed Form 2553 S-corp election within three years and 75 days — no $3,500+ private letter ruling fee, no negotiation, just a checklist and a well-written statement.
Form 8594 and Section 1060: Allocating Purchase Price Across Asset Classes I–VII in a Business Sale
Buyers and sellers in an asset acquisition must each file Form 8594 under Section 1060, allocating consideration across seven asset classes using the residual method. Mismatched filings can trigger $50,000 penalties and audit cascades; a single dollar moved between Class IV inventory and Class VII goodwill can swing after-tax cash by 17 cents.
Form 8829 Home Office Deduction: Why Picking the Wrong Method Could Cost You $3,000 a Year
A side-by-side comparison of the simplified $5-per-square-foot method and Form 8829's actual expense method for the 2026 home office deduction, with worked examples, depreciation recapture math, carryover rules, and a decision framework for self-employed filers.
Form 8832 Entity Classification Election: How LLCs and Foreign Entities Use the Check-the-Box Rules
Form 8832 lets eligible entities — domestic LLCs and most foreign companies — elect to be taxed as a disregarded entity, partnership, or C corporation. This guide covers default classifications, the 60-month lockout, late-election relief under Rev. Proc. 2009-41, and how Form 8832 differs from Form 2553.
Inventory Accounting Methods Compared: FIFO, LIFO, Weighted Average, and Specific Identification for Small Businesses
A practical comparison of FIFO, LIFO, weighted average, and specific identification — with IRS rules, Form 970 and Form 3115 mechanics, the LIFO conformity trap, and a five-step framework for picking the right inventory method in 2026.
IOLTA Trust Accounting for Law Firms: How Three-Way Reconciliation Prevents Disbarment in 2026
IOLTA violations triggered 1,247 attorney discipline cases in 2025. As twelve states adopt a 30-day reconciliation deadline on July 1, 2026, this guide walks through how three-way reconciliation works, the workflow that keeps individual client ledgers tied to the bank balance, and the mistakes that most often end legal careers.
OBBBA No Tax on Overtime: How the New $12,500 Deduction for FLSA Premium Pay Works Through 2028
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act creates an above-the-line deduction of up to $12,500 ($25,000 joint) on FLSA-required overtime premium pay for tax years 2025-2028, with a MAGI phase-out starting at $150,000 single and mandatory W-2 Box 12 Code TT reporting from 2026.
No Tax on Tips: How the New $25,000 Above-the-Line Deduction Actually Works for Servers, Stylists, and Drivers Through 2028
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act creates an above-the-line deduction of up to $25,000 in qualified tips for tax years 2025 through 2028, available only to workers in IRS-listed tipped occupations and phased out above $150,000 MAGI ($300,000 joint).
The $6,000 Senior Bonus Deduction: How Taxpayers 65 and Older Can Cut Their 2026 Tax Bill (Through 2028)
The OBBBA's new $6,000 senior bonus deduction (up to $12,000 per couple) phases out at 6% per dollar of MAGI above $75,000 single / $150,000 joint and disappears entirely at $175,000 / $250,000. Available for tax years 2025 through 2028, stackable with the standard deduction and itemized deductions for taxpayers 65 and older.
PCORI Fee 2026: Self-Insured Plans, HRAs, and Form 720 by July 31
For plan years ending in 2025, self-insured plan sponsors and HRA employers must file Form 720 by July 31, 2026 and pay $3.84 per covered life ($3.47 for plan years ending before October 1, 2025). This guide covers who owes the fee, the three approved methods to calculate average covered lives, why HRAs count employees only, and the common Form 720 filing mistakes that trigger IRS notices.