#small-business
Small Business
Financial management strategies and tools for small business owners
OFAC Sanctions Compliance for Small Businesses: SDN Screening, the 50% Rule, and Voluntary Self-Disclosure
OFAC enforcement now targets fintech, crypto, real estate, and small e-commerce firms with civil penalties up to $377,700 per violation. A practical guide to SDN list screening, the 50 percent ownership rule, voluntary self-disclosure under the 2026 portal, and the five-pillar compliance program Treasury expects from any company touching cross-border money.
PCI DSS 4.0.1 in 2026: The Small Merchant's Guide to SAQ A, Script Tampering, and MFA
PCI DSS v4.0.1 governs every 2026 assessment, and FAQ 1588 has narrowed who qualifies for SAQ A. This guide walks small merchants through the new script-tampering rules (6.4.3 and 11.6.1), the 12-character password and MFA requirements, what non-compliance actually costs, and a 12-step checklist for getting it right.
Schedules K-2 and K-3: The Domestic Filing Exception, the 1-Month Rule, and the $250,000 Small-Entity Carve-Out for 2026
How U.S. partnerships and S corporations qualify for the Schedule K-2/K-3 domestic filing exception, manage the 1-month-date partner request rule, and use the new small-entity exception for entities with under $250,000 in total receipts.
Section 1244 Small Business Stock: How Founders Convert a Failed Startup Into a $50,000 Ordinary Loss
Section 1244 lets eligible founders and early investors convert up to $50,000 ($100,000 joint) of capital loss on failed C-corporation stock into ordinary loss deductible against W-2 wages, freelance income, or interest. This guide covers who qualifies, the $1 million capital ceiling, Form 4797 reporting, and the formation steps that keep the deduction defensible.
Section 179 vs. 100% Bonus Depreciation Under OBBBA: How Small Businesses Should Choose Equipment Write-Offs in 2026
OBBBA permanently restored 100% bonus depreciation and raised the Section 179 cap to $2.56M for 2026. A practical framework for small businesses to choose between them — covering taxable-income limits, state decoupling, SUV caps, and the new Section 168(n) qualified production property deduction.
Section 197 Intangibles: 15-Year Amortization for Goodwill, Customer Lists, and Non-Competes
Section 197 requires buyers in a taxable asset acquisition to amortize acquired intangibles — goodwill, customer lists, workforce in place, covenants not to compete — straight-line over 180 months. This guide walks through Form 8594 purchase price allocation, the anti-churning rules for related-party deals, the no-loss rule on dispositions, and Form 4562 reporting across the full 15-year cycle.
Section 199A SSTB Limitation: Why High-Earning Doctors, Lawyers, and Consultants Lose the 20% QBI Deduction
Section 199A's 20% QBI deduction phases out entirely for high-income doctors, lawyers, consultants, and other specified service trades or businesses (SSTBs) — costing a married surgeon at $700,000 of K-1 income roughly $52,000 a year. This guide covers the 2026 income thresholds (~$394,600 MFJ phase-in, ~$544,600 fully phased out), the de minimis safe harbor at 10% / 5% of receipts, the anti-"crack and pack" rules under Reg. §1.199A-5(c)(2), and practical strategies like defined-benefit plans and W-2 wage planning to preserve the deduction.
Section 199A's SSTB Cliff: Why Doctors, Lawyers, and Consultants Lose the 20 Percent QBI Deduction
Section 199A's SSTB rule denies the 20 percent qualified business income deduction to high-earning doctors, lawyers, consultants, and financial advisors. In 2026 the joint-filer phase-out runs from $403,500 to $553,500, and OBBBA added a permanent $400 minimum deduction for active business owners.
Section 263A UNICAP: When Small Businesses Must Capitalize Indirect Costs Into Inventory
Section 263A forces producers and resellers above the $32 million 2026 gross-receipts threshold to capitalize warehouse rent, purchasing, and mixed service costs into inventory. Here is how the exemption, simplified methods, and Form 3115 method changes actually work.
State Apportionment Formulas for Multistate Businesses: Single Sales Factor, Three-Factor, and Market-Based Sourcing Explained
How U.S. states divide multistate corporate income using single sales factor, three-factor, and market-based sourcing rules — including throwback and throwout traps, P.L. 86-272 limits, and the bookkeeping detail required to file accurately.
The 90-Day Letter: How Small Businesses Can Fight an IRS Notice of Deficiency in Tax Court
A statutory notice of deficiency gives a small business owner exactly 90 days to petition the U.S. Tax Court — the only path to challenge an IRS adjustment without paying first. This guide explains CP3219A, the Section 6213 deadline, the $50,000 small tax case election, and the records that decide outcomes.
The 90-Day Letter: How Small Businesses Challenge IRS Audit Findings Without Paying First
A Statutory Notice of Deficiency gives a small business 90 days to petition the U.S. Tax Court before the IRS assesses additional tax. This guide explains the CP3219A deadline, Form 5564 waiver, S-case election, and the four realistic responses every owner should weigh.