#tax-compliance
Tax Compliance
Stay compliant with tax regulations and filing requirements
Stimulus Checks and Tax Debt: What Happens If You Owe the IRS
Direct stimulus payments were protected from IRS tax debt offsets, but Recovery Rebate Credits claimed on tax returns followed normal refund offset rules. Here's how owing back taxes affected each of the three rounds of economic impact payments and what options remain for resolving outstanding IRS balances.
Tax Resolution Demystified: How to Settle IRS Debt Without Falling for Scams
A 2026 guide to the five legitimate IRS resolution programs—installment agreements, Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible status, penalty abatement, and innocent spouse relief—plus the warning signs of OIC mill scams and the step-by-step process from a CP14 notice to a working agreement.
The Augusta Rule: How Business Owners Earn Tax-Free Rental Income (Section 280A Guide)
Section 280A(g) lets business owners rent their personal residence to their company for up to 14 days per year and exclude the income from federal tax. This guide covers eligibility, fair-market rate setting, the documentation auditors expect, and the lessons from Sinopoli v. Commissioner.
Employee Retention Credit Update 2026: Pending Refunds, New Compliance Rules, and What to Do Next
As of 2026, most outstanding Employee Retention Credit claims sit in audit, appeal, or litigation rather than ordinary processing queues. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act blocked late 2021 Q3/Q4 claims filed after January 31, 2024, and extended the IRS audit window for ERC claims to six years.
Engaged in a Trade or Business: The IRS Test That Decides Your Tax Bill in 2026
The IRS uses a nine-factor test under Section 183 to decide whether your side income is a business or a hobby. After the OBBBA took effect in 2026, hobbyists report income in full but can deduct no expenses against it — making the classification more consequential than ever.
Form 1065 Demystified: The Partnership Tax Return Every Multi-Member LLC Needs to Know
A working guide to IRS Form 1065 for multi-member LLCs and partnerships—what the information return reports, who must file, the March 16, 2026 deadline, the $260-per-partner monthly late penalty, and the bookkeeping habits that prevent K-1 errors.
Form 1120-W and C Corporation Estimated Taxes: The Complete 2026 Guide
Form 1120-W was retired after 2022, but C corporations expecting to owe more than $500 in federal tax must still make quarterly estimated payments. This guide covers the 2026 due dates, the 21% rate calculation, the two safe harbors, the $1 million large-corporation trap, the annualized income installment method, and the EFTPS-only payment requirement.
Form 1120-S Explained: The Complete Guide to Filing Your S Corporation Tax Return
Form 1120-S is the annual federal return every active S corporation must file, with a 2026 deadline of March 16. This guide covers who must file, the schedules involved, the five mistakes that cost owners the most, and a month-by-month filing workflow.
Form W-9 Demystified: The 2026 Guide for Freelancers, Contractors, and Small Businesses
Form W-9 collects your taxpayer ID so payers can issue accurate 1099s. The 2026 OBBBA raised the reporting threshold from $600 to $2,000, and the IRS released a revised form. This guide explains the line-by-line mechanics, the single-member LLC mistake that triggers backup withholding, and the recordkeeping habits that keep January boring.
How to Pay Off IRS Tax Debt: 6 Options to Settle What You Owe
Six IRS-approved paths to clear back taxes — short-term plans, 72-month installment agreements, penalty abatement, Offer in Compromise, and Currently Not Collectible status — with eligibility, fees, and when to use each.
IRS Form 1099-MISC: The Complete Guide to Reporting Miscellaneous Payments in 2026
Form 1099-MISC reports rent, royalties, prizes, and attorney settlements. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2026 reporting threshold jumps from $600 to $2,000. This guide breaks down which box to use, the filing calendar, and the penalty tiers that turn small mistakes into thousands of dollars.
IRS Form 433-D Explained: How to Set Up a Direct Debit Installment Agreement and Stop the Late Notices
Form 433-D authorizes a Direct Debit Installment Agreement (DDIA) with the IRS — $31 setup online with direct debit versus $130 without, automatic monthly payments, and a reduced 0.25% failure-to-pay penalty. A walkthrough of who needs the form, how to complete each section, and how it differs from Forms 9465, 433-A, and 433-F.