#tax-compliance
Tax Compliance
Stay compliant with tax regulations and filing requirements
IRS Audits Demystified: What Triggers Them, What to Expect, and How to Survive One
Fewer than 1% of individual returns are audited each year, and over 75% of audits are handled entirely by mail. This guide explains what triggers an IRS audit in 2026, the step-by-step process, how far back the IRS can look, and how to prepare records that hold up to scrutiny.
843 — IRS Form 843 (2026): Refund & Abatement Guide
IRS Form 843 for 843 claims in 2026 — eligibility, deadlines, line-by-line instructions and documents that get your penalty abatement or refund approved.
IRS Form 8821 Explained: How to Authorize Tax Information Access Without Giving Up Control
Form 8821 grants read-only access to your IRS tax information for lenders, accountants, and verifiers. Learn how it differs from Form 2848, when to use it, how to complete each of its six sections, the 120-day signature rule, and how to revoke it.
IRS Letter 1058: What to Do When You Get the Final Notice of Intent to Levy
Letter 1058 (LT11) is the IRS's final 30-day warning before it can levy wages, bank accounts, or property. Here are the four real options — pay in full, installment agreement, Offer in Compromise, or Collection Due Process hearing — and the exact steps to take before the deadline expires.
IRS Tax Payment Plans: How to Set Up an Installment Agreement When You Can't Pay in Full
A practical guide to IRS installment agreements in 2026 — four plan types, setup fees ranging from $0 to $178, eligibility rules for balances up to $50,000, and the common mistakes that trigger default.
Merchant of Record Explained: When You Should Stop Being the Seller
A Merchant of Record is the legal seller for your SaaS — handling sales tax, VAT, chargebacks, and PCI compliance in exchange for 4–8% per transaction. Here is when the math favors switching, how it compares to a payment processor, and how to pick a provider in 2026.
Missed the Tax Deadline? Here's Exactly What to Do Next
A step-by-step guide to filing late, halting penalties, and setting up IRS payment plans after missing April 15—covering the 5% monthly failure-to-file penalty, the 0.5% failure-to-pay penalty, interest at the short-term rate plus 3%, and the three-year window to claim a refund.
Non-Deductible Business Expenses: What You Can't Write Off in 2026
A practical breakdown of business expenses the IRS disallows in 2026—commuting, entertainment, fines, political spending, life insurance, and the gray areas that cause audit problems—with the Section 162 reasoning behind each rule.
Repairs vs. Improvements: The Tax Rule That Saves Small Businesses Thousands
Small businesses can deduct repairs immediately but must depreciate capital improvements over 27.5 or 39 years. This guide explains the IRS BAR test (betterment, adaptation, restoration), the three safe harbors that let you expense more, and the documentation required to defend your deductions.
Section 174 R&D Capitalization: The Complete 2026 Guide for Founders and Finance Teams
Section 174 of the U.S. tax code restored immediate domestic R&D expensing in 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and small businesses have until July 6, 2026 to amend 2022–2024 returns and reclaim refunds on previously capitalized research costs.
Small Business Recordkeeping: A Practical Guide to Staying Audit-Ready
A practical reference for small business owners on what records the IRS requires, how long to keep each type (3, 4, 6, or 7 years), the de minimis $75 receipt rule, and how to build a system you will actually maintain month after month.
Social Security Tax Explained: A Complete Guide for Employees, Employers, and the Self-Employed
A 2026 reference for Social Security tax: the 6.2% employee and employer rate, the $184,500 wage base, the 15.3% self-employment rate with its 92.35% adjustment, Form 941 deposit rules, and the six mistakes that most often trigger IRS payroll penalties against small businesses.