#tax-credits
Federal and state tax credits to reduce your tax bill dollar for dollar
On July 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded $162 million to five industry sponsors that pass apprenticeship incentive payments directly to employers — including small businesses in maritime, AI infrastructure, telecom, IT, and auto repair. Here's who qualifies, how to join a group sponsor, which state tax credits stack on top, and how to book the payments correctly.
Effective January 1, 2026, Texas SB 2206 raises the R&D franchise tax credit from 5% to 8.722% (10.903% for university-partnered research), makes it refundable in cash for businesses under $2.65M revenue and new veteran-owned businesses, aligns definitions with federal Form 6765, and repeals the R&D equipment sales tax exemption.
Effective July 1, 2026, Washington raised the B&O tax filing threshold from $125,000 to $250,000 in annual gross income and increased the small business credit caps to $375/month for service businesses and $125/month for nonservice businesses — here's who can stop filing, who still owes nothing, and what obligations remain.
SB 180, signed July 13, 2026, extends the California Competes Tax Credit through fiscal year 2032-33. Small businesses can apply in three annual windows for a share of $180 million+ in credits — no minimum size, no fee — but awards come with binding job and investment milestones that demand clean books.
The Educational Choice for Children Act creates a $1,700 federal income tax credit for cash donations to K-12 Scholarship Granting Organizations, starting with the 2027 tax year — but only in states that opt in. Here is how the nonrefundable, cash-only Section 25F credit works, the five-year carryforward, the 90% pass-through rule for SGOs, and why pass-through business owners should track their state's participation through 2026.
Ireland cut VAT on food, catering, and hairdressing from 13.5% to 9% on July 1, 2026, raised the entrepreneur relief cap to €1.5M, and boosted the R&D credit to 35% — but the minimum wage hike to €14.15 and pension auto-enrolment landed six months earlier. Here's what each change means for small business books.
How independent film budgets actually work — above-the-line costs run 30–35% of budget, contingency should be ~10%, and 39 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico return 15–45% of qualified spend through film incentives. A practical guide to cost reports, loan-out companies, and building a chart of accounts that survives an audit.
Commercial electricity rates have risen more than 20% nationally since 2018, and demand charges — the single highest 15-minute power spike in a billing cycle — can account for 30-70% of a business's bill; separating the two in your chart of accounts and shopping contracts 60-90 days before renewal are the most effective ways to control the cost.
Meaderies are classified as bonded wine premises under 27 CFR Part 24, file TTB Form 5000.24, and owe wine excise tax of $1.07 per gallon up to 16% ABV — reduced to roughly $0.07 per gallon on the first 30,000 gallons under the CBMA small producer credit.
The OBBBA's one-time retroactive Section 174 election for 2022–2024 R&D amortization closed July 6, 2026, but the standard three-year R&D credit window and permanent 2025+ immediate expensing under Section 174A remain available to small businesses.
Utah, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and West Virginia now let businesses contribute to an independent contractor's portable benefit account without that contribution counting as evidence of employment. How the state safe harbors work, what Utah's 50% tax credit (up to $2,000 per contractor) covers, and how to track contributions in your books.
Demand charges can account for 30–70% of a commercial electricity bill and add roughly $9,000 to a single month when six DC fast chargers peak simultaneously — yet most operators blend them into one utilities account. How to book charging revenue against per-kWh COGS, track the Section 30C credit that now sunsets June 30, 2026, and model realistic payback periods for Level 2 ($4,500–$12,000/port) and DC fast chargers ($90,000–$200,000/port).
