#tax
Tax
Tax strategies, planning, and compliance for individuals and businesses
Form 1099-NEC: The Complete Guide for Businesses and Contractors
Step-by-step guide to Form 1099-NEC — who must file, the $600 threshold (rising to $2,000 in 2026), the January 31 deadline, the penalty schedule ($60–$340 per form), and how to avoid the most common contractor reporting mistakes.
How Much Does an Accountant Cost for Your Small Business?
A practical breakdown of accountant and CPA fees for small businesses—hourly rates ($150–$400+), flat fees, retainers, and annual spend by business size—plus clear signals for when hiring one pays off.
How to Categorize Business Transactions: A Complete Guide for Small Business Owners
A practical walkthrough of the five account types, common IRS-aligned expense categories, and weekly habits that keep small business books accurate—covering chart of accounts setup, automation strategies, and mistakes that lead to missed deductions.
Catch-Up Bookkeeping: A Complete Guide to Getting Your Books Back on Track
A practical, step-by-step guide to catch-up bookkeeping for small businesses—covering how to reconstruct overdue financial records, what professional cleanup costs ($300–$8,000+), and proven habits to prevent the backlog from building again.
Expense Tracking for Small Businesses: The Complete Guide
A practical, IRS-grounded guide to small business expense tracking—covering deductible categories, documentation requirements for meals and mileage, and how to choose between spreadsheets, accounting software, and plain-text tools like Beancount.
IRS Receipt Requirements: What Small Businesses Need to Keep (and for How Long)
The IRS requires receipts for business expenses of $75 or more—with lodging always requiring documentation—and imposes stricter contemporaneous records for travel, meals, and listed property under Section 274(d). Most small businesses should retain all records for at least 7 years to cover the full range of audit scenarios.
IRS Receipt Requirements: What to Keep, What to Skip, and How Long to Store Them
The IRS requires adequate documentation—not necessarily paper receipts—for every business deduction. This guide covers the $75 threshold rule, strict substantiation categories, retention periods of three to seven years, and digital storage standards accepted since 1997.
Why You Should Never Mix Personal and Business Finances
Commingling personal and business funds can void your LLC's liability protection, trigger IRS scrutiny, and obscure true cash flow. Seven concrete steps to separate your finances and protect your assets.
How to Find a CPA for Your Small Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to find the right CPA for your small business—when to hire one, what to look for, what questions to ask, and what it will cost. A practical step-by-step guide for business owners.
Best Accounting Software for Consultants: What to Use and Why It Matters
Consultants have unique accounting needs: time tracking, project-based billing, and self-employment taxes. Here's how to choose the best accounting software for your consulting practice — from FreshBooks to Xero to Wave.
How to Pay Yourself from an LLC: Salary vs. Owner's Draw Explained
Learn how to pay yourself from an LLC using owner's draws or salary, understand the tax implications of each LLC tax classification (sole proprietorship, partnership, S-corp, C-corp), and discover when an S-corp election can save you thousands in self-employment taxes.
The Accounting Dictionary: 44 Essential Terms Every Business Owner Should Know
A comprehensive accounting dictionary covering 44 essential terms every business owner should know, organized by category: bookkeeping basics, core accounting concepts, tax terminology, business structures, and financial ratios.