Got a 1099-Q for a 529 Withdrawal? Here's Who Owes Tax and How Boxes 1, 2, and 3 Work
IRS Form 1099-Q Box 1 is your total 529 distribution, Box 2 the possibly taxable earnings, Box 3 tax-free basis — and tax follows the recipient's SSN.
Mike Thrift
Marketing Manager
States Are Loosening Agritourism Rules in 2026: California Farm Camping, Oregon Farm Stores, and Your Books
California AB 518 lets counties allow nine farm campsites; Oregon HB 4153 adds a farm-store permit. Report the new income on IRS Schedule C, not Schedule F.
CarMax FY2027 Q2: $1.16 EPS on Cars Sold Cheaper
CarMax's FY2027 Q2 diluted EPS rose 81% to $1.16 on 19.5% revenue growth, but gross profit per used car fell $111 and CAF supplied 61% of pretax income.
You Just Got a Cease-and-Desist Letter: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
A cease-and-desist letter is not a court order. Verify the claim, preserve evidence, and reply on your timeline; silence or a hasty apology can cost you.
Country-of-Origin Marking: A Small Importer's Guide to 19 CFR Part 134
Every import must name its origin country in English for the end buyer; miss it and CBP issues Form 4647 and a 10% marking duty.
Darden FY2027 Q1 Earnings: The $3.2B Quarter Where LongHorn Carried Olive Garden
Darden's Q1 FY2027 sales rose 5.1% to $3.2B as LongHorn comped 6.2% and Olive Garden 1.1%; adjusted EPS grew 4.1% while buybacks ran on short-term debt.
Can You Run a Credit Check on Job Applicants? State Bans and FCRA Rules for Small Employers
Eleven US states now bar most employer credit checks. Where they stay legal, the FCRA requires written disclosure, consent and adverse action notices.
Hiring a Fractional CMO: What $3,000–$15,000 a Month Actually Buys Your Small Business
A fractional CMO costs $3,000–$15,000 a month versus $275,000+ for full-time — here is what each pricing tier buys and the red flags to avoid.
Gala Tickets, Charity Auctions, Raffles: Which Fundraiser Payments Are Tax-Deductible?
IRS rules: deduct only what a gala ticket or auction bid exceeds fair market value; raffle and 50/50 tickets are never deductible, even for charity.
Grant Writer Bookkeeping: Pricing, Ethics, and 1099 Rules for Freelancers Who Serve Nonprofits
Grant writers can't take contingency fees under GPA ethics or 2 CFR 200.442. Bill hourly, flat or retainer, book deposits as liabilities, and track IRS 1099s.
Your Holiday Sales Are Coming Back in January: A Small Seller's Guide to Budgeting E-Commerce Returns
About 17% of holiday e-commerce sales come back, at $20–$30 per return to process — reserve cash in November, accrue the liability in December.
IRS Notice CP136: How the Lookback Period Sets Your 2027 Payroll Deposit Schedule
IRS Notice CP136 sets your 2027 payroll deposit schedule: over $50,000 of Form 941 tax from July 2025–June 2026 makes you a semiweekly depositor.