Selling Abroad? The FCPA Rules Every Small Exporter Should Know
The U.S. FCPA covers small exporters too: a foreign agent's bribe can be yours, grease payments rarely qualify, and clean books are your best defense.
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Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Donating Your Car Before Year-End? How Form 1098-C, the $500 Threshold, and Gross-Proceeds Rules Decide Your Deduction
The IRS usually limits car-donation deductions to the charity's sale price — Form 1098-C, the $500 threshold, and three FMV exceptions decide yours.
How to Write a Customer Credit Policy: Credit Limits, Payment Terms, and Collection Triggers
Set who gets credit, how much, and what happens when payment is late: approval tiers, credit limits, deposits, late fees, and a day-triggered collection ladder.
Corporate Officers Must Be on Payroll: Why You Can't Take Distributions Only
Corporate officers who work in the business are employees under IRS rules — wages, withholding, and FICA apply even to sole shareholders taking distributions.
California's AB 692 Just Banned Most "Stay-or-Pay" Employment Contracts: What Small Employers Must Fix Now
California AB 692 voids stay-or-pay clauses signed on or after January 1, 2026 — audit your offer letters now or risk $5,000 per affected worker.
Bounce House Rental Business Insurance: The Coverage Gaps and How to Book Every Premium
General liability won't cover your own inflatables in transit. The four-policy stack bounce house renters need, and how to book premiums under IRS rules.
A Foreign Investor Owns Part of Your U.S. Business? The BEA Surveys You Must File Even If Nobody Contacts You
If a foreign investor owns 10%+ of your U.S. business, BEA surveys are mandatory: BE-13 in 45 days, yearly BE-15, and the BE-12 benchmark.
The Bahamas Just Zero-Rated VAT on Unprepared Food: What Small Retailers Need to Reclassify
Bahamas VAT on unprepared food fell from 5% to 0% on April 1, 2026. Grocers must re-code SKUs into 0/5/10% buckets and keep claiming input tax.
Azerbaijan's 7-Year Tax Holiday Is Over: What the New Progressive Income Tax and 6% POS Rate Mean for Your Small Business
Azerbaijan's 0% payroll holiday ended January 1, 2026: private-sector wages now face 3–14% progressive tax, while caterers pay 6% on card sales.
You Own the Land — But Do You Own the Water? A Landowner's Guide to Water Rights
In the western US, water rights follow priority dates, not deeds — verify decrees before buying land, avoid forfeiture, and lease unused water for income.
Uganda EFRIS Expansion: 12 Sectors, Double-Tax Penalties and How to Comply
Uganda’s EFRIS now covers 12 sectors regardless of VAT status; a missed e-invoice costs double the tax due or UGX 200,000 — here is how to comply.
Your Federal W-4 Isn't Enough: The State Withholding Certificates Every Employer Must Collect
The federal W-4 doesn't cover state tax in most states — collect each hire's state certificate (CA DE 4, NY IT-2104) or withholding defaults to max.