North Carolina's $40,000 Contractor License Line: How to Job-Cost and Bid Around It
North Carolina requires a GC license once a project's final price, change orders included, hits $40,000 — cross it unlicensed and the contract is void.
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Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Nominee 1099s: What to Do When Income Reported Under Your EIN Belongs to Someone Else
Got a 1099 for income that isn't yours? File a nominee 1099 and Form 1096, then subtract the pass-through on Schedule B or C to avoid a CP2000.
How Much Does a Trademark Cost in 2026? USPTO Fees, Attorney Costs, and Renewals
A US trademark costs $350 per class in USPTO fees; with search, surcharges and an attorney, one class runs $350–$3,500, plus $325 per class in year five.
How Holiday Bonuses Are Taxed: The 22% Rule, Gross-Ups, and the Cash-Gift Trap
The IRS allows a flat 22% withholding on separately paid bonuses, but FICA adds 7.65% and cash gifts are always wages. Gross-up math and a year-end checklist.
Don't Charge Sales Tax on That Gift Card (Yet): When the Tax Is Really Due
US gift card sales are tax-free — sales tax applies at redemption on the full price, at the current rate in the redemption state.
Freelance Interpreter Taxes: Your Agency 1099 Is Not Your Tax Bill
Agency 1099s report gross pay with zero withholding — the IRS still wants income tax plus 15.3% self-employment tax. Set aside 25–30% per job.
Your Form 5500 Extension Runs Out October 15: Penalties, Form 5558, and the DFVCP Fix
October 15 is the extended Form 5500 deadline — miss it and penalties run $250/day IRS plus up to $2,739/day DOL, unless you file under the DFVCP.
The IRS Wants to Interview You About Unpaid Payroll Taxes: How to Survive the Form 4180 Interview
Form 4180 is the IRS interview deciding whether unpaid payroll taxes become your personal debt under Section 6672 — bring records, answer briefly, get counsel.
Figma Q2 2026 Earnings: $148M Stock Comp, $112M GAAP Loss
Figma Q2 2026 revenue rose 48% to $370.1M, but $147.6M of post-IPO stock comp turned a $42.6M non-GAAP profit into a $112.2M GAAP loss.
Building an Expert Witness Side Practice: Retainers, Rates, and the Bookkeeping Behind Testimony Income
Expert witnesses earn $245–$500+/hr with retainers up front; report 1099-NEC income on Schedule C and pay IRS quarterly estimates.
Equipment Breakdown Insurance: The $500-a-Year Policy That Covers What Your Property Insurance Won't
Equipment breakdown insurance pays for internal failures your property policy excludes — typically $25–$50 a year per $50,000 of equipment, spoilage included.
Day Rates Do Not Erase Overtime: How to Compute Time-and-a-Half for Day-Rate and Piece-Rate Workers
Under the FLSA, day-rate and piece-rate workers still earn overtime: divide weekly pay by hours worked, then add a half-time premium for each hour over 40.