You Volunteer Every Weekend. Here's What the IRS Actually Lets You Deduct
Volunteer hours are worth $0 on your return, but the IRS lets you deduct 14 cents a mile, supplies, and uniforms — and two 2026 changes shrink who benefits.
Blog
Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Renting Out Your Car on Turo? The Tax Bill Is Bigger Than Your Payouts Suggest
Turo hosting is Schedule C self-employment income, not Schedule E rent — 15.3% SE tax, a gross 1099-K, and an IRS mileage rate that changed midyear 2026.
Supply Chain Finance: How Small Suppliers Get Paid Early When Buyers Stretch to Net-90
Supply chain finance pays suppliers in days at the buyer's credit rate: a 1.2% fee for 85 days early is about 5.2% APR. Negotiate the base term, not the fee.
Squarespace's New Pricing in 2026: Basic, Core, Plus, and Advanced
Squarespace replaced Personal and Business with Basic ($16), Core ($23), Plus ($39), and Advanced ($99) — and digital-product fees now run 7% to 0% by tier.
Tokenized Equity Is Still Equity: What the SEC's 2026 Guidance Means for Your On-Chain Raise
Tokenized equity is still equity under the SEC's 2026 guidance — pick your Reg D or Reg A exemption before you mint, and keep one authoritative cap table.
SBA International Trade Loans Now Carry a 90% Guarantee: What the 2026 Expansion Means for Your Business
The SBA's May 2026 expansion gives International Trade Loans a 90% guarantee and deems all manufacturing plus food supply chain NAICS codes import-injured.
Sailing School Bookkeeping: Fleet Costs, USCG Compliance, and Course Revenue
A US sailing school's keelboat becomes an uninspected passenger vessel once students pay: defer course revenue, cost each hull, line-item USCG compliance.
Reverse Sales Tax Audits: How to Get Back the Sales and Use Tax You Overpaid
A reverse sales tax audit recovers US sales and use tax you overpaid to vendors or self-assessed — most states allow refund claims three to four years back.
QuickBooks Intuit Assist vs. Xero JAX: What the 2026 AI-Assistant Race Means for Your Books
Intuit Assist escalates judgment calls to you; Xero's JAX automates the full lifecycle. Generalist AI topped 77.3% accuracy in 2026 — let it draft, you post.
Pumping at Work Is a Federal Right Now: The PUMP Act Checklist Every Small Employer Needs
The federal PUMP Act covers nearly all US employees — reasonable pump breaks for a year plus a private, non-bathroom space, or liquidated damages.
Public Charity or Private Foundation? How the 509(a) Tests Decide Your Nonprofit's Tax Fate
Miss the 509(a) support tests and the IRS reclassifies you as a private foundation: 1.39% investment income tax, 10% self-dealing tax, Form 990-PF yearly.
PTA and PTO Treasurer Bookkeeping: The Fund-Accounting Playbook Every Volunteer Parent Group Needs
Miss three straight Form 990 filings and the IRS revokes your PTA or PTO exemption automatically — here is the treasurer playbook that prevents it.