Kansas Changed Sales Tax Rates Again: A Quarterly Compliance Checklist
Kansas revises local sales tax rates every quarter and holds retailers liable for tax they should have collected — use this 10-step checklist each quarter.
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Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
Run IRS TIN Matching Before 1099 Season: Catch Name/TIN Mismatches While They're Still Free to Fix
IRS TIN Matching is free and catches name/TIN mismatches before you file 1099s — each bad return can cost up to $340 plus 24% backup withholding.
From CP501 to CP504: What Each IRS Balance-Due Notice Means and How to Stop the Ladder
IRS CP501, CP503 and CP504 arrive in a fixed sequence — CP504 is the Notice of Intent to Levy, and the final notice gives 30 days to file Form 12153.
Illinois Bans Junk Fees: What HB 228 Means for Your Prices in 2027
Illinois HB 228 requires all-in pricing from January 1, 2027 — mandatory fees belong in the advertised price; only taxes, government fees and shipping stay out.
Hot Shop Economics: Glassblowing Studio Bookkeeping From the Furnace to the Finished Piece
A hot shop furnace burns 24/7, so book fuel as fixed overhead, not COGS — then price each piece on revenue per furnace-hour, sellable yield, and color cost.
5–6% of Your Carrier Invoices Are Wrong: How Freight Audits Recover Overcharges
Roughly 5–6% of carrier bills are calculated inaccurately — match each freight invoice to its contract and BOL, then dispute overcharges within 180 days.
The Federal Bonding Program: Free $5,000–$25,000 Fidelity Bonds for Hiring At-Risk Workers
The US Federal Bonding Program issues free $5,000–$25,000 fidelity bonds covering an at-risk hire's first six months — no premium, no deductible.
Exotic Car Rental Business: Fleet Financing, Insurance, Pricing, and the Utilization Math That Decides Your Margin
US exotic rentals need roughly 60% utilization — about 18 days a month — to clear insurance, financing, and the $4,000–$6,000 a car loses in value monthly.
Counterfeit Bills at the Register: Train Your Cashiers to Catch Fakes Before They Cost You
Counterfeits you accept are your loss — no reimbursement. Train cashiers on feel-look-tilt checks, UV verification, and Secret Service Form 1604 reporting.
Closing a Small-Business Retirement Plan: Final Contributions, Vesting, Distributions, and the Final Form 5500
Terminating a 401(k), SEP, or SIMPLE IRA requires 100% vesting, full asset distribution, and a final Form 5500 due seven months after the last payout.
Chronic Care Management Billing: The Between-Visit Revenue Your Small Practice Is Leaving Behind
Medicare pays roughly $65 per patient per month for CPT 99490, but only after documented consent, an initiating visit, and an electronic care plan are in place.
Your Lease Doesn't Let You Open: Why the Certificate of Occupancy Decides Your Opening Day
A certificate of occupancy — not your lease — is what legally lets you open. Verify the CO matches your use before signing and budget the full fee chain.