S&P forecasts a 15–20% rise in cyber insurance premiums for 2026 after a 126% jump in ransomware incidents. A guide to the controls underwriters now require, typical small business pricing ($1,000–$7,500 for $1M of coverage), and the exclusions behind the 40%+ claim denial rate.
The OBBBA's 0.5% AGI floor and 35% deduction cap take effect in the 2026 tax year, raising the cost of small annual gifts. Concentrating four years of donations into a single donor-advised fund contribution can add roughly $39,600 in total deductions for a $200,000-AGI couple while keeping the recipient charities on their normal schedule.
Section 1042 of the IRC lets a C-corporation owner selling shares to an ESOP defer federal capital gains tax indefinitely — and potentially eliminate it through step-up at death. This guide covers the five qualifying conditions, what counts as Qualified Replacement Property, the floating-rate-note diversification strategy, and the trade-offs founders should weigh against a strategic sale.
Foreign owners of US single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 by April 15, 2026, even with zero revenue. A capital contribution as small as $1 triggers the requirement, and a missed filing carries a $25,000 minimum penalty plus uncapped $25,000 continuation fees every 30 days after IRS notice.
On February 12, 2026, the FTC removed its 2024 non-compete ban from the Code of Federal Regulations, but pivoted to case-by-case Section 5 enforcement and consent orders against employers like Rollins. With California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and other states tightening their own rules, a single national non-compete template is now a compliance hazard. This guide maps the state landscape and lays out a five-step plan for employers.
At the May 2026 reset, Series I Savings Bonds pay a 4.26% composite rate — a 0.90% fixed rate locked for 30 years plus a 3.34% annualized inflation rate — with state-tax exemption and a $10,000-per-SSN annual cap. A practical guide to where I bonds fit in personal and small-business cash strategy, including LLC entity-account stacking, the 12-month lock and 5-year penalty, and the education-exclusion rules.
Key person life insurance pays the company, not the family, when a founder, rainmaker, or specialist dies. IRC Section 101(j) makes the death benefit taxable unless written notice and consent are completed before the policy issues — a step most small businesses skip, turning a $1M tax-free benefit into roughly $600K–$700K after tax.
Section 409A lets companies defer executive pay above 401(k) limits, but a single misstep triggers immediate taxation on every vested dollar plus a 20% federal penalty and premium interest. Here is how NQDC plans, rabbi trusts, and the six permissible distribution triggers actually work.
The 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC reporting threshold rises from $600 to $2,000 for payments made in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Backup withholding still kicks in at the same threshold, the 1099-K bar resets to $20,000 plus 200 transactions, and most states have not adopted the federal change—so vendor recordkeeping matters more, not less.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act's Section 174A restores immediate domestic R&D expensing starting in 2025, and small businesses under roughly $31 million in average gross receipts have until July 6, 2026 to amend 2022, 2023, and 2024 returns to recover taxes paid under the TCJA capitalization rules.
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