Leaving the US? You May Need an IRS Sailing Permit Before You Board
Most non-citizens leaving the US need an IRS sailing permit: file Form 2063 or 1040-C in person 2 weeks to 30 days before you depart.
#irs-requirements
Irs Requirements
Meet IRS requirements for business tax compliance
File Even If You Can't Pay: How IRS Late Penalties Stack to 47.5% of What You Owe
IRS failure-to-file costs 5% a month vs 0.5% for failure-to-pay under Section 6651, stacking to 47.5% — file on time, then request first-time abatement.
Hobby Farm or Farm Business? How the IRS Decides Whether Your Farm Losses Are Deductible
The IRS presumes a farm is a business if it profits in 3 of 5 years; otherwise nine factors decide. Hobby farms owe tax on income but deduct nothing.
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.
IRS Letter 12C: Why Your Return Is On Hold and How to Respond in 20 Days
IRS Letter 12C is a processing hold, not an audit — fax or mail the requested forms within 20 days and skip Form 1040-X; refunds follow in 6–8 weeks.
CP90 and CP91 Explained: The IRS Final Notice of Intent to Levy and Your 30-Day Window
IRS CP90 and CP91 are final levy warnings: file Form 12153 within 30 days for a CDP hearing that pauses wage, bank and Social Security seizures.
Elective Pay: How Your Nonprofit Gets an IRS Cash Refund for Clean Energy
Section 6417 elective pay lets nonprofits and governments get clean energy credits as an IRS cash refund — register first, then file Form 990-T on time.
Ordinary and Necessary: The Two-Word Test Behind Every Business Tax Deduction
An IRS business expense must be ordinary (common in your industry) and necessary (helpful to it) under Section 162 — plus the records to prove it.
Are Your Emails With Your CPA Privileged? Kovel Agreements, Section 7525, and Where Protection Stops
There is no US accountant-client privilege: Section 7525 shields only civil IRS tax advice, while a Kovel arrangement via counsel also holds in criminal cases.
Prove You're Tax Compliant in Minutes: The IRS's New Digitally Authenticated Tax Compliance Report
The IRS Tax Compliance Report (Letter 6201/6574) proves you filed and paid on time with an embedded digital certificate — no income details shared.
The Section 444 Election: How Seasonal S Corporations and Partnerships End Their Tax Year in the Slow Season
Section 444 lets an S corp or partnership elect a Sept 30, Oct 31 or Nov 30 year end with Form 8716 — in exchange for a Form 8752 deposit due every May 15.
The 20% Accuracy Penalty: What Counts as a Substantial Understatement — and the Reasonable-Cause Defense That Removes It
The IRS adds a 20% penalty when you understate tax by more than $5,000 or 10% — substantial authority, Form 8275 disclosure, or reasonable cause removes it.