Net operating losses generated after 2021 carry forward indefinitely but can offset only 80% of future taxable income. This guide covers the calculation, the Section 461(l) excess business loss limit, Form 1045 vs. 1040-X, and the bookkeeping practices that keep an NOL defensible years later.
Section 1244 of the Internal Revenue Code lets qualifying small business stock losses be deducted as ordinary losses up to $50,000 per year for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers, bypassing the $3,000 annual cap on capital losses. This guide covers the corporate and shareholder requirements, how to claim the loss on Form 4797, and the documentation traps that disqualify ordinary-loss claims.
Section 199A lets pass-through owners deduct up to 20% of qualified business income. This guide covers the 2026 thresholds, W-2 wage and UBIA limits, the SSTB trap, rental real estate safe harbor, the aggregation election, and the new $400 minimum deduction.
Section 41 lets qualified small businesses offset up to $500,000 of annual payroll taxes with the federal R&D credit. This guide covers the four-part qualification test, qualifying wages and cloud spend, the QSB election on Form 6765, and what OBBBA changed for 2025 and 2026 filings.
A working guide to the three numbers that decide whether a restaurant makes money — prime cost, food and beverage COGS, and tip pooling — with 2026 benchmarks, FLSA rules, and a weekly accounting cadence.
In 2026, a self-employed person earning $100,000 can contribute about $18,587 to a SEP IRA versus $43,087 to a Solo 401(k). This guide compares 2026 contribution limits, Roth options, December 31 deadlines, and Form 5500-EZ filing thresholds so freelancers and consultants can choose the right plan.
A category-by-category comparison of the five real tax solutions small businesses use in 2026 — DIY software, professional-grade platforms, hybrid bookkeeping subscriptions, local CPAs, and in-person chains — with price ranges, fit criteria, and signs you've outgrown your current setup.
A step-by-step walkthrough of business tax filing by entity type — Schedule C for sole props, Form 1065 for partnerships, 1120-S for S-corps, and 1120 for C-corps — with 2026 deadlines, document checklists, audit triggers, and when DIY software stops being enough.
A walk through five tax-court rulings — Seacat's cat food, Wheir's body oil, ABBA's costumes, the Hess implants case, and Capone-style evasion — and the documentation, commingling, and "ordinary and necessary" rules they expose for small business owners.
How the CARES Act, Consolidated Appropriations Act, and American Rescue Plan reshaped small business taxes—covering PPP forgiveness, the Employee Retention Credit, EIDL loans, deferred payroll taxes, and the April 15, 2025 deadline for 2021 ERC claims.
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