The IRS accepts roughly 36% of Offer in Compromise applications. This guide explains qualification rules, how to calculate Reasonable Collection Potential, the Form 656 and 433-A workflow, and the mistakes that cause two-thirds of offers to be rejected.
Calendar-year partnerships must file Form 1065 and issue Schedule K-1s by March 16, 2026. Late filing costs $255 per partner per month, up to 12 months. This guide covers every federal deadline, Form 7004 extensions, quarterly estimates, and the Rev. Proc. 84-35 safe harbor for small partnerships.
The IRS applies a two-part test to personal appearance expenses: the item must be required by your work and unsuitable for everyday use. Most suits, makeup, haircuts, and gym memberships fail. This guide details what qualifies, with case law including Pevsner v. Commissioner and Hamper v. Commissioner.
The 2026 SALT cap rises to $40,400, restoring the property tax deduction for many homeowners in high-tax states. Here are the new rules, the MAGI phaseout starting at $505,000, the income-based deductions, and the bunching, recordkeeping, and rental-property strategies that maximize the benefit.
A 2026 guide to sales tax compliance for small businesses selling across state lines — how nexus works after Wayfair, which states repealed the 200-transaction rule, and a seven-step sequence to collect, file, and remit across 45 states without triggering audits.
Schedule SE calculates the 15.3% self-employment tax (Social Security + Medicare) owed by anyone with $400 or more in net self-employment earnings. This guide walks through the 2026 wage base ($184,500), the 92.35% adjustment, the 50% above-the-line deduction, and the safe-harbor rules that prevent quarterly underpayment penalties.
Employers with fewer than 25 FTEs and average annual wages below the IRS cap can claim up to 50% of health insurance premiums through the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. This guide covers 2026 eligibility, the sliding-scale math, Form 8941 mechanics, and the mistakes that kill otherwise valid claims.
A plain-English guide to the three tax ID numbers most small business owners meet — EIN, SSN, and ITIN — covering who needs which, how to apply directly with the IRS for free, and the common mistakes that trigger penalties or delays.
Form W-9 collects a contractor's taxpayer ID at onboarding; Form 1099 reports year-end payments to the IRS. The 2026 filing threshold rises from $600 to $2,000 under the OBBBA, and missing a W-9 triggers 24% backup withholding immediately — plus penalties of up to $660 per late form.
A practical breakdown of what the IRS does when you skip a tax return—5% monthly failure-to-file penalty, Substitute for Return, liens, levies, passport revocation, and the step-by-step path back to compliance.
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