#tax-deductions
Maximize tax deductions and reduce your tax liability legally
A working playbook for small business owners filing in 2026 — covering the now-permanent QBI deduction, the $2.56M Section 179 cap, S-corp salary structure, Solo 401(k) limits up to $72,000, and the bookkeeping habits that make every other strategy survive an audit.
A practical 2026 walkthrough of how the IRS taxes sole proprietors — covering Schedule C, the 15.3% self-employment tax on 92.35% of net earnings, quarterly estimated payments, the QBI deduction, and the threshold where an S-Corp election starts paying off.
A 2026 reference for U.S. tax credits — how they differ from deductions, which credits are refundable, and the major individual and business credits with current dollar limits, including the $8,231 EITC max, $2,200 Child Tax Credit, and up to $9,600 WOTC per qualifying hire.
Under the 2026 tax law, personal tax prep fees are no longer deductible on federal returns. Business owners can still deduct the business portion on Schedule C.
A precise 2026 guide to taxable income — which dollars the IRS counts (wages, tips, capital gains, cancelled debt), which are excluded (gifts, inheritances, Roth distributions, muni bond interest), the step-by-step AGI-to-taxable-income calculation, and seven legal strategies to reduce the final number, including new One Big Beautiful Bill Act deductions for tipped, overtime, and senior taxpayers.
A structural breakdown of Title 26—the Internal Revenue Code—covering how the tax code is organized, the 2026 changes most relevant to small businesses (permanent 100% bonus depreciation, a $2.5M Section 179 cap, expanded QBI), and the records you need to defend every deduction you claim.
Learn how the IRS treats website development costs for small businesses. See which expenses deduct now and which must be amortized under Section 174A.
A 2026 guide to deducting business travel on Schedule C — covering the IRS tax home rule, the $178 CONUS per diem, 50% meal limits, 75% international business-day threshold, and the documentation habits that survive an audit.
The IRS rarely allows haircuts, makeup, or suits as deductions. Learn the two-part test and what actually qualifies for a US tax write-off.
US 2026 SALT cap rises to $40,400, restoring property-tax deductions for many homeowners — federal rules and planning moves.
How to verify 501(c)(3) status through the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, substantiate donations at the $250, $500, and $5,000 thresholds, and work with 2026's new 0.5% AGI floor and non-itemizer charitable deduction rules.
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.
