Gala Tickets, Charity Auctions, Raffles: Which Fundraiser Payments Are Tax-Deductible?
IRS rules: deduct only what a gala ticket or auction bid exceeds fair market value; raffle and 50/50 tickets are never deductible, even for charity.
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Tax Deductions
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Employer-Provided Meals Are Nondeductible in 2026: What Section 274(o) Means for Your Cafeteria, Overtime Dinners, and Break-Room Perks
Section 274(o) ended the employer meal deduction in 2026: cafeterias and convenience meals are 0% deductible, yet still tax-free to employees.
Sponsoring the Local Little League? How to Deduct It as Advertising Instead of Losing It as a Nondeductible Gift
IRS rules let your business deduct a Little League banner as advertising — but only with visible promotion and a paper trail.
Florida's Closing-Cost Sticker Shock: The $0.70 Doc Stamp Tax and $0.20 Intangible Tax, Explained
Florida taxes deeds at $0.70 per $100 and mortgages at $0.35 plus $0.20 per $100 — $5,700 on a $500K purchase with a $400K loan, before title fees.
Pet-Sitting Insurance: Why Care, Custody, and Control Coverage Matters More Than General Liability
General liability excludes pets in your care; a $100–$300 CCC endorsement closes the gap. Deduct premiums on IRS Schedule C, Line 15.
The Deal Died — Can You Deduct What You Spent? Abandoned Acquisition Costs as a Section 165 Loss
IRS rules let dead-deal fees become an ordinary Section 165 loss in the year you abandon — if you split investigatory from facilitative costs and prove the end.
Cash for Keys: How to Structure a Tenant Buyout That Actually Works
Cash for keys pays a tenant to leave voluntarily, often $1,000–$2,500 versus $4,000+ to evict. Here's the agreement, local rules and IRS 1099-MISC.
Charitable Gift Annuities, Explained: Lifetime Income, a Tax Deduction, and Capital-Gains Relief in One Gift
A charitable gift annuity trades a lump sum for lifetime income plus an IRS deduction — fundable with cash, stock, or a $55,000 IRA QCD.
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.
IRS Raises High-Low Per Diem to $329/$230 on October 1: What Notice 2026-60 Means for Your Accountable Plan
IRS Notice 2026-60 lifts high-low per diem to $329 high-cost and $230 elsewhere from Oct 1, 2026; meal rates stay $86/$74. Update your accountable plan now.
Sand and Gravel Quarry Bookkeeping: Depletion, Royalties, and the Reclamation Bond That Outlives Your Mine
Sand and gravel pits get 5% percentage depletion under IRS rules — compute cost and percentage methods yearly, claim the larger, and mind the 50%-of-income cap.
Your Stock Went to Zero: How the Worthless-Securities Deduction Works
Stock that became totally worthless is deemed sold Dec. 31 under IRS Section 165(g) — report $0 proceeds on Form 8949 and amend up to 7 years back.