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.
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Tax Filing
Tax filing procedures, deadlines, and best practices
Selling U.S. Property as a Foreign Owner? How to Shrink the 15% FIRPTA Withholding and Get the Excess Back
Buyers must withhold 15% of your gross U.S. sale price under FIRPTA. File IRS Form 8288-B before closing to cut it, or claim the excess on Form 1040-NR.
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.
Brunei's BND 1 Million Tax-Free Line: What the Corporate Tax Exemption Means for Your Books
Brunei companies with turnover up to BND 1 million owe no corporate income tax but must still file by June 30 — revenue cut-off decides which side you're on.
Your Refund Is on Hold and the IRS Wants Documents: How to Answer a CP05A Notice
An IRS CP05A notice holds your refund until you send W-2s, 1099s and pay stubs — reply within 30 days, allow 45–60 days more, and escalate with Form 911.
New Hampshire HB 155 Raises the BET Filing Threshold to $400,000: What Small Businesses Need to Know
New Hampshire HB 155 lifts the BET filing threshold to $400,000 from 2027, exempting ~4,000 small firms, and adds an automatic rate cut down to 0.25%.
IRS Free File Survived While Direct File Didn't: Your 2026 Guide to Filing Free
IRS Free File is open to AGI of $89,000 or less for 2026, and Direct File is gone. Start at IRS.gov or your free return quietly becomes a paid one.
Joint Venture Bookkeeping: Capital Accounts, Profit Splits, and Partnership Tax Filing
The IRS treats most joint ventures as partnerships: keep separate books, track capital accounts, and file Form 1065 by March 15.
Mississippi's Franchise Tax Is Almost Gone: What the 2026 Rate Cut Means for Your Corporation
Mississippi's franchise tax falls to $0.50 per $1,000 of capital over $100,000 for 2026, then repeals in 2028 — S corps still owe it at the entity level.
Free Tax Return Preparation for Side-Hustlers and Seniors: How VITA and TCE File Your Return for $0
IRS-certified VITA and TCE volunteers file federal returns for $0 — VITA at roughly $69,000 income or less, TCE at age 60+ with no income cap.
Hawaii's General Excise Tax Is Not a Sales Tax: What the GET, County Surcharges, and the 4.712% Pass-Through Cap Mean for Small Businesses
Hawaii has no sales tax — the GET taxes your gross receipts at 4.5% including county surcharges, and 4.712% is the most you may legally show a customer.
The IRS Says You Didn't File: What Notice CP59 Means and How to Respond
Notice CP59 means the IRS has no record of your prior-year return. File the missing return, show you already filed, or explain on Form 15103 why none is due — and file your own return before the IRS prepares a substitute one without your deductions.