#fraud-prevention
Fraud Prevention
Proactive strategies and controls to prevent financial fraud in your business
Section 170(h) Conservation Easements: 40% Penalties, the 2.5x Partnership Limit, and the 6% Court Allowance Rate
Section 170(h) lets landowners deduct the diminution in fair market value caused by a perpetual conservation easement, but syndicated versions now face a 2.5x partnership-basis cap under SECURE 2.0, a 40% gross valuation misstatement penalty, and an average 6% Tax Court allowance rate at trial.
FedNow and RTP in 2026: How Small Businesses Replace Slow ACH With Instant 24/7 Bank Transfers
FedNow and RTP now reach over 1,700 and 1,200 U.S. financial institutions, settling credit pushes in under 20 seconds, 24/7/365. A practical guide for small businesses on when instant rails replace ACH, how the two networks differ, and how to defend against the fraud patterns that irrevocable settlement creates.
Accounts Payable Automation in 2026: How AI Invoice Capture, Three-Way Matching, and Touchless Approvals Cut Processing Costs and Eliminate Duplicate Payments
AP automation in 2026 takes invoice processing from roughly $18 and 10 days down to $3 and 1 day by combining AI invoice capture, three-way matching, and rule-based touchless approvals—while cutting duplicate-payment losses 80 to 95 percent.
IOLTA Trust Accounting for Law Firms: How Three-Way Reconciliation Prevents Disbarment in 2026
IOLTA violations triggered 1,247 attorney discipline cases in 2025. As twelve states adopt a 30-day reconciliation deadline on July 1, 2026, this guide walks through how three-way reconciliation works, the workflow that keeps individual client ledgers tied to the bank balance, and the mistakes that most often end legal careers.
Tax Resolution Demystified: How to Settle IRS Debt Without Falling for Scams
A 2026 guide to the five legitimate IRS resolution programs—installment agreements, Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible status, penalty abatement, and innocent spouse relief—plus the warning signs of OIC mill scams and the step-by-step process from a CP14 notice to a working agreement.
Tax Relief Companies: How to Tell Legitimate Help From Scams in 2026
How to distinguish legitimate tax resolution firms from Offer in Compromise mills—what services should cost in 2026, the IRS-flagged red flags that should end a sales call, and the free alternatives most callers never hear about.
ACH Authorization Forms: How to Collect, Store, and Stay NACHA-Compliant in 2026
ACH authorization forms must include identifying information, bank account details, payment terms, revocation language, and a dated signature to meet NACHA rules. The 2026 NACHA update requires covered originators to implement risk-based fraud monitoring by June 22, 2026, with records retained for at least two years after termination.
Invoice Reconciliation: A Complete Guide to the Process, Pitfalls, and Best Practices
Invoice reconciliation matches every vendor bill against its purchase order, receiving record, and payment to catch overpayments, duplicates, and fraud before they hit the ledger. This guide walks through two-way vs. three-way matching, the six-step process, common pitfalls, and the metrics that separate finance teams who close in five days from those still chasing variances on day fifteen.
Credit Card Authorization Forms: A Guide to Recurring Billing, PCI Compliance, and Chargeback Defense
A credit card authorization form documents cardholder consent for charges and is required by card networks for card-not-present and recurring billing. Covers the required fields, PCI DSS storage rules, and how a signed form shifts the burden in chargeback disputes.
How to Spot Debt Collector Scams: A Complete Guide for Individuals and Business Owners
The FTC received 278,000+ debt collection complaints in 2025. Learn 7 red flags that signal a fake debt collector, how to verify legitimacy, your FDCPA rights, and what to do if you've been targeted — including specific protections for small business owners.
Employee Retention Credit: Complete Guide for Small Business Owners
The Employee Retention Credit paid out $283 billion to U.S. businesses during COVID-19, but improper claims triggered 504 criminal investigations. This guide covers 2020 and 2021 eligibility rules, credit amounts up to $33,000 per employee, common audit triggers, and what to do if you received a disallowance notice.
How to Spot a Fake IRS Letter: Warning Signs and What to Do
IRS impersonation fraud cost Americans over $114 million between 2013 and 2025, with average victims losing more than $32,000. Learn the 9 warning signs of a fake IRS letter, what legitimate IRS notices look like, and the exact steps to take if you receive a suspicious letter.