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Tax
Tax strategies, planning, and compliance for individuals and businesses
Peer-to-Peer Garage and Driveway Storage: Tax, Insurance, and Bookkeeping Guide
Peer-to-peer garage and driveway storage income is usually reported on Schedule E rather than Schedule C, is taxable even without a 1099-K, and requires tracking gross bookings, platform fees (commonly 4.9% + $0.30 per transaction), and prorated home costs separately from personal expenses.
Substack and Newsletter Writer Taxes: Schedule C, the Hobby-Loss Trap, and What You Can Deduct
Paid newsletter revenue on Substack, Ghost, or beehiiv is Schedule C self-employment income — owing 15.3% SE tax, quarterly estimates once you owe over $1,000, and facing a new 90% cap on hobby-expense deductions in 2026. Here's how the 1099-K thresholds, the 13–19% effective platform-fee cost, and the deduction rules actually work for writers.
Thermal Circuits v. Commissioner: Why Customer-Funded Facility Expansions Are Taxable Income
In Thermal Circuits, Inc. v. Commissioner, the Tax Court held that $4.3 million a customer paid to expand a manufacturer's facility was taxable income, not an excludable Section 118 capital contribution — because Thermal controlled the asset, the money was compensation for guaranteed capacity, and post-TCJA Section 118(b) excludes any customer contribution or contribution in aid of construction. What the ruling means for prepayments, tenant improvement allowances, and capacity deals.
White v. Commissioner: Can the IRS Levy You While You're Current on a Payment Plan?
In White v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2026-56), the Tax Court blocked an IRS levy on a taxpayer who was current on a court-approved installment settlement, holding the levy violated Section 6330's "no more intrusive than necessary" standard. What the ruling means for anyone on an IRS payment plan, and why a CDP hearing request within 30 days is the critical first move.
Canada Killed the Underused Housing Tax. If You Own Property There, Your Paperwork Isn't Done Yet.
Canada repealed the federal Underused Housing Tax for 2025 onward on March 26, 2026, but the repeal is not retroactive — US owners of Canadian property still owe UHT returns, penalties, and interest for 2022–2024, and BC's Speculation and Vacancy Tax, Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax, and Toronto's Vacant Home Tax remain in force.
Poshmark and Depop Taxes: What Clothing Resellers Owe, With or Without a 1099-K
The federal 1099-K threshold is back at $20,000 and 200 transactions, but reselling profit is taxable either way. How Poshmark and Depop sellers should handle hobby-vs-business classification, the nondeductible personal-use loss rule under IRC Section 165(c), cost of goods sold, and reconciling income across platforms that report gross vs. net.
How Is Stock Photo and Video Licensing Income Taxed? A Contributor's Guide
Stock photo and video royalties from platforms like Adobe Stock and Shutterstock are almost always Schedule C income subject to 15.3% self-employment tax — not passive royalties. This guide covers the hobby-vs-business test, reconciling multi-platform 1099s, deducting gear via Section 179 ($2,560,000 limit) or 100% bonus depreciation, and when quarterly estimated payments kick in.
Sneaker and Trading Card Reselling Taxes: The 2026 Bookkeeping Guide
The 2026 IRS 1099-K threshold for platforms like eBay, StockX, and Whatnot is back to $20,000 and 200 transactions, but sneaker and trading card resellers still owe tax on profit below that line — here's how to nail cost basis, inventory tracking, and the hobby-vs-business test.
Boat Rental Bookkeeping: Boatsetter, GetMyBoat, and the Schedule C/Schedule E Split
Boatsetter and GetMyBoat report gross transaction volume on Form 1099-K, not your net payout, so record the full charter price as revenue and the platform commission as a separate expense — and track bareboat versus captained bookings separately, since adding a captain shifts income from Schedule E to Schedule C self-employment tax.
Buying Machinery at Auction: Cost Basis, Use Tax, and 100% Bonus Depreciation
A $150,000 CNC lathe bought at auction and fully expensed under 100% bonus depreciation can generate roughly $37,500 in first-year tax savings at a 25% effective tax rate, but only if the buyer's premium, sales/use tax, and rigging costs are correctly capitalized into cost basis first.
DAC7 Explained: What US Online Sellers With EU Customers Need to Know
DAC7 requires platforms like Etsy, Airbnb, and Upwork to collect and report seller data to EU tax authorities whenever a US seller's activity touches an EU customer or property, with goods sellers exempt below 30 transactions and €2,000 per year.
Finland's 2026 VAT Threshold: Why €20,000 Is Now All-or-Nothing for Freelancers
Finland's 2025 VAT reform raised the small-business exemption to €20,000 but eliminated the sliding-scale relief that used to soften the jump to full VAT liability at €30,000, so crossing €20,000 now means owing VAT on 100% of turnover with no phase-in.