What California state tax changes should I prepare for? The largest is a sales tax on electronically delivered prewritten software starting January 1, 2027. Alongside it: an extended business tax credit limitation, a wave of states decoupling from federal research expensing, and an amnesty window that closes October 31, 2026. State tax moves faster than…
Which 2026 federal tax changes affect my small business? The ones with a date attached: an August guidance package implementing the 2025 reconciliation law, backup withholding on payment-app settlements, the employer paid leave credit, and a September 30 federal funding deadline that decides how fast the IRS answers you this fall. Most tax headlines never…
How much of my business interest is deductible after the OBBBA? The IRS just refreshed its answer. In August 2026, the IRS reissued its Section 163(j) FAQs to reflect the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. The core rule still caps the business interest deduction — but the way you calculate the cap, who qualifies as…
How do I prove to a lender or employer that I paid my taxes? Use the new IRS Tax Compliance Report. Available through your IRS Individual Online Account, it is a digitally certified, downloadable document that confirms whether you filed on time and paid what you owe — without disclosing your income or filing details….
Do I still need to file a FinCEN BOI report in 2026? Almost certainly not — if your company was formed in a U.S. state. The FinCEN BOI final rule (effective August 14, 2026) exempts every domestic reporting company and every U.S. person beneficial owner from BOI reporting. Only foreign entities registered to do business…
Bookkeeping records the past and tax work reports it. CFO work changes what happens next, and complexity, not revenue, is what makes it worth paying for.
A dental practice runs three quarterly cycles that do not line up: payroll returns, federal estimated tax, and California on a 30/40/0/30 schedule.
Does the new NYC junk fees rule apply to my business? If you sell goods or services in New York City — whether food delivery, tickets, hotels, gyms, or SaaS subscriptions — likely yes. The city’s new NYC junk fees rule and its final Click-to-Cancel rule change how you must price and how easily customers…
Do foreign FIFA teams have to file Form 990 for the 2026 World Cup? In most cases, no. New FIFA World Cup 990 relief under IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-28 waives Form 990 for eligible foreign member associations, but only for tax years in which their U.S.-source income is tied to competing in the tournament. The…
When is the Cycle 4 plan restatement deadline? The IRS set it at September 30, 2028. If your business sponsors a pre-approved 401(k) or profit-sharing plan, you must adopt the newly updated plan document by that date. The Cycle 4 plan restatement keeps your plan’s tax-qualified status intact. If your company offers a 401(k), profit-sharing,…
Does CARB SB 253 reporting apply to my company in 2027? Yes, if your company does business in California and has more than $1 billion in annual revenue. Under the CARB SB 253 reporting proposals unveiled on July 21, 2026, in-scope entities must report gross scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by November…
Is the IRS about to change how retirement rollovers work? Yes. The new IRS rollover guidance in Notice 2026-49 proposes four sample rollover forms, a rollover identification number to protect participant PII, and future rules that could end paper rollover checks sent to participants. If you have ever tried to move a 401(k) to an…
When is my Form 2290 filing deadline? Your Form 2290 filing deadline is the last day of the month after the month your taxable heavy highway vehicle was first used on a public highway during the July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 tax period. Vehicles first used in July 2026 are due by September…
Can a nonresident company still act as a US importer of record under the 2026 customs executive order? Yes, but on stricter terms. Executive Order 14411 of June 3, 2026 directs CBP to tighten eligibility, bonding, and disclosure rules for importers of record, with the strictest measures aimed at the foreign importer of record model….
What is Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA), and could it lower my 401(k) tax bill? Net unrealized appreciation is a federal tax election under IRC §402(e)(4)(B) that lets you move employer stock out of a qualified retirement plan and pay ordinary income tax only on the stock’s original cost basis. The built-in gain is then taxed…
How do I appeal an IRS decision I disagree with? You can ask the IRS Independent Office of Appeals to review your case. The IRS appeal process is a formal, unbiased review that operates separately from the IRS office that made the original determination — and every taxpayer has the right to use it under…
What did the OBBBA actually change for my nonprofit? Quite a lot. The OBBBA nonprofit tax rules created a new charitable deduction for non-itemizers, added floors that shrink deductions for high-income and corporate donors, expanded the §4960 excise on high pay, and set a tiered endowment tax for large private colleges. The One Big Beautiful…
How much of my overtime pay is actually tax-free? Less than most workers think. The new no tax on overtime deduction is capped at $12,500 (single) or $25,000 (joint), phases out above $150,000 MAGI, and applies only to the FLSA overtime premium — not the entire overtime paycheck. On August 6, 2026 the IRS released…
What is the new IRS Saver’s Match, and how do I get it? The savers match is a federal 50% match on up to $2,000 of your qualified retirement contributions — worth up to $1,000 per year — deposited directly into your retirement account. It starts with 2027 contributions and the first payments arrive in…
Does California’s billionaire tax apply to me? Only if you are a California resident on January 1, 2026 and your net worth reaches $1 billion on December 31, 2026. If Proposition 40 passes on the November 3, 2026 ballot, the california billionaire tax imposes a one-time levy that phases in to 5% between $1B and…
Does my business qualify for the new paid family leave credit? If you pay wages during qualifying leave — or pay premiums for a PFML insurance policy — you likely do. The paid family leave credit is now permanent under the Working Families Tax Cuts, and IRS Notice 2026-28 (Aug. 5, 2026) explains how to…
Who has to file California’s SB 253 climate disclosure by August 10, 2026? Any company with more than $1B in total annual revenues that meets the state’s “doing business in California” test. SB 253 compliance means submitting Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse-gas data to CARB — with limited enforcement discretion in the first year….
What changed for California business owners in 2026? The California business tax 2026 package brings SB 122 and SB 180 — extending the business credit limitation, cutting the first-year annual tax to $400 for many new entities, and stretching the California Competes Tax Credit through 2035. And the next CCTC application window closes on August…
Are my charitable donations at risk of an IRS challenge? They can be if you fall for one of the charitable contribution scams the IRS just named on its 2026 Dirty Dozen list. Fake charities and inflated non-cash appraisals top the list, and both can turn a well-intentioned gift into a disallowed deduction, penalties, and…
Estate tax vs inheritance tax — who actually pays, and when? The estate tax vs inheritance tax distinction is simple in principle: the estate pays estate tax before assets are distributed; the beneficiary pays inheritance tax after they receive them. In 2026 the federal estate tax exemption sits at $15 million per person (IRS Rev….
Do U.S. small businesses still have to file BOI with FinCEN in 2026? Not right now. Under Treasury’s March 2025 interim final rule, FinCEN BOI reporting applies only to foreign reporting companies. Domestic entities and U.S. citizens are exempt while FinCEN works to finalize the rule. The Corporate Transparency Act was supposed to be one…
Can employers put private equity, private credit, or crypto into a 401(k) plan? Federal policy is opening the door. The Department of Labor has proposed a rule and the White House has issued an executive order that together make it easier to add 401k alternative investments to plan menus — but ERISA’s fiduciary duties still…
When is the BBA partnership push-out deadline for a pass-through partner? If you received a Form 8986 tied to a partnership that filed an Administrative Adjustment Request (AAR) or was audited under the BBA partnership audit regime, the deadline to pay or push out further is generally September 15, 2026 — the exact date is…
Which new IFRS standards must I apply for a 30 June 2026 reporting date? Several amendments are mandatory now — including the IAS 21 lack-of-exchangeability rules, the IFRS 9 & IFRS 7 classification and measurement amendments, and Annual Improvements Volume 11 — while IFRS 18, IFRS 19, and IFRS 20 remain optional until 2027. Applying…
How do I close a California business entity so the $800 franchise tax stops? You must complete two parallel filings — a final tax return with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and a dissolution, surrender, or cancellation with the Secretary of State (SOS) — within 12 months. Missing either one keeps the entity legally alive…
