Illustration of a small business owner paying a summer seasonal employee alongside a Form 941 and a summer calendar
|

Hiring Seasonal Employees: 2026 Payroll Tax Guide

Do seasonal and part-time workers change my payroll tax obligations? No — hiring seasonal employees does not create a lighter set of federal payroll rules. Wages paid to summer, holiday, and part-time help are subject to the same federal income tax withholding, Social Security, and Medicare taxes as wages paid to your full-time staff. The…

Illustration of the California SaaS sales tax under SB/AB 122 — a state outline with a cloud icon over a stack of receipts, green and orange accents
|

California SaaS Sales Tax 2027: SB/AB 122 Guide

Will California start charging sales tax on my SaaS subscriptions? Under a 2026 budget trailer bill (SB/AB 122), yes — as drafted, the California SaaS sales tax would extend the state’s 7.25% (plus district) sales and use tax to prewritten software and Software-as-a-Service beginning January 1, 2027, sourced to the purchaser’s California billing address. If…

Illustration of OBBBA state conformity — a US map split into green and orange puzzle pieces over tax documents
|

OBBBA State Conformity 2026: Does Your State Follow?

Does my state follow the new federal OBBBA tax breaks? Not automatically. OBBBA state conformity varies widely — some states adopt the new federal rules on R&D expensing, bonus depreciation, and Section 179, while others decouple. A deduction you claim on your federal return may be added right back on your state return. The One…

Illustration of 2026 retirement plan limits — a coin-filled nest egg jar, a rising chart, and a 401(k) statement
|

2026 Retirement Plan Limits: 401(k), Catch-Up & Roth

What are the 2026 retirement plan limits? The 401(k) elective deferral limit rises to $24,500, the age-50 catch-up to $8,000, and a new “super catch-up” lets employees aged 60–63 add $11,250. The 2026 retirement plan limits also bring a major SECURE 2.0 change: high earners must now make catch-up contributions as Roth. If you sponsor…

Illustration of the 2026 tips and overtime deduction — a tipped receipt, an overtime time card, and a calculator
|

2026 Tips and Overtime Deduction: Employer Guide

What are the new 2026 tips and overtime deduction rules for employers? For tax years 2025 through 2028, employees can deduct up to $25,000 of qualified tips and up to $12,500 of qualified overtime pay ($25,000 for joint filers). The tips and overtime deduction is claimed on the employee’s return, but it creates new payroll…

Illustration of pooled employer plan PEP 401k vs state auto-IRA mandate — small employer retirement compliance and fiduciary delegation
|

Pooled Employer Plan vs State Auto-IRA: PEP 401(k) Guide for Small Employers

How does a Pooled Employer Plan (PEP) compare to a state-mandated auto-IRA? A Pooled Employer Plan is a multi-employer 401(k) structure that satisfies state retirement mandates while offering meaningful advantages over state-sponsored auto-IRAs: $24,500 contribution limit (vs. $7,500 IRA), employer matching, institutional-quality investments, and fiduciary shift to the Pooled Plan Provider. For most small employers,…

Illustration of construction revenue recognition methods — percentage of completion vs completed contract for contractors
|

Construction Revenue Recognition: PCM vs CCM Methods Explained

What are the construction revenue recognition methods and when does each apply? Construction contractors choose between the percentage of completion method (PCM) — recognizing revenue proportionally as work progresses — and the completed contract method (CCM) — deferring all revenue until substantial completion. PCM is mandatory for long-term contracts held by companies with average annual…

Illustration of cannabis 280E rescheduling — Schedule III medical cannabis tax change and MSO allocation impact
|

Cannabis 280E Rescheduling: Schedule III Medical Cannabis Tax Impact

What does cannabis Schedule III rescheduling mean for IRC Section 280E? The DOJ and DEA’s April 23, 2026 order rescheduling medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III removes it from § 280E’s deduction prohibition — potentially cutting cannabis operators’ effective tax burden from 50-60% of operating income to closer to normal corporate rates, and…

Section 127 educational assistance employer tuition benefit featured
|

Section 127 Educational Assistance Programs: $5,250 Employer Tuition Benefit

What is a Section 127 educational assistance program and how much can employers provide tax-free? Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code allows employers to exclude up to $5,250 per calendar year per employee from gross income for educational assistance — covering tuition, fees, books, supplies, and (through December 31, 2025, unless extended) qualified student…

Erc disallowance form 907 irs extension 2026 featured
|

ERC Disallowance Form 907 Extension: New IRS Streamlined Process 2026

What is the new ERC disallowance Form 907 extension process? The IRS announced on April 27, 2026 (IR-2026-58) a streamlined way for taxpayers facing the 2-year refund-suit deadline after an Employee Retention Credit disallowance (Letter 105-C or 106-C) to submit Form 907 via the IRS Document Upload Tool — extending administrative review time and preserving…