For many business owners, deciding whether someone should be paid as a 1099 contractor or a W-2 employee can feel confusing. And in 2026, that decision matters more than ever. Over the past few years, both the IRS and the Department of Labor (DOL) have increased their focus on worker classification. Updated rules and enforcement…
Tax season may technically be over, but April is often when the real lessons begin. Once returns are filed and the dust settles, many business owners start to see where their financial systems worked well—and where they didn’t. In fact, this period right after tax season is when accountants, bookkeepers, and tax professionals often identify…
When it comes to tax season, most business owners focus on one big question: “How do we make sure we’re not overpaying?” That’s especially true for law firms and franchise restaurant owners, where margins, payroll, and operational costs are significant — and every legitimate deduction matters. Heading into the 2026 filing season, maximizing tax deductions…
If you’ve felt like the IRS has been getting more serious lately — you’re not imagining it. Heading into the 2026 tax filing season, enforcement activity is increasing. Thanks to expanded funding in recent years, upgraded technology, and more advanced data-matching systems, the IRS is reviewing business returns more efficiently and more thoroughly than before.…
Bookkeeping Best Practices to Maximize Tax Savings in 2026: Lessons From Recent IRS and Filing Rule Updates For many small business owners, bookkeeping is one of those things that feels easy to push aside — until tax season arrives and suddenly everything feels urgent. But heading into the 2026 tax filing season, bookkeeping isn’t just…
If you’re a small business owner heading into the 2026 tax filing season, you’re not alone if things feel a little… different this year. Between new federal tax legislation passed in 2025, updated IRS guidance, and ongoing enforcement changes, many business owners are realizing that the “same as last year” approach simply doesn’t apply anymore.…
2026 Is a New Enforcement Era — Not Just a New Tax Year If you’re a small business owner, attorney, or franchise operator, 2026 brings more than new tax brackets and reporting rules — it brings a shift in how the IRS enforces compliance. After several years of staffing increases, technology upgrades, and delayed rollouts,…
If You Accept Digital Payments, 2026 Is a Turning Point If you run a small business, sell online, or accept payments through platforms like PayPal, Stripe, Square, Venmo, Shopify, Etsy, or Amazon, there’s one thing you can’t ignore in 2026: 👉 The IRS is now fully enforcing its digital payment reporting rules. What started as…
2026 Is Here — and the Tax Landscape Is Shifting If you’re a small business owner, attorney, or franchise operator, January 2026 likely feels like a turning point — because it is. At the end of 2025, many key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) officially expired. That means 2026 marks the…