IRS Free File Survived While Direct File Didn't: Your 2026 Guide to Filing Free
IRS Free File is open to AGI of $89,000 or less for 2026, and Direct File is gone. Start at IRS.gov or your free return quietly becomes a paid one.
Mike Thrift
Marketing Manager
Joint Venture Bookkeeping: Capital Accounts, Profit Splits, and Partnership Tax Filing
The IRS treats most joint ventures as partnerships: keep separate books, track capital accounts, and file Form 1065 by March 15.
Do You Have to Pay Employees for Jury Duty? State Rules, the FLSA Trap, and PTO Limits
Federal law requires jury-duty time off but no pay; 8 states plus DC mandate employer pay, and the FLSA bars docking exempt salaries.
Title-Holding Land Trusts for Rental Investors: Privacy, the Due-on-Sale Exemption, and When an LLC Still Wins
A land trust keeps your name off the deed and fits the federal Garn-St. Germain due-on-sale exemption — but it is no liability shield, so pair it with an LLC.
Lay Shares and Settlement Sheets: How Fishing Vessel Operators Pay Crew and Handle Crewmember Taxes
Share-paid fishing crew are self-employed under IRC Section 3121(b)(20) — but one guaranteed day rate voids it. Report every share in Form 1099-MISC Box 5.
Does Lemon Law Cover Your Work Truck? State Coverage, Fleet Exclusions, and the Federal Backstop
Lemon laws cover work trucks in some US states but not others; use, weight, and fleet tests decide, and a Section 179 buyback triggers depreciation recapture.
Lennar FY2026 Q3 Earnings: 52% Profit Drop, 116-Day Cycle
Lennar FY2026 Q3: $8.046B revenue (-8.7%) and parent net income down 52% to $283.9M, while the build cycle hit a record 116 days and new orders fell 9%.
Manufacturer Coupons vs. Store Coupons: Which Discounts Actually Reduce the Taxable Sales Price
Manufacturer coupons stay taxable because the vendor reimburses you; store coupons cut the base. US rules for BOGO, double coupons, and booking each.
Marshall Islands Just Rewrote Its Wage Tax Brackets: What Small Employers Need to Know for 2026
The Marshall Islands exempts the first $8,320 of annual wages from withholding tax in 2026 — top rate 12%, plus 8% MISSA and 3.5% Health Fund employer matches.
Former Employees Left Money in Your 401(k)? How to Find Them, Handle Uncashed Checks, and Document the Search
The DOL expects certified mail, record checks, beneficiary contact, and free online searches — and IRS Rev. Rul. 2019-19 taxes a 401(k) check never cashed.
Mississippi's Franchise Tax Is Almost Gone: What the 2026 Rate Cut Means for Your Corporation
Mississippi's franchise tax falls to $0.50 per $1,000 of capital over $100,000 for 2026, then repeals in 2028 — S corps still owe it at the entity level.
Mobile Mechanic Bookkeeping: Van Build-Out vs. Lease, Parts Markup, and Pricing the Trip Charge
A $125 posted labor rate falls to $94 once drive time counts. Price the trip charge by zone, tier parts markup, and claim Section 179 on a 6,000-lb van.