2026 IRS Mileage Rate Midyear Change: How to Split Your Deduction
The IRS raised the 2026 business mileage rate from 72.5 to 76 cents for miles driven from July 1 — date every log entry or you cannot prove the higher rate.
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Plain-text accounting insights, tutorials, and updates from the Beancount.io team.
IRS Letter 12C: Why Your Return Is On Hold and How to Respond in 20 Days
IRS Letter 12C is a processing hold, not an audit — fax or mail the requested forms within 20 days and skip Form 1040-X; refunds follow in 6–8 weeks.
The IRS Doesn't Need Your Books to Audit You: How Examiners Reconstruct Cash-Business Income
With missing records, the IRS rebuilds income from bank deposits, net worth, markup and unit volume — reconciled books keep the audit on specific items.
IRS2Go Is Gone: What the New IRS App Means for Your Refunds, Payments, and Tax Records
The IRS app replaced IRS2Go on Sept. 25, 2026: sign in to check refunds, pay balances, pull transcripts and your IP PIN — business accounts stay on IRS.gov.
Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act: What Hiring Businesses Must Put in Writing
Illinois FWPA: freelance deals of $500+ (aggregated over 120 days) need a written contract and payment within 30 days — or owe double damages plus fees.
Glamping Business Bookkeeping: Nightly Rates, Seasonal Occupancy Math, and Payout Reconciliation
Glamping books run on nights × occupancy × rate: record gross payouts to match the 1099-K, hold lodging tax as a liability, and depreciate tents in 5–7 years.
Garage Door Installation & Repair Bookkeeping: Licenses, Warranties, and Job Costing That Protect Your Margin
Garage door shops hold 10–15% net margins by accruing a warranty reserve, loading labor with 35% burden, and logging truck stock and state licenses per job.
Freelance Translator Invoicing: Per-Word Rates, Multi-Currency Invoices, and Getting Paid on Time
Per-word rates hide your real hourly pay. Invoice translation work with PO numbers, weighted CAT counts, agreed FX terms and a late-payment playbook.
The First Sale Rule: How Importers Who Buy Through Middlemen Can Legally Pay Less in Tariffs
Importers buying via a middleman can declare the factory's first-sale price to U.S. Customs and cut duties 10–20%, if every tier is documented.
Selling Abroad? The FCPA Rules Every Small Exporter Should Know
The U.S. FCPA covers small exporters too: a foreign agent's bribe can be yours, grease payments rarely qualify, and clean books are your best defense.
Donating Your Car Before Year-End? How Form 1098-C, the $500 Threshold, and Gross-Proceeds Rules Decide Your Deduction
The IRS usually limits car-donation deductions to the charity's sale price — Form 1098-C, the $500 threshold, and three FMV exceptions decide yours.
How to Write a Customer Credit Policy: Credit Limits, Payment Terms, and Collection Triggers
Set who gets credit, how much, and what happens when payment is late: approval tiers, credit limits, deposits, late fees, and a day-triggered collection ladder.