Ordinary and Necessary: The Two-Word Test Behind Every Business Tax Deduction
An IRS business expense must be ordinary (common in your industry) and necessary (helpful to it) under Section 162 — plus the records to prove it.
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Irs Requirements
Meet IRS requirements for business tax compliance
Are Your Emails With Your CPA Privileged? Kovel Agreements, Section 7525, and Where Protection Stops
There is no US accountant-client privilege: Section 7525 shields only civil IRS tax advice, while a Kovel arrangement via counsel also holds in criminal cases.
Prove You're Tax Compliant in Minutes: The IRS's New Digitally Authenticated Tax Compliance Report
The IRS Tax Compliance Report (Letter 6201/6574) proves you filed and paid on time with an embedded digital certificate — no income details shared.
The Section 444 Election: How Seasonal S Corporations and Partnerships End Their Tax Year in the Slow Season
Section 444 lets an S corp or partnership elect a Sept 30, Oct 31 or Nov 30 year end with Form 8716 — in exchange for a Form 8752 deposit due every May 15.
The 20% Accuracy Penalty: What Counts as a Substantial Understatement — and the Reasonable-Cause Defense That Removes It
The IRS adds a 20% penalty when you understate tax by more than $5,000 or 10% — substantial authority, Form 8275 disclosure, or reasonable cause removes it.
From CP501 to CP504: What Each IRS Balance-Due Notice Means and How to Stop the Ladder
IRS CP501, CP503 and CP504 arrive in a fixed sequence — CP504 is the Notice of Intent to Levy, and the final notice gives 30 days to file Form 12153.
The Auditor Just Handed You Form 4564: How to Respond to an IRS Information Document Request
An IRS Form 4564 Information Document Request is a request, not a court order — answer only what's asked, keep a copy of everything, and ask for time early.
Behind on Payroll Taxes? How Pyramiding Turns One Missed 941 Deposit Into a Multi-Quarter Trust-Fund Debt
One missed Form 941 deposit draws a 2–15% IRS failure-to-deposit penalty, and unpaid trust fund taxes can become 100% personally yours under the TFRP.
You Volunteer Every Weekend. Here's What the IRS Actually Lets You Deduct
Volunteer hours are worth $0 on your return, but the IRS lets you deduct 14 cents a mile, supplies, and uniforms — and two 2026 changes shrink who benefits.
Starting a Tax Preparation Business: The PTIN, the EFIN Suitability Check, the E-File Mandate, and the Due-Diligence Rules You Need Before Taking Your First Paying Client
A PTIN, an EFIN after a 45-day IRS suitability check, and Form 8867 diligence on every credit return — the federal startup checklist for paid preparers.
The IRS Lost 27% of Its Staff: What Small Businesses Should Do Differently in 2026
After the IRS cut 28% of its workforce, phone waits doubled to 14 minutes, paper processing slowed to 36 days, and audit revenue fell 35%. The small-business playbook is to e-file everything, use the Business Tax Account, respond to notices online, and keep audit-ready books.
How an IRS Identity Protection PIN Locks Thieves Out of Your Tax Return
An IRS Identity Protection PIN is a free six-digit code that blocks anyone from e-filing a federal return with your Social Security number. Here is who can get one, the three ways to request it, how it works for spouses and dependents, and the errors that cause rejections every filing season.