#tax-planning
Strategic tax planning to minimize liability and maximize savings
Independent music teachers who collect payment directly from students run a Schedule C business subject to 15.3% self-employment tax, must book prepaid lesson packages as deferred revenue rather than income, and face a new $2,000 1099-NEC threshold starting in 2026.
With 100% bonus depreciation permanently restored for equipment placed in service after January 19, 2025 and a $2,560,000 Section 179 cap for 2026, the lease-vs-buy decision now hinges on total cost of ownership, cash flow timing, and how long you'll actually keep the equipment — not just which option gets the bigger write-off.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act's Section 174A permanently restores immediate tax deduction of domestic software development and R&E costs for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, reversing the five-year amortization rule that had strained small tech companies' cash flow since 2022.
A walkthrough of the Section 469 seven-day rule, the three realistic material participation tests, and how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's permanent 100% bonus depreciation lets short-term rental owners offset W-2 income — plus the bookkeeping habits that survive an IRS audit.
A practical guide to surviving California FTB and New York residency audits after moving to Florida, Texas, or Nevada — the domicile and statutory residency tests, day-count documentation, equity compensation traps, and the convenience-of-the-employer rule.
OBBBA Section 71308 and IRS Notice 2026-05 let you pair a Direct Primary Care membership of up to $150/month per adult ($300 family) with an HSA starting January 2026, reclassify all Bronze and Catastrophic marketplace plans as HSA-eligible, and make the telehealth pre-deductible safe harbor permanent. Here is how freelancers, solo S-corp owners, and small employers should stack DPC, marketplace coverage, HSAs, and QSEHRA/ICHRA reimbursements without double-dipping.
The enhanced premium tax credits expired January 1, 2026, restoring the 400% FPL cliff. This guide walks self-employed filers, S-corp owners, freelancers, and early retirees through the 2026 applicable percentage schedule, MAGI levers like Solo 401(k), SEP-IRA, HSA, and Section 162(l), and Form 8962 reconciliation strategies to avoid five-figure repayments.
OBBBA raises the federal SALT cap to $40,400 for 2026 with a 30-cent-per-dollar phase-out above $505,000 MAGI, then reverts to $10,000 in 2030. PTET elections in 36 states remain uncapped and still beat the cap for most high-income pass-through owners. State deadlines, bunching priorities, and the 2030 cliff explained.
How independent and DSO-affiliated dental practices should record production, PPO contractual write-offs, management fees, and operatory depreciation under ASC 606 — plus the KPIs (collection ratio, overhead %, hygiene production ratio) that separate a 60% overhead office from a 75% one.
How independent fractional and outsourced CFOs should structure their books — ASC 606 treatment for retainers and project work, 409A and 83(b) handling for advisor equity, the Section 199A SSTB phase-out at $201,750 single / $403,500 joint, and target utilization and realization benchmarks for a healthy practice.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made Qualified Opportunity Zones permanent and introduced rolling 5-year deferrals, decennial map redesignations starting July 1, 2026, a new rural fund class (QROF) with a 30% basis step-up at year 5, and $10,000-per-return reporting penalties. Here is the planning sequence for sponsors and family offices through the 2026–2027 window.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made Section 199A permanent, added a $400 minimum deduction for active small-business owners starting in 2026, and widened the joint phase-in range to $150,000. A field guide to the three QBI tiers, wage tuning, UBIA, aggregation, and SSTB positioning for pass-through owners.
