Fed Raises Rates: What It Means for Borrowing and Cash Flow

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point on Sept. 16, bringing the federal funds rate target range to 3.75%–4%. The move marks the Fed’s first rate increase since July 2023. The Fed said that the increase is intended to support a return to its 2% inflation goal. Higher benchmark […]

Where to look when you need to improve profit margins

Increasing revenue isn’t the only way to strengthen your business’s financial performance. Another option is to take a closer look at operating expenses and determine whether every dollar you spend delivers value. A systematic review of major expense categories can uncover opportunities to reduce waste and protect your bottom line without sacrificing long-term growth. Here […]

Could Adjusting Your Tax Withholding Now Save You Money Later?

The IRS’s Tax Withholding Estimator (https://bit.ly/4Af0hEz ) can help you assess how much income tax to have your employer withhold from your paychecks. This tool can be useful if you have additional income not subject to withholding — such as from investments or gig work — and haven’t made estimated tax payments in 2026. Increasing […]

The Spiraling Cost of Federal Healthcare Subsidies and Carveouts

The Spiraling Cost of Federal Healthcare Subsidies and Carveouts https://bit.ly/3Vt0xzR

Resolve IRS Disputes Faster With Fast Track

In a recent Tax Executives Institute seminar, the IRS’s Large Business and International (LB&I) Division Commissioner Mabeline Baldwin discussed her department’s priorities. LB&I is currently revising forms to eliminate redundancies and incorporate tax law changes, and is ramping up Fast Track, a voluntary mediation program. Businesses that choose Fast Track can generally expect their cases […]

What’s the right entity type for your new business?

Start-ups must choose a legal entity for their business activities. The type of entity you select affects how the business is taxed and who may be held personally liable for its debts and obligations, among other things. Two popular options — assuming you’re going into business with one or more other people — are S […]

Give Business Interests. Save on Gift Taxes.

Business owners may be able to transfer wealth more tax efficiently by gifting ownership interests to family members. For 2026, the gift tax annual exclusion is $19,000 per recipient. Certain interests may qualify for valuation discounts. For example, a minority interest may qualify for a lack-of-control discount because the holder can’t dictate business decisions. A […]

Be tax-smart with your mutual fund investments

Mutual funds offer an easy way to invest in a diversified portfolio compared to buying individual stocks and bonds. But the tax treatment of mutual funds isn’t so simple. How are mutual funds taxed? If you sell appreciated mutual fund shares, the resulting profit will be taxable. If you’ve held the shares for one year […]

Disaster Tax Relief Just Got Easier

President Trump has signed the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act. Among other things, it expands personal deductions for disaster-related losses. Previously, victims of a federally declared disaster could deduct personal casualty losses only if they itemized, and only to the extent those losses exceeded 10% of their adjusted gross income (AGI). The […]

How a financial statement audit strengthens your fraud defenses

Fraud is a major threat facing small and midsize businesses. While audits aren’t designed to uncover fraud, they can help business owners identify anomalies and deter would-be fraudsters. Recent findings from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) underscore the important role audits play, together with other controls, in a broader fraud prevention strategy. Recent […]