No Deduction for Political Giving — Even for Businesses

For some states and municipalities (including New Jersey, Virginia and New York City), early November means election season. It’s important to remember that donations to political organizations and candidates aren’t tax-deductible. The prohibition is broad: You can’t, for example, deduct contributions made to political parties, campaign committees or even fundraising dinners if they benefit a […]

Important IRS ERC Changes: Refunds Limited After July 4, 2025

The IRS has updated its Employee Retention Credit (ERC) FAQ page. The new FAQs address ERC refund limitations enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The tax law prevents the IRS from allowing or refunding ERCs after July 4, 2025, for the third and fourth quarters of 2021, if those claims were filed after […]

Fed Lowers Rates Below 4% for the First Time Since 2022

The Federal Reserve has approved its second straight interest rate cut. The Fed reduced the central bank’s benchmark rate by a quarter point. The target range is now set at 3.75% to 4%. Interest rates set by the Fed are below 4% for the first time since late 2022. The prospect of additional rate cuts […]

Don’t Overlook Local Transportation Deductions for Your Business

Most small businesses incur local transportation costs, which may be overlooked if not tracked. Commuting between home and work isn’t deductible. But the cost of local trips made for business purposes generally is, including trips to suppliers, customers or your business bank. You can use actual expenses or the standard mileage rate. Keeping an accurate […]

Social Security Taxation Unchanged — But a New Deduction for Seniors Arrives

Months after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was enacted, confusion remains about the taxation of Social Security benefits. Overall, nothing has changed. Taxation of these benefits depends on the recipient’s provisional income, which combines half of his or her Social Security benefits with adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income. The OBBBA did […]

AICPA Calls on IRS for Clarity on New Tip and Overtime Deductions

Recently, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) asked the IRS to clarify reporting and substantiation requirements for deducting qualified tips and overtime pay. These deductions were made available by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act beginning in 2025. But the IRS has stated it won’t be updating Forms W-2 or 1099 for the […]

Heard about the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act?

Heard of the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act? Intended to reduce confusion and provide fairer outcomes in tax disputes, the legislation will require the IRS to provide certain information when sending notices to taxpayers about math or clerical errors. Specifically, notices must describe any errors in detail, list an itemized computation of […]

IRS updates 1099-K FAQs

The IRS has updated its FAQ page for Form 1099-K (Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions). The One Big Beautiful Bill Act retroactively reinstates the lower Form 1099-K reporting thresholds that applied before 2024. So, third-party settlement organizations (such as Venmo, PayPal and other cash payment apps) aren’t required to file Forms 1099-K unless […]

Cola increase of 2.8% for Social Security announced

The Social Security Administration said that Social Security benefits for 2026, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, will increase 2.8%. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments based on inflation. Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January. Increased payments to SSI […]

Know Before You Go: IRS Rules for Business Travel Deductions

If you’re a business owner or an independent contractor, before traveling for business, be sure you know what’s tax deductible. To qualify, travel must take you away from home or your main place of work for business reasons, and the demands of the work must be such that you have to sleep away from home. […]