The Journal

Tax & accounting insight

Plain-English guidance for companies and private clients across the US, UK & UAE — 284 articles and growing.

Client Entertainment Deductions: What Survived the TCJA?
Business Deductions

Client Entertainment Deductions: What Survived the TCJA?

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 was one of the most sweeping changes to the US tax code in decades — and it hit…

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How to Deduct Business Meals in 2026: IRS Rules Explained
Business Deductions

How to Deduct Business Meals in 2026: IRS Rules Explained

Every dollar counts when you run your own business. Yet millions of US taxpayers leave legitimate meal deductions on the…

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Form 1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC: Which to Use for Contractors
Business Structure & Entities

Form 1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC: Which to Use for Contractors

Every year, thousands of US businesses send the wrong 1099 form to their contractors — and face IRS penalties they could…

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Form 7004: How to Get a Business Tax Extension in 2026
Business Structure & Entities

Form 7004: How to Get a Business Tax Extension in 2026

Missing a tax deadline can cost your business hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars in IRS penalties. Fortunately, a…

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Form 1065: Partnership Return Filing Made Simple
Business Structure & Entities

Form 1065: Partnership Return Filing Made Simple

If your business has two or more owners, the IRS almost certainly requires you to file a Form 1065 partnership return. Y…

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Form 1120-S: S-Corporation Tax Return Complete Guide
Business Structure & Entities

Form 1120-S: S-Corporation Tax Return Complete Guide

Hundreds of thousands of US business owners elect S-corporation status every year — yet many file their Form 1120-S S-co…

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Form 941 Quarterly Payroll Tax: Employer Filing Guide
Payroll & Employment Tax

Form 941 Quarterly Payroll Tax: Employer Filing Guide

Payroll tax penalties cost US employers billions of dollars every year — and the majority are entirely avoidable. If you…

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Form 1040 vs Schedule C: What Self-Employed Must File
Business Structure & Entities

Form 1040 vs Schedule C: What Self-Employed Must File

Nearly 16 million Americans file Schedule C with their tax returns each year — yet a surprising number do not fully unde…

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IRS Forms 101: The Most Common Tax Forms Explained
Business Structure & Entities

IRS Forms 101: The Most Common Tax Forms Explained

Every year, millions of US taxpayers stare at a stack of tax documents and wonder: which form do I actually need? The IR…

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How to Spot Accounting Errors Before Your CPA Does
Bookkeeping & Accounting

How to Spot Accounting Errors Before Your CPA Does

Accounting errors cost US small businesses billions of dollars every year — in overpaid taxes, missed deductions, and IR…

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Year-End Accounting Checklist for US Business Owners
Bookkeeping & Accounting

Year-End Accounting Checklist for US Business Owners

Over 60% of small business owners in the United State say they feel unprepared for tax season — and most of them have on…

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Month-End Close Process for Small Businesses
Bookkeeping & Accounting

Month-End Close Process for Small Businesses

Did you know that nearly 82% of small businesses in the United States fail because of poor cash flow management? One of …

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Receipt Management for Business Owners: Digital Tools 2026
Bookkeeping & Accounting

Receipt Management for Business Owners: Digital Tools 2026

The IRS rejected more than $37 billion in fraudulent refunds in a single year largely because taxpayers lacked proper do…

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How to Categorize Business Transactions for Tax Time
Bookkeeping & Accounting

How to Categorize Business Transactions for Tax Time

The IRS audited more than 600,000 individual tax returns in a recent year — and miscategorized business expenses are one…

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Cloud Accounting Software Comparison: QuickBooks vs Xero vs
Bookkeeping & Accounting

Cloud Accounting Software Comparison: QuickBooks vs Xero vs

Choosing the wrong accounting software in your first year of business can cost you hundreds of hours and thousands of do…

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Bookkeeping for Startups: The First-Year Financial Roadmap
Bookkeeping & Accounting

Bookkeeping for Startups: The First-Year Financial Roadmap

Nearly 82% of small businesses in the United States fail because of poor cash flow management — and most of that trouble…

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1031 Exchange for Business Real Estate: Step-by-Step Guide
Real Estate Tax

1031 Exchange for Business Real Estate: Step-by-Step Guide

Selling a commercial property can trigger a massive capital gains tax bill — sometimes 20% or more of your profit, plus …

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Cost Segregation Study: Accelerate Depreciation on Real Estate
Real Estate Tax

Cost Segregation Study: Accelerate Depreciation on Real Estate

Most US business owners who own commercial real estate are leaving tens of thousands of dollars in tax savings on the ta…

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Real Estate Tax Deductions for Business Owners in 2026
Real Estate Tax

Real Estate Tax Deductions for Business Owners in 2026

Did you know that the average US small business owner overpays on taxes by thousands of dollars every year — simply beca…

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Flexible Spending Account vs HSA for Business Owners
Tax Planning & Retirement

Flexible Spending Account vs HSA for Business Owners

Most business owners know they are overpaying in taxes but few realize that choosing the wrong healthcare savings accoun…

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Health Savings Account (HSA) for Self-Employed: 2026 Guide
Tax Planning & Retirement

Health Savings Account (HSA) for Self-Employed: 2026 Guide

Self-employed Americans spend an average of $7,000 to $22,000 per year on health insurance — yet most never take advanta…

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Defined Benefit Plan vs 401k for Business Owners: Which Is Better?
Cryptocurrency Tax

Defined Benefit Plan vs 401k for Business Owners: Which Is Better?

Here is a fact that surprises most business owners: a self-employed individual earning $300,000 per year can legally she…

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Retirement Accounts for Business Owners: Max Contributions
Tax Planning & Retirement

Retirement Accounts for Business Owners: Max Contributions

Over 16 million self-employed Americans leave thousands of dollars in tax savings on the table every year — simply becau…

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Retirement Accounts for Business Owners: Max Contributions 2026
Tax Planning & Retirement

Retirement Accounts for Business Owners: Max Contributions 2026

FAQs …

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