Key TakeawaysKeep every contractor’s Form W9 on file before the first payment. If your contractor won’t give you a W9, be persistent. The IRS requires a three-step written request process. Use the IRS TIN Matching tool before filing your 1099s. It...

I may be revealing too much of my age and tastes by quoting this song, but I’ll “sing” it for you anyway: “Workin’ 9 to 5, what a way to make a living…” You know that one from good ol’ Dolly Parton? If you end up humming it all day, too – you're welcome. :)But,...

Key Takeaways The more favorable EBITDA-based business interest deduction limit is back for your 2025 tax year. (New restrictions are coming in 2026.) New R&E rules aren’t automatic. Retroactive benefits for 2022–2024 require elections, deadlines, and...

This weekend’s news coverage and social media scroll were dominated by reports of the awful things happening in Israel right now. It’s pretty difficult to swallow the images of violence and abuse being perpetrated by Hamas. And no matter how many times you hear about...

Apparently, it is National Small Business Week. And while I tend to think these kinds of “national weeks” or days, or what have you, are often pretty silly … well, as someone who has been in the trenches with the SMB community over the last few years, I...

With the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act AND the CARES Act, the government is seemingly trying to go "full Oprah" with all of the credits, grants, and such that they are slinging out to San Luis Obispo small businesses...And while the media headlines are...

Happy Earth Day. The day we celebrate this little blue marble we all enjoy living on. I found this fascinating as I was reading about it this morning — there are so many elements that make up the scenario of a thriving Planet Earth. Less threats because...

All the political people are arguing over taxes, and my inner geek smiles.(By the way, if YOU want to argue about the tax issues, here's a good explainer article to start with before you make big declarations about the tax issues involved.)Because I'm not really...

The flooding in South and Central Texas is on my mind as I start this work week. It's been hard to watch, especially in this age of social media, where we can see firsthand video of the devastation. I keep thinking especially about the parents of the children who...

Here we are, with Q3 of 2020 in the rearview mirror, THANK GOODNESS.Only one more quarter left in this 2020 donkey -- but it's going to be an eventful one.I get asked a bunch by San Luis Obispo clients and friends what I think the markets will do, and the only thing I...