Self-Employed Health Insurance Premiums: Clarifying Deductibility
If you are self-employed and buy your own health insurance, you may have noticed fine print on the application stating that the policy is not employer-sponsored and that you will not deduct the premiums on your tax return. That language can be alarming, but it does not take away your tax deduction. The statement exists […]
When the Time Is Right: Protecting Your Future After the Loss of a Spouse
Losing a spouse is difficult, and taxes are likely the last thing on your mind. But the tax consequences arrive on a delayed schedule that creates a valuable planning window—one that closes quickly if no one is watching. Here is the timeline: For the year when your spouse dies, you may still file a joint […]
Understanding the Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction
The self-employed health insurance deduction is one of the most valuable adjustments available to you. It reduces adjusted gross income dollar for dollar; you get it whether or not you itemize, and the lower adjusted gross income can preserve other benefits that phase out as income rises. It is also one of the easiest deductions […]
A Fresh Look at the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit
The paid family and medical leave tax credit is now a permanent part of the tax code, and the 2026 rules changed enough that it deserves a fresh look even if you considered it before and passed. Here is what the credit does: If you have a written leave policy in place, you earn a […]
How an S Corporation Can Unlock the Section 199A Deduction
If you operate as a sole proprietor or single-member LLC, earn a good income, and have no payroll and little depreciable property, you may be losing most of the Section 199A 20 percent deduction. Switching to an S corporation can fix that. Here is the problem: Once your 2026 taxable income exceeds $276,750 (single) or […]
Home Office Deduction Rules for Business Owners
Many business owners assume they cannot claim a home-office deduction because their home is too small. In fact, the tax law says otherwise. A home office does not have to be an entire room. If you use a clearly defined area of your home exclusively for business, you may qualify for the deduction—even if that […]
S Corporation Health Insurance: Avoid These Costly Deduction Mistakes
If you own more than 2 percent of an S corporation, the good news is that the rules for deducting your health insurance remain unchanged for 2026. By following a few important steps, you can continue to deduct the cost of coverage for yourself, your spouse, your dependents, and your children under age 27. To […]
Understanding Inventory Accounting Methods for Small Businesses
Businesses that produce goods or purchase merchandise for resale have traditionally treated those items as inventory. Under the general tax rules, the business capitalizes inventory costs and deducts them only in the year the inventory is sold. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed these rules for many small businesses. As a result, qualifying businesses […]
A Valuable Tax Break for Pass-Through Businesses Continues in 2026
Beginning in 2026, the Section 199A qualified business income deduction becomes a permanent part of tax planning for pass-through business owners. This deduction can allow owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and certain other pass-through businesses to deduct up to 20 percent of their qualified business income. C corporations do not qualify. The 2026 […]
Buying or Launching a Business? Know the Tax Rules
Starting or buying a business often requires significant spending before the business officially opens. Fortunately, the tax law allows you to deduct at least some of these start-up costs instead of waiting until you sell the business to receive a tax benefit. Deducting Start-up Costs In general, you may deduct up to $5,000 in qualifying […]