#bookkeeping
Bookkeeping
Modern bookkeeping techniques using plain-text and automated workflows
The $1 Million Single Audit Trap: Uniform Guidance, SEFA, and How Nonprofits and Governments Pass Federal Compliance
OMB raised the single audit threshold to $1 million in federal expenditures starting October 1, 2024. This guide explains the Subpart F audit under 2 CFR 200, SEFA reporting, four-step major program determination, the 40 and 20 percent coverage rules, and the nine-month Federal Audit Clearinghouse submission deadline for nonprofits and state and local governments.
The 90-Day Letter: How Small Businesses Can Fight an IRS Notice of Deficiency in Tax Court
A statutory notice of deficiency gives a small business owner exactly 90 days to petition the U.S. Tax Court — the only path to challenge an IRS adjustment without paying first. This guide explains CP3219A, the Section 6213 deadline, the $50,000 small tax case election, and the records that decide outcomes.
Treasury Bills for Business Cash Management: A 2026 T-Bill Ladder Guide
A practical 2026 playbook for small businesses using a Treasury-bill ladder to earn ~3.66% on idle operating cash, capture the state and local tax exemption on Treasury interest, and keep the bookkeeping clean.
The 2026 WISP Playbook for Tax Pros and Bookkeepers: Building an FTC Safeguards Rule-Compliant Data Security Program Without a CISO
A 2026 guide for solo tax preparers and small bookkeeping firms to build a Written Information Security Plan that satisfies the FTC Safeguards Rule's nine elements, the IRS PTIN attestation, and the 30-day breach notification requirement — using IRS Publication 5708 as the scaffold and a 90-day rollout.
WISP Compliance: Why Every Tax Pro Needs a Written Information Security Plan in 2026
A practical guide to building a Written Information Security Plan that satisfies the FTC Safeguards Rule and IRS Publication 5708 — covering the nine required elements, technical controls like MFA and encryption, penalty exposure up to $46,517 per violation per day, and a six-week roadmap for tax preparers, CPAs, and bookkeepers.
CMMC 2.0 and NIST 800-171 in 2026: A Small Defense Contractor's Certification Roadmap
CMMC 2.0 took effect November 10, 2025, and Level 2 third-party assessments begin November 10, 2026. A practical guide to scope, cost ($80K–$250K over three years), the 14 control families, the POA&M rule, and a 90-day path for small DoD contractors.
Form W-2c and W-3c: How to Correct a W-2 Without Triggering Penalty Cliffs
Form W-2c fixes errors on previously filed W-2s, but the penalty structure stacks behind the original February 2 due date — $60, $130, $340, or $680 per form depending on how late you file. A practical guide to W-2c and W-3c filing, the 10-return e-file threshold, SSA mismatch letters, and reconciling with Form 941-X.
Schedule M-1 and M-3 Book-Tax Reconciliation: From GAAP Net Income to Form 1120 Taxable Income
Schedule M-3 kicks in at $10 million of year-end total assets and demands four-column detail on every book-tax difference; M-1 stays single-page below that line. A CFO walkthrough of how the reconciliation works, the recurring permanent and temporary differences, and the habits that keep the schedule clean.
Section 6418: Selling Clean Energy Tax Credits to Cash Buyers
Section 6418 lets clean energy developers sell federal tax credits to unrelated corporate buyers for cash, typically at a 6 to 15 percent discount to face value. A practical guide to registration, pricing, recapture risk, the 20 percent excessive transfer penalty, and how the OBBBA preserved transferability through the rest of the decade.
The 65-Day Election: How Trustees Push Income to Beneficiaries and Escape the Brutal 37% Trust Bracket
A fiduciary guide to the Section 663(b) 65-day election and the Section 643(g) Form 1041-T allocation, with the March 6 deadline, DNI mechanics, a worked example saving roughly $11,776 in federal tax, and the procedural traps that void the election.
Wage Garnishment for Employers: How to Process Withholding Orders Without Becoming Personally Liable
A payroll operations guide to wage garnishment: how to calculate disposable earnings under the CCPA, apply the correct caps for creditor, child support, IRS, and student loan orders, prioritize multiple orders on one paycheck, and keep records that hold up under audit.
Accountable Plan Reimbursements: The Tax-Free Way S-Corp Owners Get Paid Back for Home Office, Mileage, and Travel
An accountable plan lets an S-corp reimburse shareholder-employees tax-free for home office, mileage, internet, and travel — but only when the written plan, 60-day substantiation, and 120-day excess-return rules are followed.