SDO CPA: Tax & Accounting

08/04/2026

S-Corp tax planning is more than just picking a reasonable salary.

With Section 199A now permanent, here's what a complete S-Corp tax strategy looks like:

1. Reasonable salary: Set at a level that's defensible but optimized
2. Retirement contributions: Solo 401(k) allows $24K employee + 25% employer match
3. QBI deduction: 20% deduction on qualified business income (subject to limitations)

The interaction between these three pieces matters.

Higher salary = more retirement contribution room but less QBI
Lower salary = more QBI but potential IRS scrutiny

Finding the right balance depends on your specific numbers.

If you're running an S-Corp and haven't modeled different salary scenarios, it's worth doing. We built a free calculator to help: https://zurl.co/jytJF

Proactive tax planning for business owners. Entity optimization, retirement strategies, and year-round advisory from SDO CPA.

03/17/2026

⏰ September 30, 2025

That's when the IRS stopped issuing paper refund checks for most taxpayers. Electronic payments to the IRS are next (expected 2027).
If you're still:

Mailing checks to the IRS
Expecting paper refunds
Unsure how to pay electronically

Now is the time to get set up.

We wrote a complete guide covering every electronic payment option—from free bank transfers to same-day wires. Includes step-by-step instructions for creating your IRS Online Account.

https://zurl.co/bzpcX

03/10/2026

Your CPA should call you in October. Not March.

But if they didn't, and you're scrambling right now, here's the truth about business tax extensions:

They're not failure. They're strategy.

Good reasons to file an extension: → Waiting for K-1s from other partnerships you invested in → Complex transaction that needs more analysis → Year-end planning still being optimized → Catch-up bookkeeping in progress

Bad reasons: → Procrastination → Avoiding paying taxes you owe (extension doesn't delay payment) → Your CPA is too busy (find a better CPA)

2026 deadlines: • S-Corps & partnerships: March 16 → September 15 • C-Corps: April 15 → October 15 • Single-member LLCs: Follow personal deadlines (Form 4868, not 7004)

I put together a full guide with deadline tables, Form 7004 filing steps, and penalty relief options for anyone who's already late.

Worth bookmarking if you own an S-Corp, partnership, or multi-member LLC.

https://zurl.co/yI7hJ

03/03/2026

Procore vs. Buildertrend vs. Method:CRM? It's the wrong way to frame the question.

The right question is: What is your core business model and biggest bottleneck?

• Procore: For large-scale commercial GCs needing elite field and financial controls.
• Buildertrend: For residential builders wanting an all-in-one client and project system.
• Method:CRM: For any contractor who lives in QuickBooks and needs a perfect, real-time sync.

Your business type dictates your software. We compare all three (and 9 more) in our ultimate guide: https://zurl.co/BsbYB

02/24/2026

"How do I pay the IRS online?"

We get this question constantly—especially from business owners making their first estimated payment or dealing with a balance due notice.

Good news: It's easier than you think. Bad news: Paper checks are being phased out, so you need to learn this anyway.

We created a step-by-step guide covering:
→ 6 ways to pay the IRS electronically (including a free option)
→ How to set up your IRS Online Account
→ EFTPS enrollment for business owners
→ What to do if you can't pay in full

No more guessing. No more late penalties because you couldn't figure out the system.

https://zurl.co/fqg38

02/17/2026

$4,260.

That's what a 4-partner partnership paid in penalties last year for filing 3 months late.

Here's the math:

Late filing penalty: $245 × 4 partners × 3 months = $2,940 Late K-1 penalty: $330 × 4 partners = $1,320 Total: $4,260

They owed zero tax. Pass-through entities don't pay tax at the entity level. But the IRS doesn't care. Miss the deadline, pay the penalty.

2026 deadlines for S-Corps and partnerships: • Original: March 16, 2026 • Extended (with Form 7004): September 15, 2026

The extension takes 5 minutes to file. The planning to use those 6 months wisely? That's where value gets created.

We wrote a complete guide covering every entity type, the exact forms to file, and how to get penalty relief if you've already missed a deadline.

https://zurl.co/vm9li

02/12/2026

Most small business marketing advice assumes you have a marketing team and a six-figure budget.

You don't. You're also running operations, managing employees, and keeping the books straight.

The businesses that win at marketing share three traits:

1. They know exactly who their customer is
2. They show up consistently where those customers look
3. They track what's working so they can double down

That's it. No "growth hacks." No viral campaigns. Just consistency and measurement.

The restaurant posting on Instagram every day is filling tables while competitors wait for walk-ins. The plumber who figured out Google Ads is getting calls that used to go to the Yellow Pages.

What's the one marketing channel you've stuck with consistently?

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Full guide: https://zurl.co/KDCMz

Proven marketing strategies for small businesses in 2025. Learn what works for service businesses, retail, restaurants, and construction—with specific tactics and real examples.

02/10/2026

The Backdoor Roth IRA is one of the most misunderstood strategies in retirement planning.

Not because it's complicated. Because most people skip the pre-work and get burned by the pro-rata rule.

Here's what I see at least twice a month:

Someone makes a $7,000 non-deductible IRA contribution. Converts it to Roth. Assumes it's tax-free.

Then I ask: "Do you have an old 401(k) rollover sitting in a Traditional IRA?"

"Oh yeah, about $70,000."

That $70,000 doesn't stay in its own lane. The IRS treats all your Traditional, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs as one pool. Your $7,000 "tax-free" conversion just became 90% taxable.

The fix is simple—but you have to do it before year-end. Roll that old IRA into your current 401(k) if the plan allows it.

Then your Backdoor Roth is actually tax-free.

This is why I tell business owners: check for landmines before you step. The strategy itself is fine. The ex*****on is where people get hurt.

https://zurl.co/0yLBJ

What's your experience been with Backdoor Roth? Clean or messy?

Learn the 2026 limits for Backdoor Roth IRA ($7K) and Mega Backdoor Roth ($47K+). Includes SECURE 2.0 changes, OBBB updates, and pro-rata rule fixes.

02/05/2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act just gave business owners the biggest tax planning opportunities since 2017.

Here's what changed:

→ Section 179 increased to $2.5M
→ 100% bonus depreciation restored through 2029
→ Section 199A is now permanent
→ SALT cap increased to $40K (MFJ)

What this means for you:

If you're buying equipment in 2026, you can likely deduct the full purchase price in Year 1.

If you have an S-Corp or partnership, your QBI deduction isn't going away.

If you've been hitting the SALT cap, you may benefit from itemizing again.

The key is planning for these changes before year-end. October is when the best tax moves happen. Not April.

We just updated our 2026 tax planning guide with all the new limits and strategies.

https://zurl.co/ciLeD

Year-round tax planning for S-Corps, partnerships & LLCs. QBI optimization, retirement strategies, OBBBA updates. Average client saves $47,000/year.

02/03/2026

📢 Big change for taxpayers: Paper checks from the IRS are ending.

Executive Order 14247 requires all IRS payments and refunds to go electronic starting September 30, 2025. If you're still mailing checks or expecting paper refunds, it's time to switch.

We put together a complete guide covering all 6 electronic payment options:
✅ IRS Direct Pay (free, no account needed)
✅ IRS Online Account setup (step-by-step)
✅ EFTPS for businesses
✅ Credit/debit card options
✅ Same-day wire transfers
✅ Payment plans if you can't pay in full

The guide includes screenshots, troubleshooting tips, and a downloadable checklist for your records.

https://zurl.co/i9QXF

Learn how to pay the IRS online using Direct Pay, EFTPS, credit cards, and wire transfers. Step-by-step guide updated for 2025 electronic payment requirements.