Muhammad CPA & Associates, LLC

Does your business provide complimentary on-site food and beverages for employees? The rules for deducting certain business meals have changed. Beginning in 2026, employers generally can’t deduct 1) meals treated as de minimis fringe benefits, or 2) employer-provided meals that are excludable from an employee’s income and provided for the employer’s convenience on business premises. For the 2025 tax year, generally the former were 100% deductible and the latter were 50% deductible. Contact us at (833) 557-0057 to discuss whether this change will affect your company and how to plan accordingly.

Two federal tax breaks can help offset the cost of accessibility improvements. In 2026, qualifying small businesses (with $1 million or less in gross receipts or no more than 30 full-time employees in 2025) may claim the Disabled Access Credit. It’s generally worth 50% of eligible accessibility costs (up to a $5,000 maximum). Businesses of any size may also deduct up to $15,000 per year for qualified architectural and transportation barrier removal. You can claim both benefits in the same year, but not for the same expense. New construction isn’t eligible for either break. If you’re planning upgrades, call us at (833) 557-0057 to help you make the most of these incentives.

In strategic planning, it can be hard for business owners to step back and evaluate opportunities objectively. An external advisory board can offer fresh, independent perspectives and seasoned guidance, especially when handling high-stakes, complex transactions. A board’s involvement can elevate professionalism, strengthen credibility with stakeholders and support smarter long-term decisions. Contact us at (833) 557-0057 to explore how creating an advisory board, or optimizing your current one, can help your business grow.

Does your business use independent contractors? The reporting requirements for these workers differ from those for W-2 employees. For payments made in 2026, businesses generally must issue Form 1099-NEC, “Nonemployee Compensation,” to contractors paid $2,000 or more (up from $600 for 2025). The higher threshold may reduce your administrative burden because you could have fewer forms to file with the IRS. However, it doesn’t change your recordkeeping, worker classification or backup withholding responsibilities. Contact us at (833) 557-0057 to help ensure you’re prepared for the updated reporting requirements.

The IRS has issued final regulations on the tax deduction for qualified cash tips. The legislation commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” created the deduction of up to $25,000 per year for 2025 through 2028. Qualified tips generally refer to cash tips received by an individual in an occupation that “customarily and regularly” received tips on or before Dec. 31, 2024. The final regs list more than 70 eligible occupations. In addition to occupations previously listed in the proposed regs, the final regs add visual artists, floral designers and gas pump attendants. The final regs also provide clarifications to the definition of a qualified cash tip. For more details, call us at (833) 557-0057.

Will Social Security benefits be available when you retire? Good question. These benefits are unlikely to disappear entirely. But payments may be smaller, and the qualifying age for full benefits (currently 65 to 67, depending on your date of birth) may increase. So it’s critical to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement vehicles and to make age-appropriate investments that can help you accumulate adequate savings. Call us at (833) 557-0057 to discuss your retirement goals and ways to achieve them.

Maintaining healthy operating cash flow helps drive your company’s success. But accomplishing this objective isn’t always easy. One practical approach is to speed up customer payments while carefully managing the timing of your own bills. Prudently shortening your cash conversion cycle can improve liquidity and give your business greater financial flexibility. Please call us at (833) 557-0057 for help identifying opportunities to strengthen your cash position and keep your business moving in the right direction.

The Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) program offers tax breaks on capital gains from eligible long-term investments in designated low-income and rural communities. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the QOZ program permanent and established a new 10-year designation cycle. The IRS has issued guidance on how to nominate population census tracts for designation as QOZs. The next round of QOZs will be effective from Jan. 1, 2027, to Dec. 31, 2036. Generally, state and territory governors can begin nominating eligible census tracts for QOZ designation on July 1, 2026. The nomination period lasts 90 days, with the option of a single 30-day extension. Contact us at (833) 557-0057 with any questions about QOZ tax breaks.

If you’d like to arrange for a transfer of wealth through multiple generations, consider a dynasty trust. Assets are taxed just once, when they’re initially transferred to the trust. There’s no estate or generation-skipping transfer tax due on any subsequent appreciation in value. A drawback is that the trust is irrevocable. This means it generally can never be revised. Call us at (833) 557-0057 for more details.

If you have unfiled tax returns, getting back on track may be easier than you think. But the longer you wait, the more costly it becomes. The IRS charges a failure-to-file penalty of 5% per month (up to 25%) of the unpaid tax. There’s also a separate failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5% per month (up to 25%) of the unpaid tax. If both apply in the same month, the combined penalty is generally 5% per month. Returns over 60 days late are subject to a minimum penalty. Filing, even if you can’t pay in full, can reduce penalties and open the door to payment plans or other relief options. Call us at (833) 557-0057 for help.