Mobile T-A-X and Finances

10/05/2026

A lot of us grew up thinking the routine was simple: you wake up, give your best hours to work, and squeeze your family into the leftover time before bed.

Let’s be real—the bills aren’t going anywhere, and most of us don’t have the luxury not to work. But at some point, another truth hits you: you can always pick up another shift, land another contract, or find another job. What you can’t replace is this time with the people you love.

Shifting your mindset around how you spend your time doesn’t mean you’re lazy. It just means you’re deciding to work to live, not live to work.

Your schedule should serve your life, not the other way around.

Where are you at right now? Drop a 1 or a 2 in the comments:

1️⃣ My family comes first; work fits around them

2️⃣ Still trying to untangle work from taking over everything

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09/30/2026

Enhanced Tax Credit Can Help Cover 2026 Childcare Costs – Did You Know? (2/2)

If you pay for care for your child under 13 years of age, or for your spouse or other dependent who requires help with basic self-care, then you may qualify for a federal tax credit. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) can help reduce your federal income tax based on care expenses that you pay in order to work or seek work.

The CDCTC is calculated as a percentage of eligible care expenses. As in the past, the credit is subject to phase-down ranges, meaning that the maximum credit amount may decrease based on a person's adjusted gross income (AGI). However, new rules that took effect this year have significantly increased the maximum credit amount for people with AGIs both below and within the phase-down ranges.

For example, a married couple filing a joint return with an AGI of 75,000-150,000 may qualify for a credit of up to 35% of eligible care costs, up from 20% in 2025. Meanwhile, a single filer with an AGI of $15,000 or less may be entitled to a credit equaling 50% of qualifying expenses. Above $15,000, the rate gradually declines, reaching 35% once AGI exceeds $43,000. A tax professional can help you determine whether you qualify for the CDCTC, and if so, what percentage you may use to figure your credit amount.

09/22/2026

You can’t fix a financial problem with the same mindset that created it.

More income won’t solve money stress if your habits stay the same—it just funds higher-priced mistakes. If you want your balance to grow, shift how you think:

Budgets aren't cages: They just give your money direction instead of leaving you wondering where it went.

Peace over impulse: Temporary retail therapy costs long-term freedom. Financial freedom is having options, not just things.

Face the numbers: Avoidance feeds anxiety. Your balances aren't a judgment—they're your starting point.

Build, don't just spend: Stop asking what a dollar can buy today; start asking what it can build tomorrow.

Change your mindset, and the money will follow.

FinancialLiteracy MindsetShift PersonalFinance BudgetingTips BuildWealth

09/21/2026

Enhanced Tax Credit Can Help Cover 2026 Care Costs – Did You Know? (1/2)

If you pay for care for your qualifying child under age 13, or for your spouse or other qualifying person who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care and lives with you for more than half the year, then you may qualify for a federal tax credit. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) can help cover care expenses you pay in order to work or seek work. Rule changes that took effect this year have made the CDCTC more valuable for many households.

As in past years, you may use up to $3,000 of eligible expenses to figure the credit for one qualifying person, or up to $6,000 for two or more qualifying persons. However, beginning in 2026, the maximum credit rate increased from 35% to 50% of eligible expenses. The applicable percentage declines as adjusted gross income rises, but many households may qualify for a larger credit than under prior law. The increase can be as much as $900 for taxpayers with two or more qualifying persons.

In general, the CDCTC is available for all filing statuses except married filing separately (MFS). However, MFS filers may qualify if they meet special requirements, including filing separately, maintaining a home for a qualifying person for more than half the year, paying more than half the cost of maintaining the home, and not living with their spouse during the last six months of the year. To claim the credit, you must provide information about both the care recipient and care provider on your tax return. A tax professional can help you determine whether you are eligible for the CDCTC, and if so, help you meet the reporting requirements to claim the largest possible credit.

09/17/2026

Tax Rules for Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships - Did You Know?

Common questions about education expenses relate to whether scholarships, fellowships and grants constitute taxable income. These awards are generally tax-exempt when received by a degree candidate at an eligible educational institution and used for qualified education expenses, including tuition, required enrollment fees, and required course-related books, supplies and equipment.

However, taxes may apply to funds used for nonqualified expenses like housing, food, travel and optional equipment. Fellowships that carry a work requirement, such as serving as a teaching assistant, are generally taxable compensation to the extent they represent payment for teaching, research or other required services, subject to limited exceptions.

The educational institution or scholarship provider should provide you with detailed information about the potential taxability of funds. By reviewing that information with you, a tax professional can help you maximize both tax benefits and peace of mind.

09/17/2026

Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments - Reminder

If you are making quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS, the due date for the June 1 - August 31, 2026 payment period is coming up next week on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

For payments made using IRS Direct Pay, you can make payments until 11:45 p.m. ET on the due date. Debit and credit card payments may also be made online through an IRS-approved payment processor.

09/03/2026

Educator Classroom Expense Deduction – Did You Know?

Eligible K-12 teachers, instructors, counselors, principals and aides who pay for classroom supplies out of pocket may deduct up to $350 of qualifying expenses per year. Married couples filing jointly who are both eligible educators may deduct up to $350 each, for a combined maximum of $700.

You do not need to itemize deductions to claim this deduction. Be sure to keep receipts and other records for any classroom expenses you plan to deduct.

09/01/2026

08/26/2026

Major Higher Education Tax Credits Now Require Valid SSN – Did You Know?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) help many Americans pay for higher education. For eligible students pursuing a degree or other recognized credential, the AOTC can cover up to $2,500 in tuition, required school fees and certain course materials per year. Meanwhile, the LLC can offset up to $2,000 per tax return for qualified education expenses for eligible students taking higher education courses for a variety of reasons.

Beginning with tax year 2026, the taxpayer claiming either the AOTC or LLC (and spouse, if filing jointly) must have a Social Security number (SSN) valid for work in the United States that was issued before the due date of the tax return, including extensions. If the eligible student is not the person claiming the credit (for example, if the student is that person's dependent or spouse), then the student must also have a valid SSN issued by that deadline. Other qualification requirements, such as income limits, remain in effect. A tax professional can help you determine whether the higher education expenses you pay for yourself, your spouse or a dependent qualify for a tax benefit.

08/20/2026

Seasonal Employers - Did You Know?

Summer is a peak time for many businesses to hire seasonal employees. In general, the same federal tax rules apply to these workers as to permanent staff. Employers typically must withhold federal income tax and F**A (Social Security and Medicare) taxes and pay the employer share of F**A. Employers subject to FUTA must also pay federal unemployment tax on taxable wages.

Seasonal employers often must file Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) for quarters in which they pay wages. However, they generally do not need to file for quarters in which they paid no wages and have no employment tax liability. If this applies, check the "Seasonal Employer" box on every Form 941 you file.

Employment taxes generally must be deposited monthly or semiweekly, based on the applicable lookback period. FUTA follows separate deposit rules and generally must be deposited when accumulated FUTA tax exceeds $500 for a quarter. Federal tax deposits must be made electronically, including through EFTPS.