Business Tax

IRS enforcement priorities continue to evolve, and in 2026, the agency remains focused on accuracy, reporting transparency, and compliance consistency. While most businesses aim to follow the rules, certain patterns and errors tend to attract closer attention during reviews or audits.

One major area of focus is income reporting. Discrepancies between reported income and information returns such as 1099s or other third-party documentation often trigger questions. Businesses that receive income from multiple sources must ensure all revenue is accurately reported and properly categorized.

Another ongoing area of scrutiny involves deductions. While deductions are a legitimate and important part of tax planning, exaggerated or poorly documented expenses raise red flags. Businesses should ensure that deductions are reasonable, directly related to operations, and supported by clear records.

Common areas the IRS continues to monitor include:

• Inconsistent income reporting across tax forms
• Excessive business expense deductions relative to revenue
• Improper classification of workers as contractors instead of employees
• Payroll tax filing and payment errors
• Home office deductions that do not meet usage requirements

Technology and data matching have also become more sophisticated. Automated systems allow the IRS to compare filings more efficiently, increasing the likelihood that inconsistencies are identified quickly. This makes accurate reporting and documentation more important than ever.

Good recordkeeping remains one of the strongest defenses against compliance issues. Businesses that maintain organized financial records, reconcile accounts regularly, and document key decisions are better prepared if questions arise. Addressing potential issues early can prevent small errors from becoming larger problems.

Understanding IRS focus areas helps businesses take a proactive approach to compliance. By reviewing filings carefully, maintaining accurate records, and seeking guidance when needed, businesses can reduce risk and operate with greater confidence in today’s regulatory environment.

As a small business owner, tax time can be stressful. That’s why ensuring you’re garnering every benefit possible is essential. Many small businesses overlook some huge benefits when it comes to tax credits. This article reveals five of the most overlooked tax credits for small businesses. Read on to determine if any of these apply to your business.

Tax Credit vs. Tax Deduction

Before jumping to five tax credits often overlooked by small businesses, let’s clarify the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction.

While tax deductions reduce your taxable income resulting in you paying a lower tax amount, tax credits are a dollar amount deducted from the taxes you owe. So, if you receive a tax credit of $500, you subtract $500 from taxes due.

Tax credits can be highly beneficial come tax time, so knowing which ones your small business is eligible to claim is good. Unfortunately, there are quite a few that many business owners aren’t aware of.

Here are five tax credits that are the most overlooked by small businesses. After you review the list, check with your accountant to see if your business is eligible for these or other tax credits to reduce the amount you owe to the IRS.

5 Tax Credits You May be Overlooking

1. Retirement Saver’s Credit

For small businesses that start a retirement plan for their employees, the IRS offers this credit to offset some of the startup costs they consider “ordinary and necessary.” Your business must employ fewer than 100 employees and not have had a retirement plan previously. The credit is for 50 percent of your startup costs, with a maximum credit of $500.

This tax credit can be claimed for three years, beginning the year before your plan becomes effective. If you do not currently offer a retirement savings plan for your employees, now may be the time to establish one.

2. Research & Development Tax Credit

The R&D tax credit is one of the most overlooked because small business owners not in a “research” field with a laboratory setting often blaze right past this one. But according to the IRS, “research” isn’t necessarily in a lab.

To qualify for this tax credit, a business must improve a product or process, often occurring in many companies as part of their everyday operations. For example, you may qualify if you own a software company and develop or improve an IT process.

Developing, designing, enhancing, or improving a product or process related to your business can qualify you for a credit of 13 cents on every dollar. Of course, you’ll want to confirm whether your business qualifies, identify qualifying activities, and keep copious records so that you can back up your claim to the credit.

3. Rehabilitation Credit (Historic Preservation)

If your business spent money to rehabilitate or renovate a historic structure, this credit likely applies to you. A 20 percent tax credit is available for rehabilitating historic, income-producing buildings determined by the Secretary of the Interior to be “certified historic structures.”

This does not apply to residential structures; however, many businesses purchase historic properties to house their office, restaurant, or other business. Historic structures are certified by the National Park Service, which reports to the IRS. If that applies to the structure where your business is housed, it is worth reviewing this credit with your accountant.

4. Empowerment Zone Employment Credit

Empowerment Zones (EZ) are distressed urban and rural areas needing revitalization. The purpose of the EZ credit is to encourage business owners to operate in these areas and employ EZ residents.

The credit is 20 percent of qualified wages paid during a calendar year. Businesses are eligible for a wage credit of up to $3,000 annually for each eligible employee.

5. Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit

Suppose you purchase a new plug-in electric vehicle (EV) for your business between 2023 and 2032. In that case, you may qualify for a tax credit of $7,500. To be eligible for the credit, your adjusted gross income (AGI) must not exceed $150,000 in the year you take delivery of the vehicle or the year before (whichever is less).

The EV must meet qualifications regarding battery capacity, retail price, and weight. Speak to your tax accountant for the guidelines and qualifications if you purchased a plug-in EV for your business.

Ensuring you claim every tax credit your small business is entitled to is the key to paying the lowest tax possible. There are dozens of tax credits that small businesses are eligible for. Be sure to have your accountant or CPA review your eligibility for maximum savings come tax time.

Small businesses can take advantage of dozens of tax deductions to reduce what they owe the IRS at tax time. In this article, we share seven top deductions that you may not know about but should.

1. Property rent

If you rent a location for conducting business, you can deduct your rent payments as a business expense. Remember, even if you run a business from a home office, that is not an eligible “property rent” expense for your business. Home office deductions should be made under that category.

2. Software subscriptions

If you purchase or subscribe to business-specific software, those purchases or subscriptions are deductible as miscellaneous deductions under “other business expenses.”

3. Marketing

You can deduct expenses from marketing your business through promotions or paid advertising. Some examples of deductible marketing expenses are sending mailers to potential or current customers, running a paid social media campaign, buying signs or banners to display at your business, printing business cards or brochures, print advertising, website development, and logo design. There are many more, so consider anything you do to market your business 100 percent deductible.

4. Entertainment

If your business requires you to entertain clients or guests, the IRS allows you to deduct part of those expenses. Entertainment includes clubs, bars, sporting events, restaurants, hunting or fishing events, a hospitality suite or booth at a conference, and more. While you do not have to close a deal or make a sale to claim these entertainment expenses, you must ensure they are exclusively related to your business.

5. Professional fees

Any professional fees that you pay directly related to your business are deductible. For example, a cleaning crew for your storefront business, an attorney that handles your legal paperwork, or the services of an accountant or CPA that manages your finances – those fees are all deductible.

6. Employee gifts

You can gift your employees up to $25 per employee per year, which is 100 percent deductible. So, if you want to provide a holiday gift card, a bouquet of flowers for your personal assistant, or send a special birthday treat to those who work for you, it’s a win-win!

7. Taxes

While it may not seem logical, the taxes you pay for your business are fully deductible. This includes federal, state, local, and income taxes. Employer taxes and state unemployment taxes are also fully deductible.

These seven small business deductions are just the tip of the iceberg regarding some not-so-obvious deductions that may be eluding you! Check with your accountant or CPA to ensure you are reaping all the benefits of your small business.

Savvy investors can build wealth by deferring capital gains taxes via a 1031 exchange. Learn how it works and how it can help you as a real estate investor. For the in-depth information required to execute a 1031 exchange, a qualified intermediary is necessary.

What is a 1031 Exchange?

A 1031 exchange allows real estate investors to avoid paying capital gains taxes when selling an investment property and reinvesting in a replacement property. The name 1031 exchange comes from Section 1031 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

A 1031 is also called a like-kind exchange. It is essentially a swap of one investment property for another. The “like-kind” refers to the fact that the properties in the exchange must be similar (i.e., of like kind) and the exchange property must be of equal or greater value as the property sold.

How Does a 1031 Exchange Work?

Under IRS code section 1031, which applies to real estate, investors can reinvest proceeds from the sale of one property into another property within a specified time frame to avoid paying capital gains taxes (the taxes on the growth of an investment when it is sold). Because it is rare for an even property swap to occur between parties, the most common type of exchange is the delayed “forward” exchange. In this case, the sold property funds are sent to a qualified intermediary and later used to acquire a replacement property from a seller.

What is a Qualified Intermediary?

A qualified intermediary facilitates a 1031 exchange. They hold the transaction funds from the sale of the first property until those funds are transferred to the seller of a replacement property. The qualified intermediary also prepares the legal documents required for the exchange. The qualified intermediary can have no formal relationship with the exchange parties outside of the exchange.

1031 Exchange Important Deadlines

• The seller of the first property (the relinquished property) must identify a replacement property (their new investment property) within 45 days of the transfer of the relinquished property.
• The replacement property must be received by the exchanger within either (1) 180 days of the date the exchanger transferred the first Relinquished Property or (2) the due date of the exchanger’s tax return for the year that the transfer of the first relinquished property occurs.
• These are strict timelines and are not extended even if the 45th or 180th days fall on a weekend or holiday.

What You Need to Know about a 1031 Exchange

1031 exchange transactions should be handled by a professional qualified intermediary that is a third party (i.e., not a family member, friend, acquaintance, or business associate of either party involved in the exchange).

Exceptions

The IRS does not allow capital gains tax avoidance if the exchange:

• is U.S. real estate for real estate in another country
• involves property for personal use
• is between related parties and either disposes of the property within two years

Why Do Investors Use a 1031 Exchange?

• They can use what they would have paid in capital gains taxes to put more down on a replacement property to improve their buying power.
• The savings on federal capital gains taxes could be 15 to 20 percent.
• There could be savings at the state level (this varies by state, so your qualified intermediary should be consulted for this information).
• The amount of income taxes paid could be reduced due to depreciation of the investment property.

A 1031 exchange is a tool that savvy real estate investors use to build wealth over time. To further understand how a 1031 exchange can benefit you, ask your CPA or accountant to help put you in touch with a qualified intermediary. Their guidance is critical in executing a 1031 whether you’re swapping two properties or working with a full portfolio of investment real estate properties.