Form 656 requires you to timely file and timely pay for five years after acceptance. One late return can default the agreement — and reinstate the original debt, less payments made, plus interest and penalties.
File the missing returns first — the failure-to-file penalty is 10x the failure-to-pay penalty, and the IRS won't discuss a payment plan until you're compliant. Then pick from six collection options.
Updated August 17, 2026 The SBA’s new SOP 50 10 Version 8.1 takes effect on October 1, 2026. The update introduces important requirements for 7(a) business acquisitions, including mandatory Quality of Earnings reports for certain transactions, stricter equity-injection rules, historical debt-service coverage requirements, and new limits on investor distributions. SBA source What is SBA SOP...
Most founders overthink this. Or worse, they underthink it—defaulting to whatever their accountant friend mentioned once—and end up ripping out their entire finance stack 18 months later when it can’t handle revenue recognition or investor reporting. Here’s the thing: your accounting software isn’t just a place to track expenses. It’s the foundation of every financial...
I saw a thread on Reddit recently that made me cringe. A laundromat owner asked a simple bookkeeping question: “My friend and I run a Wash & Fold service. Should we count tokens, detergent, and dryer sheets as Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), or just expense them?” The top-voted answer? “You are providing a service,...
In the last 12 months, I’ve worked with over 100 small business owners to clean up expensive tax errors. The hard truth? Most of them were preventable. Some clients lost thousands simply by missing a deadline by 24 hours. Others paid double the necessary tax because they didn’t understand how to structure their salary. If...
Lenders evaluate your business’s financial health before approving a loan. Having organized financial statements increases your chances of success. Gather core documents. Prepare your profit and loss statement, balance sheet and cash‑flow statement for the past two to three years. If you’re a new business, include projected financials. Explain variances. Large swings in revenue or...
Many small businesses can’t afford a full‑time chief financial officer, but they still need strategic financial advice. That’s where a fractional CFO comes in. Role overview. A fractional CFO is a part‑time financial executive who helps companies plan, forecast and manage cash flow. They typically work a set number of hours each month. Strategic planning....
Finding funding is a challenge for many small businesses. Grants and local resources can provide vital support. Additionally, exploring small‑business grants and resources in Memphis can further enhance funding opportunities for local entrepreneurs. Seattle resources. The City of Seattle’s Small Business Stabilization Fund offers grants for businesses impacted by economic downturns. The Washington Small Business...
A former bookkeeper at Highgate Medical Group in Amherst recently pleaded guilty to embezzling over $1.8 million from the medical practice, highlighting the critical importance of proper financial oversight and professional bookkeeping services for small businesses. This incident raises alarms about the vulnerability of companies to internal fraud, emphasizing the necessity for robust financial protocols...
The Thin Line Between Creativity and Compliance Tax professionals often encounter clients pushing boundaries to maximize deductions. But when does “creative” cross into risky territory? A recent case involving an S Corp owner attempting to deduct 100% of weekly lunches with his spouse—a law partner—as “company-wide training” raises critical questions about legality, ethics, and IRS...
As a business owner, understanding current financing costs is crucial for making informed decisions. At CentsIQ Bookkeeping, we regularly monitor market conditions to provide our clients with valuable insights. Here’s our latest analysis of business interest rates as of April 21, 2025: Current Business Loan Rates SBA Loans (Above $150,000) 📊 Prime + 2.75% Best option...
Are you considering filing as an S Corporation to save on taxes? While the potential tax savings can be significant, it’s important to understand both the benefits and the hidden costs before making this decision for your business. The Alluring Tax Benefits of S Corporations “File as an S Corp! You can save SO MUCH...
As a bookkeeper who’s worked with countless service businesses, I’ve seen firsthand how seemingly minor issues can significantly impact bottom lines. Many business owners focus on increasing revenue but overlook the critical leaks draining their existing profits. Left unchecked, these issues can cost your business thousands of dollars annually. Let’s examine the seven most damaging...
The High Cost of Comfort Zones Imagine discovering your business owes $15,000 in unnecessary taxes because of a simple accounting oversight. Or realizing that a missed form has turned your budget into a guessing game. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios—they’re real consequences of clinging to bad financial habits. At CentsIQ, we’ve seen firsthand how business owners...