Emerald Financial Partners

06/18/2026

Track Business Expenses Carefully: Keep detailed records of all legitimate business expenses, including software, marketing, travel, office supplies, and professional services.

06/18/2026

Don't overlook the annual PCORI fee if your business offers health reimbursement arrangements to employees.

If your business provides health benefits through health reimbursement arrangements such as a 105-HRA, a QSEHRA, or an ICHRA

06/18/2026

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩-𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 2025?

JPMorgan Chase’s 2026 Business Leaders Outlook found that business owners made several changes in response to cost pressure:

• 38% reduced non-essential expenses
• 32% raised prices on all products or services
• 31% added new products or services
• 30% raised prices on select products
• 25% invested in technology to improve operations

Which of these changes did you make in your business in 2025?

06/17/2026

Reminder: Make Estimated Tax Payments: If you're self-employed or have significant investment income, paying quarterly estimated taxes can help you avoid penalties and large tax bills.

06/17/2026

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙨?

Start by looking at how your business is being charged.

Flat-rate providers can be simple, but they may not be the cheapest option once your card sales grow.

An interchange-plus plan can cut out the blended-rate markup, so you’re not paying premium processing rates on transactions that may cost less to run.

You can also review:
• Whether large invoices could be paid by ACH
• Whether a dual-pricing setup makes sense
• Whether your merchant statement includes hidden fees
• Whether your current processor still fits your sales volume

A quick quarterly review can catch fees before they quietly drain cash flow.

When was the last time you looked closely at your merchant statement?

06/16/2026

The economy added 172,000 jobs in May.

So why does hiring still feel so hard for your business?

The report looked strong overall, but growth wasn’t spread evenly across every industry.

If you’re struggling to find employees, it might be time to look at the team you already have:

• Who could grow with a little training?
• What tasks could be shared differently?
• What tools could take pressure off the team?

When hiring feels stuck, start inside your own business.

Most industries saw no changes or declines in total employment.

06/16/2026

Retirement Income Can Affect Your Taxes: Different retirement income sources are taxed differently. Understanding how Social Security, IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, and investments work together can help create a more tax-efficient retirement strategy.

06/15/2026

Tax Planning Isn't Just for Tax Season: Effective tax planning happens throughout the year, not just when it's time to file your return. Small decisions made today can have a significant impact on your future tax liability.

06/15/2026

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙭 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩, 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙?

For the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the answer comes down to whether you claim your child as a dependent. If you do, the credit goes on your return.

That can still be true even if your child paid some of the tuition with a summer job or student loans.

If your child is not your dependent and files their own return, they may be the one who claims the credit instead.

The student also has to meet IRS rules, including being enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period and pursuing a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential.

Have you checked whether the credit belongs on your return or your student’s?

06/12/2026

𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙭 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙨?

The American Opportunity Tax Credit can slash up to $2,500 off your tax bill for each eligible student in college. And it includes a "refundable" safety net, so even if you don't owe any taxes at the end of the year, the government will still send you a refund check for up to $1,000 of the leftover credit.

Expenses that 𝗱𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 for this are tuition, mandatory enrollment fees, required books, and required supplies and equipment. Room and board, meal plans, transportation, parking, and medical insurance 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆.

Also, if scholarships, Pell grants, or employer tuition assistance covered part of the cost, that tax-free money has to be subtracted from your qualified expenses.

College costs add up fast. Before you assume you do or don’t qualify, it’s worth checking which expenses actually count.

Contact us to look at this for your specific tax situation.