Heyward CPA PLLC

10/28/2026

The Section 199A Qualified Business Income deduction is no longer approaching a sunset. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it is permanent beginning in 2026-giving LLCs, S-corps, partnerships, and sole proprietors more certainty for multi-year planning.

The 2026 rules also widen the W-2 wage and qualified-property phase-in range to roughly $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. In addition, eligible filers with at least $1,000 of QBI who materially participate may qualify for a $400 minimum deduction.

That makes entity structure, owner compensation, participation, and long-term tax strategy more important than ever. The goal is not simply to react at tax time. It is to plan with better information across multiple years.

What could QBI permanence change for your entity structure, owner wages, and multi-year planning?

Listen to the HeywardCPA Live replay:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/VDyzFKHu6gA
Replay hub: https://heywardcpa.com/live
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/search?term=HeywardCPA%20Live

Educational disclaimer: QBI eligibility, deduction amounts, phase-in ranges, and minimums depend on entity type, taxable income, wages and capital, material participation, individual facts, and applicable law. No tax savings or deduction amounts are guaranteed.

10/28/2026

When a business return is unfiled, the year never closes.

Most owners assume the IRS window on each tax year is fixed. It isn't. The examination clock generally starts when the return is actually filed, not when it was due. That means an unfiled year stays open indefinitely, and a late-filed year opens its review window at the moment it lands.

There is a hopeful side to that same rule: on a late-filed return, the window to claim a refund generally runs from when you actually file, so money left on the table in past years may still be reachable, even years after the original deadline. But that window is not unlimited either. Waiting too long after filing can close it.

So the practical picture looks like this:

🧭 Unfiled years never start their clock. Nothing about them gets easier with time, and records you thought were too old may still matter.

🗓️ Late-filed years start their clock at filing. Keep the books, returns, and support for those years safe through the full window.

✅ Refund claims on late returns generally run from actual filing. If a past year had missed deductions, overpayments, or credits, the reconstructed return may still be worth filing well, not just filed quickly.

In other words, filing late changes WHEN the countdown starts, and in some cases it is what preserves the chance of money coming back instead of only money going out.

If you have a stack of unfiled business years, the first step is simply mapping which years are open, which are filed, and which records still exist for each. That map turns an open-ended worry into a checklist with a finish line.

Our checklist walks through that first step in plain language: https://www.heywardcpa.info/unfiled-taxes

More plain-language walkthroughs live on our YouTube channel (Heyward CPA PLLC) whenever you want to go deeper.

You are not behind because you failed. You are behind because running a business is demanding, and the filing backlog is something you can still take back, one year at a time.

Educational information only, not tax advice. Statute-of-limitations and refund-claim rules depend on tax year, entity type, return type, jurisdiction, payment history, and individual facts, and no outcome is guaranteed.

A defined, step-by-step path from missing returns to a clean IRS record — handled by a CPA who's done this before.

10/26/2026

When a business return is filed late, the tax itself can still be calculated. What is harder to recover are the choices that only exist on a timely filed return. 🧭

Several tax elections depend on when a return is filed, not only on what the return says. Depending on the year, the entity, and the jurisdiction, that can include the election to amortize startup and organizational costs, certain depreciation and Section 179 choices, accounting method changes, and some state pass-through entity tax elections. Each one carries its own deadline, and late relief exists for some but not all.

That is one more reason the backlog is worth mapping year by year. A year-by-year view shows which choices are still open, which are closed, and where records may support a correction. Knowing the difference is what turns a plan from hopeful into realistic. And none of this is a verdict on how you got here. It is simply a list of doors and their deadlines. 🌱

Start with the 5-step checklist: https://www.heywardcpa.info/unfiled-taxes

For deeper walkthroughs, the Heyward CPA PLLC YouTube channel is a good next stop.



Educational only; not tax advice. Election availability, deadlines, and late-relief rules depend on the tax year, entity type, jurisdiction, and individual facts. No outcome is guaranteed.

A defined, step-by-step path from missing returns to a clean IRS record — handled by a CPA who's done this before.

10/26/2026

Billions in potential tariff refunds may be at stake, but importers cannot wait for a refund process to appear.

After the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, CBP has not yet established a process for issuing refunds. That creates a practical risk: eligible businesses may lose time, documentation, or refund rights if they do not act now.

If your business imports goods, start by:

• Identifying potentially eligible entries and entry dates
• Organizing entry summaries, payment records, broker files, and related documentation
• Quantifying the potential claim, including interest
• Tracking applicable deadlines and preserving your right to seek a refund

The key takeaway from Monday’s 10 AM ET HeywardCPA Live replay: preparation matters before the process is finalized.

How is your business documenting import entries and keeping potential refund rights alive?

Listen to the HeywardCPA Live replay:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/VDyzFKHu6gA
Replay hub: https://heywardcpa.com/live
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/search?term=HeywardCPA%20Live

Tariff and refund eligibility, documentation, and tax treatment depend on individual facts and applicable law. No refund, amount, timing, or outcome is guaranteed.

10/24/2026

Your benefits strategy should work as one playbook, for your team and your own family. 🎙️ Revisit the HeywardCPA LIVE replay Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 PM ET: https://youtu.be/VDyzFKHu6gA

We cover how paid family and medical leave, designed with a written policy and eligible employees, may qualify for a Section 45S credit of 12.5%–25% of qualifying wages, potentially turning a cost into a supported growth lever.

We also discuss the 2026 ACA premium tax credit cliff for owners and solopreneurs buying Marketplace coverage. Above 400% of the federal poverty level, excess advance credits may have no repayment cap. Year-end income planning, including eligible pre-tax retirement and HSA contributions, may matter.

Before the books close, put written policies, payroll setup, benefit elections, and Marketplace updates on your December checklist, not your January regret list.

Tax credit eligibility depends on applicable requirements, including written-policy and employee eligibility rules. ACA credit and repayment outcomes depend on income, household, coverage, timing, and applicable rules. Retirement and HSA contributions must meet eligibility and contribution rules; entity structure and jurisdiction may affect tax treatment. Filing does not automatically erase balances, penalties, or interest; refund windows and other deadlines apply. No outcome is guaranteed. Consult a qualified tax professional about your circumstances.



Which benefits decision is on your year-end checklist?

10/24/2026

January should be for filing, not firefighting.

Before December closes, create a year-end tax folder and gather:

• Reconciled bank and credit card statements
• Profit and loss statement and balance sheet
• Payroll reports
• 1099/W-9 vendor information
• Loan statements
• Asset purchase records
• Mileage totals
• Retirement contribution records
• Prior-year tax return

Then schedule a 30-minute pre-year-end review with your CPA. Ask:

What changed in the business this year? Which documents are still missing? What should we clarify before the year closes? Are there decisions or records that require additional support?

A well-organized conversation gives your CPA better information and helps move January from document chasing to focused filing work.

Watch or listen to the full replay:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/VDyzFKHu6gA
Replay hub: https://heywardcpa.com/live
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/search?term=HeywardCPA%20Live

What is the most difficult year-end document for your business to organize?

Educational note: Filing requirements, deductions, and tax treatment depend on entity type, individual facts, and applicable law. No tax savings, filing result, or outcome is guaranteed.

10/24/2026

An unpaid customer balance is not automatically a tax deduction. Your accounting method matters.

Cash-method businesses generally have nothing to deduct when a customer doesn’t pay, because that income was never reported. Accrual-method businesses may be able to deduct a business bad debt once it is established as worthless. That takes evidence of collection efforts, and the balance must come from a business transaction, not a gift or personal loan.

Use this checklist before writing anything off:
• Pull your accounts-receivable aging report and flag old balances.
• Document collection efforts, including statements, calls, and demand letters.
• Confirm your accounting method and whether the balance was previously reported as income.
• Record the write-off in your books with a supported credit memo or journal entry.
• Check that the write-off is consistent with sales tax and 1099-K reporting already filed.

How many old customer balances are still sitting on your books?

Catch up on our HeywardCPA LIVE replay: https://heywardcpa.com/live

Bad-debt deductibility, accounting-method treatment, and documentation depend on the facts and applicable law. No tax outcome is guaranteed. Clear records turn missed payments into better-informed decisions, and help you build a stronger business.

10/24/2026

We’re live right now! 🎙️ Join our 60-minute HeywardCPA Live episode, Saturday, October 24 at 10:30 AM ET, for practical benefits planning for your team and family before year-end.

We’re covering:
• Section 45S paid family and medical leave credit: 12.5%–25% of qualifying wages, written-policy requirements, and qualifying employee rules.
• The 2026 ACA premium tax credit cliff: the 400% FPL eligibility threshold, repayment of excess advance credits, and income-management moves such as pre-tax retirement and HSA contributions.
• December’s benefits checklist: elections, payroll system updates, and Marketplace income updates to complete before year-end.

Watch NOW: https://youtu.be/VDyzFKHu6gA

Eligibility, qualifying wages, refund windows, repayment, and deadlines depend on individual circumstances and current law. Entity structure, jurisdiction, and timing may affect treatment. Filing does not automatically erase balances, penalties, or interest. No outcome is guaranteed.

10/23/2026

Launched your business months ago but still have pre-opening receipts in a shoebox, or charges on a separate card? Don’t assume they’re ordinary operating expenses or that they’re all deductible in year one.

Startup costs, such as market research, travel, training, and expenses to get ready to open, and organizational costs for forming a partnership or corporation generally aren’t fully deducted in the first year. They’re typically amortized over 15 years. A limited first-year deduction may be available, but it phases out as total costs grow. The election to amortize generally must be made on a timely filed initial return.

Gather pre-opening receipts and legal and formation invoices. Separate them from regular operating costs, then ask your CPA to evaluate the treatment on your initial return. Getting the classification right can help you make better-informed decisions as your business grows.

How many pre-opening expenses are still unsorted in a shoebox, or on a separate card?

Binge the HeywardCPA Live replay: https://heywardcpa.com/live

Treatment, elections, and amounts depend on your facts and applicable law. Results are not guaranteed.

10/23/2026

Before you approve a new hire, calculate the cost beyond the wage.

The true cost of adding headcount can include employer F**A, unemployment taxes, workers’ compensation, benefits, recruiting, and onboarding time. Then, where available under current law, review hiring-related credits such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). Owners often miss these opportunities because required screening and certification steps are not completed within the proper timing windows.

That is one practical takeaway from our HeywardCPA Live replay. Understand the full investment, identify eligible incentives, and make more confident hiring decisions.

Watch or listen to the replay:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/VDyzFKHu6gA
Replay hub: https://heywardcpa.com/live
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/search?term=HeywardCPA%20Live

Which hiring cost or credit-eligibility step is most often left out of your planning?

Employment tax treatment and credit eligibility depend on applicable law, employee facts, certification and timing requirements, and individual circumstances. No credit, tax savings, or payroll outcome is guaranteed.