Blandin Accounting & Tax Services

04/12/2026

Real estate agents… this is money you’re leaving on the table.

Most realtors focus on closing deals
but not enough focus on what they actually KEEP.

If you’re not tracking your write-offs…
you’re overpaying in taxes. Period.

Start with this 👇🏻
✔️ Marketing (business cards, ads, listing photos, videography)
✔️ Mileage + tolls and parking fees (showings, meetings, open houses)
✔️ Client meetings (50%)
✔️ MLS dues, CRM, SentriLock
✔️ Home office + business supplies

And this is just the beginning…

Save this for tax season—you’re going to need it.
Follow for more tax tips for real estate agents 💰

What’s one expense you’ve been unsure about writing off? 👀

Featuring Kimberly Chalco — bilingual (English/Spanish) NY real estate agent helping homeowners navigate buying, selling & foreclosure situations 🏡

03/28/2026

Taxes have levels… just like Mario. 🍄⭐️

Level 1
🧾 Student with their first W-2

Level 2
📱 Side hustle / entrepreneur figuring out 1099 income

Level 3
📊 Small business owner managing payroll, expenses, and taxes

Each level comes with new challenges… and new strategies.

👇🏻 Which level are you on?
🍄 Mario – High school student, College student
🟢 Luigi – Side hustle, Entrepreneur, Single member LLC
🐢 Bowser – Business owner: S Corp, C Corp, Partnership
👑 Peach – Organized with a plan

Filmed with 🎬
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie releases April 1, 2026 🎟️🍿🥤

03/22/2026

Entrepreneurs… you’re not inconsistent - you’re just skipping financial leg day.

Most business owners move based on how they feel.
✔ Track things sometimes
✔ Guess their numbers
✔ Avoid looking at their finances when it feels overwhelming

That’s like going to the gym randomly and expecting results.

Personal trainers don’t rely on motivation - they rely on systems:
• Tracking progress
• Structured routines
• Consistency over time

Your finances need the same energy.

If you want real growth in your business, start here:
→ Track your income + expenses weekly
→ Review your numbers monthly
→ Separate business & personal
→ Stay consistent even when it’s “boring”

These are your financial reps.
(And yes… skipping your bookkeeping = skipping leg day)

You don’t need to be perfect - you need to be consistent.
That’s how you build confidence, clarity, and eventually… freedom.

🗒️ Rate your discipline 1–10 (fitness vs finances)

🎥 with - building discipline in and out of the gym

02/06/2026

If you’re a sole proprietor or single-member LLC filing Schedule C, this is important.

When your tax return shows a balance due, the IRS doesn’t wait.
Interest and penalties begin accruing after April 15 for individuals — and after March 15 for business entities — even if you file an extension.

Here’s what happens when you don’t pay in full by the deadline:
• Interest accrues daily on unpaid tax
• Failure-to-pay penalty is added monthly
• Penalties can grow up to 25% of the balance due
• The IRS charges interest on penalties, not just the tax

👉🏻 An extension only gives you more time to file — not more time to pay.

If you’re still gathering your business income or expenses and miss the deadline, the goal is accuracy — not rushing.
Filing an incomplete or inaccurate return can lead to underreporting, notices, and more money owed later.

I help Schedule C business owners:
✔️ Identify which tax documents the IRS already has on file
✔️ Report income accurately
✔️ Avoid unnecessary penalties and amendments
✔️ Set up payment plans when paying in full isn’t possible

Even if you can’t pay everything right now, pay what you can and apply for a payment plan — that alone can reduce future penalties.

When you’re ready to stop guessing, stop stressing, and start handling your business taxes with clarity and intention — I’m here.

02/01/2026

🪙 Crypto Taxes — Big IRS Changes Starting 2025
Starting January 1, 2025, the IRS has new reporting rules for crypto transactions.
• Crypto is treated like property (similar to stocks or real estate)
• Selling, exchanging, or disposing of crypto can create a taxable gain or loss
• The IRS is now cracking down on reporting

🧾 New IRS Form: 1099-DA
• For 2025, crypto brokers must report gross proceeds from digital asset sales
• Starting in 2026, brokers must report both gross proceeds AND cost basis
• This makes it much harder to underreport or “forget” crypto income
👉 Even if a broker reports info, you are still responsible for accurate reporting.

📊 How Crypto Gains Are Calculated (Simple)
• Cost basis = what you paid + fees
• Taxable gain or loss = sale price – cost basis
Example:
• Bought crypto for $1,500
• Paid $50 in fees → cost basis = $1,550
• Sold for $2,000
• Taxable gain = $450

🗂️ Why Recordkeeping Matters (A LOT)
• Brokers may not know what you originally paid if you moved crypto between wallets or platforms
• If you don’t track it, you could overpay taxes or trigger IRS issues
• Starting now will make 2026 reporting much easier
Helpful tools:
• Crypto tax software (like Taxbit, TokenTax, ZenLedger, etc.)
• A tax professional who understands crypto

🔒 Staking Is a Major Tax Focus
• The IRS currently treats staking rewards as taxable income when received
• More guidance is expected, especially as staking becomes available inside ETFs
• Even if rules evolve, you still need good records

📉 Tax Planning Opportunities
• Tax-loss harvesting: sell crypto at a loss to offset gains
• Tax-gain harvesting: sell strategically when taxes are lower
• Bitcoin’s recent price drop may create planning opportunities

⏱️ Short-Term vs Long-Term Taxes
• Held more than 1 year → long-term capital gains (0%, 15%, or 20%)
• Held 1 year or less → ordinary tax rates (10%–37%)

⚠️ Common Crypto Tax Mistakes
• Thinking crypto isn’t reportable (it is)
• Confusing “received” with “bought”
• “Received” means earned, rewarded, mined, staked, or paid in crypto
• Using the wrong tax form (Form 8949, Schedule D, Form 1040)

✨ Crypto taxes are getting more serious, more reported, and more visible. If you invest in crypto, clean records and early planning are no longer optional.

01/31/2026

🚗 Clean Vehicle Tax Credits — Important 2025 Update
Clean vehicle tax credits are NOT available for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025.
That includes:
• New Clean Vehicle Credit
• Previously-Owned (Used) Clean Vehicle Credit
• Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit

✅ How to Still Qualify
To be eligible, both rules must be met:
1. You acquired the vehicle on or before Sept. 30, 2025
• This can be done by signing a binding written contract and making a payment by that date.
2. The vehicle is placed in service
• “Placed in service” means you take possession of the vehicle
If you take possession after Sept. 30, 2025, you can still qualify only if you acquired it by that date.

🧾 Seller Requirements (Very Important)
When you take possession:
• The seller must confirm the vehicle qualifies
• The seller must register with the IRS and report the sale
❌ If the seller does not report it, you cannot claim the credit

🚙 New Clean Vehicle Credit
• Applies to new electric or clean vehicles
• Vehicle must be acquired on or before Sept. 30, 2025
• Eligibility depends on:
• Vehicle requirements
• Buyer income limits
• Seller reporting to the IRS

🚘 Used (Previously-Owned) Clean Vehicle Credit
• Applies to used clean vehicles
• Only for individuals (not businesses)
• Vehicle must be acquired on or before Sept. 30, 2025

🏢 Business & Commercial Vehicles
Clean vehicle credits for business use also end for vehicles acquired after Sept. 30, 2025

🔌 EV Charging Equipment Credit
Good news 👇 this one lasts longer.
• If you install EV charging equipment at your home
• And place it in service before July 1, 2026
• You may qualify for the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit
This helps cover:
• Charger costs
• Installation expenses

✨ If you’re planning to buy an electric or clean vehicle, September 30, 2025 is the key deadline. After that, the vehicle credits go away — but the home charger credit remains available longer.

01/30/2026

🏡 Understanding the SALT Deduction (2025+)
SALT stands for State and Local Taxes.
The SALT deduction lets you deduct certain state and local taxes you paid from your federal taxable income — which can lower your federal tax bill.

✅ What Taxes Count?
You can deduct up to the annual limit for:
• State income taxes OR sales taxes (you must choose one)
• Local income taxes
• Property taxes on real estate you own
🚫 Federal taxes do not count.

📌 Important Rule
You must itemize deductions to claim SALT.
If you take the standard deduction, you cannot deduct SALT.

💰 SALT Deduction Limit (Big Change!)
Starting in 2025, the SALT cap increased:
• $40,000 for most filers
• $20,000 for married filing separately

This higher cap applies for 2025–2029 and then drops back to $10,000 in 2030 unless the law changes.

👀 Who Benefits Most?
• Taxpayers in high-tax states (NY, NJ, CA, CT, etc.)
• Homeowners with high property taxes
• Anyone whose state + property taxes are higher than the standard deduction

⚠️ Income Limits (MAGI Rules)
• The full $40,000 cap applies up to $500,000 of MAGI
($250,000 if married filing separately)
• Above that, the deduction phases down
• Even at very high incomes, you can still deduct at least $10,000

🏢 Business Owners: SALT Workaround
Some states allow pass-through businesses (S corps, partnerships) to:
• Pay state taxes at the business level
• Deduct them as a business expense
• Potentially bypass the SALT cap

Rules vary by state.

✨ If you itemize and pay high state or property taxes, the higher $40,000 SALT cap could significantly reduce your federal taxes.

01/29/2026

👶 Child Tax Credit (CTC) (2025)
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) helps families lower their federal taxes for each qualifying child.
• Up to $2,200 per qualifying child in 2025
• You may be able to claim it even if you don’t normally file a tax return

💰 Refundable vs. Non-Refundable
• CTC is non-refundable (it reduces taxes you owe)
• Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) is the refundable portion
• Up to $1,700 per child may be refunded
• You must have at least $2,500 of earned income to qualify

✅ Who Is a Qualifying Child?
Your child generally must:
• Be under age 17 at the end of 2025
• Be your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, grandchild, niece, or nephew
• Not provide more than half of their own support
• Live with you more than half the year
• Be claimed as your dependent
• Not file a joint return (unless only to claim a refund)
• Be a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien
• Have a valid Social Security number (SSN) issued by the return due date

💼 Income Limits
You qualify for the full $2,200 credit if your income is:
• $200,000 or less (Single, Head of Household)
• $400,000 or less (Married Filing Jointly)
Above these amounts, the credit phases out.

🧾 Credit for Other Dependents (ODC)
If a dependent doesn’t qualify for the CTC, you may claim:
• Up to $500 per dependent
• Non-refundable
• Dependent can have an SSN, ITIN, or ATIN

⏳ Refund Timing
If you claim EITC or ACTC, the IRS:
• Cannot issue refunds before mid-February
• Use Where’s My Refund? to track your refund status

✨ In 2025, the Child Tax Credit is up to $2,200 per child, with up to $1,700 refundable, depending on income.

01/28/2026

⏰ No Tax on Overtime
For tax years 2025–2028, eligible workers may deduct qualified overtime pay, which can lower taxable income.

Who May Qualify?
Workers who receive overtime required by federal law (FLSA).
• Maximum deduction:
• $12,500 (single)
• $25,000 (married filing jointly)
• Same income phase-out as tips
• Available whether or not you itemize

What Part of Overtime Is Deductible?
Only the extra pay above your regular rate (usually the “half” in time-and-a-half).

Examples:
• If your pay stub shows the overtime premium separately, you deduct that amount
• If overtime is shown as one total number, the deductible portion is calculated as:
• ⅓ or ¼ of total overtime pay, depending on the pay structure

Important Notes
• This does not change labor laws
• Some employees are exempt from overtime rules
• The IRS will continue updating forms and instructions

✨ If you earned overtime in 2025, you may qualify for new deductions — even though your tax forms look the same.

01/27/2026

🍽️ No Tax on Tips
For tax years 2025–2028, eligible workers may deduct qualified tips, which can lower taxable income.

Who May Qualify?
• Workers who receive qualified tips
• Maximum deduction: up to $25,000 per year
• Deduction phases out if income is over:
• $150,000 (single)
• $300,000 (married filing jointly)
👉 Tips are still reported, but may be deducted on the tax return.

How Do You Calculate Your Tips?
You can use:
• Tips shown on Form W-2 (Box 7), or
• Tips you reported to your employer (Forms 4070), plus
• Any unreported tips you included on Form 4137
• Self-employed workers can use daily tip logs if tips aren’t separated on Form 1099-K

✨ If you earned tips in 2025, you may qualify for new deductions — even though your tax forms look the same.

01/26/2026

🧾 IRS Direct File Program
Direct File is a free IRS tool that lets eligible taxpayers file their federal tax return directly with the IRS — online.
• Free to use
• Step-by-step guidance
• Available in English and Spanish (2025)
• Works on your phone, tablet, laptop, or computer
• Access it at directfile.irs.gov

📍 Who Can Use Direct File?
You may be able to use Direct File if:
• You lived or worked in a participating state for all of 2024
• You only need to file a federal return
(Direct File does not prepare state returns)

💼 Income Types That May Qualify
Direct File supports simple income situations, such as:
• W-2 wages
• Social Security income (SSA-1099)
• Unemployment (1099-G)
• Interest income (1099-INT)
• Retirement income (1099-R)
• Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (Alaska residents only)
🚫 You cannot use Direct File if you have:
• Self-employment, gig, or business income

💳 Credits & Deductions
Direct File supports some common credits and deductions, including:
• Standard deduction
• Child-related credits
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
• Student loan interest
• Educator expenses
• HSA contributions
🚫 You cannot use Direct File if you:
• Itemize deductions
• Need credits or tax situations not supported by the program

📝 Good to Know
• Direct File is optional, not required
• You can switch to another filing method at any time
• Best for taxpayers with simple tax returns

✨ Direct File is a great free option if your taxes are straightforward and you only need to file a federal return.

Check if you're eligible to use Direct File, the new free tax tool to file your federal taxes directly with the IRS.

01/25/2026

♿ SECURE 2.0 Act — ABLE Accounts (Age Requirement Update)
An ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings account for people with disabilities.
• The account is owned by the person with the disability
• Money can be used for qualified disability expenses
• Withdrawals are tax-free when used for approved expenses

🧾 What Changed Under SECURE 2.0?
Starting January 1, 2026, the age requirement changed:
• Old rule: Disability had to begin before age 26
• New rule: Disability can begin before age 46
This change allows more people to qualify for an ABLE account.

💡 Who Can Benefit?
• Individuals with qualifying disabilities or blindness
• People who receive certain disability benefits
• Anyone whose disability began before age 46 (starting in 2026)

✨ SECURE 2.0 expands access to ABLE accounts, giving more people with disabilities a way to save money without losing tax benefits.