SBC Tax Service-Friendswood

06/03/2026

Summer Activities and Taxes – Did You Know?

Summer is a time to relax and have fun, but some seasonal activities may have tax consequences. Being aware of them now may save you time and hassle later.

If your child attends a day camp so you can work or look for work, some of the cost may qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Be sure to keep records and obtain the camp's tax identification information.

Students with summer jobs may be entitled to tax refunds if income tax is withheld from their pay. Adults earning income from seasonal, part-time, or gig work may need additional withholding or quarterly estimated tax payments.

Summer is also a popular wedding season. If you change your name after marriage, update your records with the Social Security Administration. If you move, update your address with the IRS and submit a new Form W-4 to your employer so your withholding reflects your current tax situation.

04/23/2026

IRS Impersonation Scams – Did You Know?

Criminals continue to use IRS impersonation scams to steal money and personal information. Understanding how the IRS actually communicates can help you recognize and avoid these schemes.

The IRS generally initiates contact by sending a letter through the mail on official letterhead. If you have an IRS online account, you can log in to verify whether a notice is legitimate. If you are unsure, you can contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.

Scammers, however, often pose as the IRS in several ways:

By mail: Fake letters may look official but include incorrect contact details or suspicious language such as “in relation to your unclaimed refund.”

By email or text: The IRS does not initiate contact this way. Messages promising refunds, credits or urgent fixes often contain links to fraudulent websites designed to steal your information.

By phone: Scammers may leave threatening messages or demand immediate payment using gift cards or other unusual methods—tactics the IRS does not use.

In person: Unannounced visits are extremely rare. Most legitimate IRS appointments are scheduled in advance by letter.

If you suspect a scam, do not respond, click links or share information. Instead, contact the IRS using an official phone number to verify the situation.

04/22/2026

🌟 Thank you for referring your family and friends and for another busy tax season! Call or email to schedule an appointment for any tax needs. 🌟

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02/18/2026

Tax Documents May Come in Different Formats This Filing Season

Keep an eye out over the next 2-3 weeks for important documents you will need to file a complete and accurate tax return. These documents may include Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement for employees), along with various 1099 forms showing interest, dividend, rental, royalty or self-employment income. Traditionally, these forms came in the mail or were distributed to employees at a workplace. However, they may now be sent digitally, or made available through an online system.

Gathering up needed forms may be different this tax season for people who qualify for the new "No Tax on Tips," "No Tax on Overtime" and/or "No Tax on Car Loan Interest" deductions. In the future, the information needed to claim these deductions will be included on W-2, 1099 or other standard IRS forms. This year, however, employers and lenders may use alternative reporting formats. For example, you may receive a form that does not look like a normal tax document, or instructions to log in to an online portal to access the figures you need.

In order to claim any of these deductions, or the enhanced deduction for seniors, you will need to file a new tax form just released by the IRS called Schedule 1-A. A tax professional can help you assemble all the needed information, complete this form and file your entire return electronically so you can receive your refund as quickly as possible.

02/18/2026

Filing Season Scams

Tax filing season unfortunately brings with it a spike in activities by scammers looking to steal people's identities, money or both. The IRS recently warned all Americans to stay alert for fraudulent email or text messages that claim to come from the IRS or a tax service company. These messages may include requests for sensitive information like a Social Security number (SSN), or links to impostor websites created to harvest personal data or trick people into sending money. Many of these scams specifically target seniors. If you receive a suspicious message about tax season, delete it promptly, and do not reply or click on any links.

Other scammers post messages or videos on social media about made-up tax deductions or credits that the IRS is supposedly hiding from the public. They may use these claims to lure people into paying for fraudulent tax preparation services. Or they may just want to sow chaos, by persuading people to file false returns and incur IRS penalties.

One of the hardest scams to spot is false return filing, where a person files bogus tax returns in other people's names, in an attempt to steal IRS refunds. Victims of this scam may face lengthy processing delays for their legitimate returns, and therefore have to wait months or even years for their refunds. You can protect yourself by obtaining an IP PIN from the IRS, which is a unique identifying number that prevents anyone else from submitting a return in your name.

Apply for an IP PIN: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

02/18/2026

IRS 2026 IP PIN - Did You Know?

The IRS encourages everyone to get an identity protection number (IP PIN) for the 2026 tax filing season. An IP PIN is a unique code that you include on your tax return and other IRS forms that you file during a given year. Using this code prevents scammers from submitting fraudulent tax documents in your name, in an attempt to steal your refund or identity.

The easiest way to obtain an IP PIN is to create an online IRS account (link below). You can also request one by mail by filing IRS Form 15227. Note that an IP PIN only lasts for one calendar year, so even if you had one in 2025, you will need a new one this year. Once you receive your 2026 IP PIN, make sure to include it on your 2025 tax return, so that the IRS will accept the return and reject any fakes. A tax professional can help you file your return electronically with your IP PIN properly entered, to ensure the fastest possible processing.

Open an IRS online account: https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin

02/17/2026

We have a few empty offices we are looking to lease inside our beautiful Friendswood location!

You will have access to the waiting area, conference room, bathrooms, water fountain, kitchen with refrigerator/microwave/air fryer/coffee makers, and copy/assembly room. Reach out to Jessica Llorente, Realtor for showings and more information!

CommGate is the commercial division of the Houston Association of Realtors which focuses on commercial properties for sale or for lease in Texas.

02/17/2026

🌟 Hi there! Tax season is ramping up and we’re open for appointments Monday - Saturday until the tax deadline in April. Call or email to get your appointment scheduled with Ricky ASAP! Please have all of your tax documents ready. See you soon and thank you for trusting us! 🌟

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02/12/2026

Adoption Tax Credit – Did You Know?

The Adoption Tax Credit helps parents recoup costs necessary to adopt a child. Thanks to rule changes implemented under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), parents who adopted a child in 2025 may qualify for enhanced tax benefits. Qualifying adoptive parents may claim a credit of up to $17,280 per eligible child for domestic, international, private or foster care adoptions. Expenses covered by the credit may include adoption fees, home studies, reasonable travel costs to complete the adoption, and court and legal fees.

Beginning with tax year 2025, up to $5,000 of the Adoption Tax Credit may be refundable. Therefore, if your credit is greater than the amount of tax you owe, you may receive up to $5,000 of the excess credit as a tax refund. Any remaining excess credit may typically be carried forward for up to five years. However, carryovers cannot be used to generate a tax refund.

For 2025, you can claim the full credit if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is $259,190 or less. The credit decreases gradually as your MAGI rises from $259,191 to $299,189, and it is no longer available if your MAGI is $299,190 or higher.

To qualify for the Adoption Tax Credit, an adopted child generally must be younger than 18 years old or have special needs, and cannot be your spouse's child. A tax professional can help you determine whether you qualify for the credit, and if so, help you take full advantage of new benefits available under the OBBBA.

02/08/2026

SBC Tax Service and SBC Tax Service-Friendswood are family owned & operated for 50 years now! Thank you to our amazing clients to come back each year and refer their friends and families to us. We take pride in serving multiple generations of families which started with Johnny and has been carried on by Robert and Ricky. Please continue to refer us and post those 5 🌟 reviews. Please call to book your appointments! Thank you!