Tax Links

05/29/2026

Many people start with a side job, freelance work, delivery, cleaning, beauty services, construction jobs, consulting, rental income or small client payments — and assume it's "just extra money." The tax side can look different.

Self-employed workers may also need to factor in self-employment tax, which covers Social Security and Medicare. The standard self-employment tax rate is commonly described as 15.3%, combining 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare.

If you work for yourself, use May to take stock of what you earned, what you spent, what records you saved and whether estimated tax payments may apply before the next deadline gets close.

Tax Links supports self-employed professionals, small business owners and individuals in Orlando and remotely.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/28/2026

Step 3 of the W-4 is where many people start getting confused.

In Part 2 of this series, Julissa explains how dependents can affect the amount of federal tax withheld from your paycheck during the year.

This section is not just about “having kids.” It is about understanding which dependents qualify, how the calculation is entered, and why a child with a Social Security number is treated differently from another dependent in this part of the form.

For 2026, the IRS Form W-4 shows Step 3(a) for qualifying children under age 17 and Step 3(b) for other dependents. The form uses $2,200 for each qualifying child and $500 for each other dependent child.

This is why filling out the W-4 without understanding the numbers can affect your paycheck during the year and bring with it consequences when the tax season arrives.

This video is educational and does not replace personalized tax guidance. Your W-4 should be reviewed based on your income, filing status, household, dependents and overall tax situation.

Save this video and watch Part 3 for Step 4 and extra withholding.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/27/2026

If the first time you call your accountant is when tax season arrives, you may already be behind on the real work.

A tax return is usually the final chapter of the year. Before that, there were months of deposits, expenses, receipts, payroll, invoices, business decisions and deadlines.

Good records help business owners monitor the progress of the business, prepare financial statements, identify income sources, keep track of expenses, prepare tax returns and support items reported on those returns.

At Tax Links, we help with more than tax season. Our support includes bookkeeping, payroll, tax planning, structure guidance, deadline preparation and ongoing organization for businesses that want to stop rebuilding the year from memory.

If your business is in need of support beyond the deadline, contact our team.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/25/2026

Today, our office will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

This is a day to pause, remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country.

At Tax Links, we believe some dates ask us to slow down, be present with our families and reflect with gratitude on the freedoms and opportunities we get to build around.

We will resume regular business hours tomorrow and we will be happy to assist you then.

Wishing our clients, partners and community a peaceful and meaningful Memorial Day.

Tax Links

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/22/2026

After many of you asked for more videos like this, here is Part 2 of our series for the latino community.

Today, Karen breaks down what bookkeeping is and why it matters so much for a business.

Bookkeeping is not just about keeping papers. It's the system that helps track what comes in, what goes out, receipts, expenses, payments and the information that will later be needed for taxes.

The IRS explains that a business can choose any recordkeeping system that works for its activity, as long as it clearly shows income and expenses. It also states that business books should show gross income, deductions and credits — and that supporting documents should be kept for what is reported.

This is why bookkeeping should not be about waiting until the tax season arrives. It is built throughout the year.

When your numbers are organized, it becomes easier to make decisions, prepare your taxes and get a true picture of how your business is doing.

Would you like more videos explaining business and taxes in plain language? Comment "BOOKKEEPING" and follow Tax Links for the next episode.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/22/2026

Not filing your taxes doesn't make the problem disappear. In many cases, it makes the situation more expensive and harder to control.

The cost can add up quickly. The penalty is generally 5% of the tax due for each month or part of a month the return is late, up to 25%. For returns required to be filed in 2026, if a return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty may be $525 or 100% of the tax owed — whichever is lower.

There is another risk that people often do not think about: if you do not file, the IRS may file a substitute return on your behalf. Such a return may not account for deductions and exemptions that you may be entitled to.

So if you haven't filed yet, the best next step to take is not to keep avoiding it. Rather, it is to understand what applies to your situation and act before the problem gets heavier.

Tax Links can help you figure out your next step and get back on track.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/21/2026

The W-4 looks simple at first, but one small choice can affect how much federal tax is withheld from your paycheck during the year.

In Part 1 of this series, Julissa explains why Step 1 matters, especially the filing status section.

Many people know how they want to file their tax return, but they do not always understand how that choice affects payroll withholding during the year. This is where confusion often happens with “Single,” “Married Filing Jointly,” and “Head of Household.”

One of the most common mistakes is when both spouses fill out their W-4 without understanding how the withholding calculation may be affected. That can lead to less federal tax being withheld during the year and a surprise when the tax season comes around.

This video is educational and does not replace personalized tax guidance. Your W-4 should be reviewed based on your income, household, dependents and overall tax situation.

Save this video and watch Part 2 for dependents and Step 3.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/19/2026

Your refund isn't something that suddenly appears in April. In many cases, it starts months earlier — inside your paycheck.

Here is where the W-4 comes in.

Your W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. If too little is withheld during the year, you may take home more money now — but you could see a smaller refund or find out you even owe when you file. If too much is withheld, your paycheck may be lower during the year, but your refund may be higher later on.

This is why the W-4 isn't just a form you fill out once and forget about. It should reflect what is actually happening in your life and your income.

If your refund has changed, your paycheck has shifted, or tax season has caught you off guard this year, your W-4 may be one of the first places to look.

Tax Links is breaking this down in our W-4 series so you can understand the form before it becomes a tax season problem.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/19/2026

Mixing personal and business finances usually doesn't feel like a big problem at the moment.

It looks like paying for groceries with the business card because it was the closest one. It looks like buying supplies with your personal card because you were in a rush. It looks like moving money between accounts without writing down why. It looks like telling yourself, "I'll remember this later."

This is one of the most common bookkeeping mistakes small businesses make — because it blurs the line between what belongs to the owner and what belongs to the business. That can make tax preparation slower, records harder to sort through, and legitimate business expenses easier to miss.

So if your personal and business money are mixed today, the goal is not to feel embarrassed. The goal is to fix the system before the next deadline makes it harder.

Tax Links can help you organize your books, separate what belongs to the business, and build a monthly routine that keeps your numbers straightforward.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/15/2026

If your side hustle is becoming a real business, opening an LLC may be one of the first topics you start hearing about.

In this first episode of our new series for the Hispanic community, Karen walks through the basic idea in a simple way: an LLC helps give your business a formal identity. It's not just about having a name — it's about building a structure where the business can start operating separately from your personal routine.

In Florida, the Division of Corporations explains that creating a Florida LLC starts by filing Articles of Organization, gathering the required information and submitting the filing through the state.

After the entity is formed, many businesses also apply for an EIN with the IRS. The IRS explains that if you are creating a legal entity such as an LLC, partnership or corporation, you should register it with the state before applying for an EIN.

Opening the LLC is only the beginning. After that, business owners still need to think about bookkeeping, taxes, a business bank account, licenses when applicable, annual reports and keeping business records organized throughout the year.

Want more videos like this? Comment "LLC" and follow Tax Links for the next episode.

📧 [email protected] | 📞 (407) 270-4846

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05/15/2026