AB CPA, Inc.

02/27/2026

The IRS has published new FAQs on Executive Order 14247, which calls for eliminating paper checks to and from the IRS. This change is to reduce fraud, enhance security, lower costs and speed up processing. The IRS is encouraging taxpayers to provide banking information on their 2025 tax returns so it can issue refunds via direct deposit. For taxpayers without a bank account, options such as prepaid debit cards, digital wallets or limited exceptions to the “no paper checks” rule are available. If you owe tax, electronic payment methods are preferred, but the IRS will continue to accept mailed paper checks and money orders for now. Contact us at (708) 430-3232 if you have any questions or concerns.

02/25/2026

Have you considered an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) for your business? An ESOP is a form of qualified retirement plan. More specifically, it’s a profit-sharing plan that allows employees to own shares of their employer’s company and cash in those shares when they retire or otherwise leave their jobs. Many small to midsize businesses have implemented ESOPs because of their exciting advantages. But ESOPs do present some hurdles to clear. Please contact us at (708) 430-3232 to learn more about whether an ESOP might be right for you.

02/24/2026

To make confident business decisions, you need a clear view of your cash position. The statement of cash flows reveals how money moves in and out of your business. It’s usually organized into three sections: 1) Cash flows from operations reflect day-to-day activity. 2) Cash flows from financing activities show how you use debt and equity to fund growth. 3) Cash flows from investing activities capture how you’re building for the future. Together, they tell the real story behind your numbers. We can help you interpret trends, spot risks and manage cash flow to strengthen your business strategy. Call us at (708) 430-3232 to learn more.

02/23/2026

Income investments can play a key role in a diversified portfolio, so it’s important to be aware of their tax treatment. Qualified dividends are taxed at favorable long-term capital gains tax rates. But interest income is generally taxed at ordinary income rates, which can be as high as 37%. So stocks that pay qualified dividends may be more attractive tax-wise than other income investments, such as CDs and taxable bonds. We can help assess the tax consequences of your investment strategy. Call us at (708) 430-3232.

02/20/2026

Your marital status affects many federal tax filing variables, including your standard deduction, credit eligibility and tax owed. If you’re currently “informally” separated from your spouse but still legally married, the IRS generally considers you married for the entire year (even if you’ve lived apart for many months). Unless you divorced or legally separated by Dec. 31, 2025, you must file as married filing jointly or married filing separately for the 2025 tax year. If, on the other hand, you finalized a divorce or legal separation in 2025, you should file as single or, if eligible, head of household. Call us at (708) 430-3232 if you have questions about filing your tax return.

02/18/2026

The cost of goods sold (COGS) drives your company’s bottom line, but its accuracy hinges on how well you track inventory. Even small miscounts and misclassifications can distort your margins and cloud decision-making. That’s where we come in. We can review your inventory methods for consistency, reconcile physical counts to your books and verify proper cost allocations. Identifying discrepancies early can help you catch errors and shrinkage before they escalate. With dependable COGS data, you’ll gain clearer insight into product performance, pricing strategy and cash flow. Contact us at (708) 430-3232 to learn more.

02/17/2026

Drip, drip, drip. That may be the sound of your business’s retirement savings plan “leakage.” Leakage refers to pre-retirement withdrawals made by plan participants (your employees). When a plan’s total assets and individual account sizes shrink, it tends to hurt administrative efficiency and raise costs. It could also indicate that your workers are experiencing financial difficulties, which can reduce productivity. Contact us at (708) 430-3232 to discuss possible solutions.

02/16/2026

Gifts that consist of hard-to-value assets, such as interests in a closely held business, can be risky. A defined-value gift may help you avoid unexpected tax liabilities. A defined-value gift is a gift of assets that are valued at a specific dollar amount rather than a certain number of stock shares or a specified percentage of a business entity. Structured properly, a defined-value gift won’t trigger gift taxes down the road. The key to this strategy is that the defined-value language in the transfer document is drafted as a “formula” clause rather than an invalid “savings” clause. Call us at (708) 430-3232 to learn more.

02/13/2026

The IRS and the Security Summit are warning taxpayers that during tax filing season identity thieves are poised to scam people into sharing personal information to file false tax returns and steal refunds. Specific threats include phishing emails and smishing texts, where the thief impersonates a legitimate organization in the tax community, such as the IRS, a state agency or a tax software company, to try to convince the target to provide personal information, click on harmful links or send money. Having an Identity Protection (IP) PIN can protect taxpayers from tax-related identity theft. Anyone with an SSN or an ITIN can get an IP PIN. For more information, contact us at (708) 430-3232.

02/10/2026

02/10/2026

The IRS considers a paper return that’s due April 15 to be timely filed if it’s postmarked by midnight. Sounds straightforward, but let’s say you mail your return with a payment on April 15, and the envelope gets lost. You don’t figure this out and refile until a couple of months later. Despite your efforts to timely file and pay, you can still be hit with both failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties. One way to minimize this risk is to use certified or registered mail or an IRS-approved private delivery service. A better way is to work with a tax professional who’ll e-file your return and help ensure you claim every break you’re entitled to while staying compliant with tax law. Contact us at (708) 430-3232 to start your 2025 return.

02/09/2026

Attention, small business owners: As you wrap up your 2025 tax filings and begin planning for 2026, remember that many previously temporary tax law provisions are now permanent. And new opportunities may be available to help reduce your tax burden. If you’re ready to take a smart, strategic approach to the year ahead, we’re here to guide you. Contact us at (708) 430-3232.