First State CPAs and Associates

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥𝙚, 𝙋𝙖𝙮𝙋𝙖𝙡, 𝙤𝙧 𝙑𝙚𝙣𝙢𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙭 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢?

For the 2026 tax year, payment apps and online marketplaces are expected to send Form 1099-K only if your business processes more than $20,000 in gross payments and has more than 200 transactions on the platform.

If you use a traditional direct merchant credit card processor, the 200-transaction threshold does not apply. Card payments will be reported on Form 1099-K regardless of the amount.

Not receiving a tax form doesn’t mean the income can be left off your business records or tax return.

If money came into your business, your records should show the gross sale, any processor fees, refunds or chargebacks, and the final deposit.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how confident are you that your payment app fees, refunds, and chargebacks are being tracked correctly in your books?

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩-𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 2025?

JPMorgan Chase’s 2026 Business Leaders Outlook found that business owners made several changes in response to cost pressure:

• 38% reduced non-essential expenses
• 32% raised prices on all products or services
• 31% added new products or services
• 30% raised prices on select products
• 25% invested in technology to improve operations

Which of these changes did you make in your business in 2025?

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙭 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙩, 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙?

For the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the answer comes down to whether you claim your child as a dependent. If you do, the credit goes on your return.

That can still be true even if your child paid some of the tuition with a summer job or student loans.

If your child is not your dependent and files their own return, they may be the one who claims the credit instead.

The student also has to meet IRS rules, including being enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period and pursuing a degree, certificate, or other recognized credential.

Have you checked whether the credit belongs on your return or your student’s?