Balancing craters; SST risks and trade-offs; Employee Retention Credit enforcement surge; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.
It's all in the game
- TaxProf Blog (
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/ ): Favorite opening of the week: "Taxation is not just a legal duty; it is a game, and the best players always win." While governments rely on laws and penalties to enforce compliance, corporations, high-net-worth individuals and elite tax strategists exploit loopholes, turning complexity into opportunity. This article argues that tax avoidance is not a flaw in the system, but an expected outcome. Modern tax law does not just permit avoidance; it actively encourages it. - Dan Dorton (
https://deandorton.com/insights/ ): Something For Everyone Dept.: Big Beautiful's impacts on the petroleum industry, convenience stores and mining. - Berkowitz Pollack Grant (
https://www.bpbcpa.com/articles-press-releases/ ): Among the various provisions of the new tax and spending bill is a significant change to the tax accounting method that condo developers must use to recognize income, removing a significant irritant to developers' cash flow and tax efficiency. - Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (
https://itep.org/category/blog/ ): Budget-wise, there are two kinds of states: those who have acknowledged the fiscal crater caused by the new Trump tax law and those that have not. Colorado has joined the former camp, making substantial progress in closing a $750 million hole in the state's current-year budget. Among the revenue-raising tax reforms approved are two provisions that would more equitably tax the profits of big multinationals doing business in the state. - Current Federal Tax Developments (
https://www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/ ): Private Letter Ruling 202535015, which addresses a taxpayer's request for a waiver of the 60-day rollover requirement for an IRA distribution, provides insight into how the IRS applies its discretionary authority in cases involving fraud. - Canopy (
https://www.getcanopy.com/blog ): What's the first question to ask in your marketing plan? "Who's your ideal client?"
Risks and trade-offs
- Taxjar (
https://www.taxjar.com/resources/blog ): "Sales tax compliance" can trigger a deep headache in ecommerce clients. Managing obligations across dozens of states is a challenge that pulls everyone away from what they do best (growing a business). To help alleviate this complexity, a group of state governments introduced the Streamlined Sales Tax program — which offers powerful benefits but also comes with significant risks and trade-offs. - Parametric (
https://www.parametricportfolio.com/blog ): Investors who want the advantages of a direct indexing account need to realize there will be some tracking error, which can be scary. Understanding the sources of tracking error and how it's managed can go a long way in easing the fright. - Avalara (
https://www.avalara.com/blog/en/north-america.html ): The difference between IEEPA tariffs, Section 232 tariffs and Section 301 tariffs is subtle yet great. - The National Association of Tax Professionals (
https://blog.natptax.com/ ): You've likely encountered situations where related-party rules throw a wrench into your usual strategy or when a sale is altered after the deal closes. Knowing how to report adjustments, handle note cancellations and accurately complete Form 6252 helps you stay in control. A few top questions on the topic from a recent webinar.
Keeping them in mind
- Armanino
(https://www.armanino.com/articles: ) Owning your own plane might seem like soaring to freedom, but if you don't get the taxes squared away, you'll never get off the ground. - EideBaily (
https://www.eidebailly.com/taxblog ): The questioning of ERC claims is officially on in the last few weeks with the surge of IRS Letters 6612, "Pre-Refund Verification Units." The letter gives taxpayers just 30 days to provide this extensive documentation. - TaxConnex (
https://www.taxconnex.com/blog- ): Can recruiting incur sales tax? - Don't Mess with Taxes (
http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/ ): Five tax moves to remind them of this September. - Withum (
https://www.withum.com/resources/ ): Pursuing SOC 2 compliance for startups can feel overwhelming. Yet for many early-stage companies, SOC 2 compliance is not just a checkbox but an opportunity to build operational maturity and earn trust with customers and partners. Six lessons learned from real-world SOC 2 journeys. - Taxing Subjects (
https://www.drakesoftware.com/blog ): What to remind them about back-to-school tax breaks - Tax Vox (
https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox ): Happy birthday, CBO!
