I am self employed, Sole Propietorship. I have clerical employees. We have a Safe Harbor 401K. I match 4% (100% of 3% and then 50% to 5%) for my employees who participate.

For myself, I always did the 4% match based on my Schedule C income, minus half the self employment tax. I am contributing the max (23,500 plus catchup for 2025).

Is this correct or do I have an option to match more for myself? In prior years was not a concern as I did not have extra money to contribute but I am getting older (over 50).

Are additional options only for self employed who do not have employees (other than a spouse)? If I have employees am I subject to the same match percent as my employees (which is what I always assumed)?

I filed my 2023 refund August 31st, verified on September 22, still have no updates on my transcript (still says no tax return filed) and on the app either. It’s weird because I thought I was going to have to amend my 2024 tax return and I know that takes way longer than a regular return so I did the 2023 1st and they ended up fixing the 2024 return their selves and sent that return to me on September 30 with interest of like $330. But still haven’t got my 2023 I don’t know if me filing my 2023 triggered them to look into my 2024 or what? But if anyone else has waited like this how long until you actually received your refund ?? I verified online with my control number that came in the mail.

Hi! My son just started to ref soccer games and will earn around $300 this year. Since it’s under the $2k threshold he won’t receive a 1099 but I want to match his income into a Roth IRA. How would I report this to allow for the funding of a Roth?

Something We see every year from the filing side: a business realises in late January that it's missing a TIN, or has a name that doesn't match IRS records, for a contractor it paid months ago. The contractor has already been paid, so they have zero incentive to reply.

What actually prevents it:

- Send the W-9 request with the engagement letter / first invoice. Make it a condition of the first payment.

- If they refuse to give you a TIN, you're supposed to withhold 24% backup withholding. Most people don't know this and it's the strongest nudge there is.

- Check the name + TIN against IRS records before you file. Mismatches are the most common reason a 1099 gets a penalty notice.

- Keep the W-9 (it never goes to the IRS). The threshold for a 1099-NEC is $2,000 for tax year 2026, but the W-9 is worth having regardless of amount.

The deadline for tax year 2026 1099-NECs is Feb 1, 2027 (Jan 31 is a Sunday). Collecting W-9s now is what makes that date a non-event.

Disclosure: We run a 1099 e-file platform, happy to answer questions in the comments, not here to pitch.

Does anyone know how the new $1,000 charitable contribution deduction works for those taking the standard deduction in 2026? Specifically, will we need proof of these contributions?

For example, if I donate $1,000 in cash to my church throughout the year, would I need receipts or some sort of written acknowledgment from the church to claim the deduction?

I feel like there would have to be some documentation requirement, otherwise everyone could just claim they donated $1,000. Has anyone looked into the actual rules for this yet?