New York Estimated Tax Payments for the Self-Employed and Retirees
How New York estimated tax payments work for the self-employed and retirees: who must pay, due dates, safe harbor rules, and how to avoid penalties.
Articles
Practical answers to the tax and accounting questions we hear most from Central New York families, landlords, and business owners.
New York State Taxes
View all →Income, sales, payroll, and property tax rules specific to New York, explained for Central New York households and businesses.
New York Payroll Taxes Every Employer Should Understand
A plain guide to New York payroll taxes for employers: state withholding, unemployment insurance, the NYS-45, disability and paid family leave, and MCTMT.
Got a Letter From the New York Tax Department? Here's What to Do
Got a letter from the New York State Tax Department? Learn how to verify it, what common notices mean, your response deadlines, and how to dispute a bill.
Personal Taxes
View all →Planning and filing guidance for individuals, families, and retirees.
A Year-Round Tax Checklist for Individuals and Families
A year-round tax checklist for individuals and families: what to do each season, key federal and New York deadlines, and records to keep so April is easy.
When to File an Amended Return and How It Works
When should you file an amended tax return? What Form 1040-X fixes, deadlines for claiming a refund, and how to amend your New York return too.
Charitable Giving Strategies That Still Pay Off at Tax Time
Charitable giving tax strategies that still work: donating appreciated stock, IRA qualified charitable distributions, bunching, and the 2026 rule changes.
Business & Corporate Taxes
View all →Entity choice, deductions, depreciation, and year-end planning for owners of small and mid-sized companies.
Year-End Tax Planning Moves for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
Year-end tax planning moves for small and mid-sized businesses: timing income and expenses, equipment, retirement plans, owner pay, and New York items.
S Corporation Reasonable Compensation: Getting the Owner's Salary Right
S corporation reasonable compensation explained: how to set the owner's salary, what the IRS looks at, and how to document it to avoid payroll tax trouble.
Preparing to Sell or Pass On Your Business: The Tax Side
Tax planning for selling or passing on your business: asset vs. stock sales, price allocation, installment sales, family gifts, and New York estate tax.
Controller & CFO
View all →Monthly close, cash flow, budgeting, KPIs, and internal controls from a controller's point of view.
Building a Monthly Close Process That Actually Closes
How to build a monthly close process for a small or mid-sized business: a close calendar, reconciliations, accruals, review, and a checklist that closes.
Outsourced Controller vs. Full-Time Hire: Costs and Tradeoffs
Outsourced controller vs. full-time hire: how the costs compare, what each option does well, the tradeoffs to weigh, and how to decide which fits your business.
Getting Your Books Ready for a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
How to get your books ready for a bank loan or line of credit, including the documents lenders request, the ratios they review, and cleanup steps to take first.
Real Estate & Rentals
View all →Accounting and tax for landlords and real estate investors, from someone who owns and manages rentals too.
1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: Deferring Gain on Investment Property
How a 1031 like-kind exchange defers tax on investment property sales, including the 45-day and 180-day deadlines, qualified intermediaries, and boot.
Passive Activity Loss Rules and Real Estate Professional Status
How the passive activity loss rules limit rental losses, how the active participation allowance works, and who qualifies as a real estate professional.
Depreciating a Rental Property and What Happens When You Sell
How rental property depreciation works, why land is excluded, and what happens at sale, including depreciation recapture, capital gains, and suspended losses.
Bookkeeping & Payroll
View all →Clean books, correct payroll, and the records you need when it matters.
Form 1099 Filing: Who Gets One and When
Form 1099 filing guide for small businesses - who should get a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC, the new 2026 reporting threshold, deadlines, W-9s, and e-filing.
Keeping Records: What to Save and for How Long
Business record retention made simple - how long to keep tax returns, receipts, payroll, property, and corporate records under IRS and New York rules.
Employee or Independent Contractor? Getting Classification Right
Employee or independent contractor? How the IRS and New York decide worker classification, the penalties for getting it wrong, and how to protect your business.