If you regularly and exclusively use part of your home for business, you may qualify for the home office deduction. This applies to homeowners and renters and can include a portion of:

• Utilities

• Internet

• Rent or mortgage interest

• Property taxes

• Insurance

• Repairs and maintenance

The IRS allows either a simplified method ($5 per square foot, up to 300 sq. ft.) or an actual expense calculation based on square footage. [irs.gov]

Your phone and internet don’t have to be 100% business‑only to be deductible. If you use them for both personal and business purposes, the business portion is deductible.

This often includes:

• Monthly service charges

• Business apps

• Data plans used for work

The key is reasonable allocation and documentation. [taxslayer.com]

Recurring subscriptions used to run your business are commonly overlooked. These may include:

• Accounting or bookkeeping software

• Scheduling tools

• Cloud storage

• Industry‑specific research or publications

As long as the subscription is ordinary, necessary, and business‑related, it can be deducted. [taxslayer.com]

Education expenses are deductible when they maintain or improve skills in your current business. This includes:

• Continuing education

• Professional certifications

• Workshops, webinars, and seminars

• Industry conferences (registration fees)

Education that qualifies you for a new trade or business is not deductible, but skill‑building within your existing work often is. [irs.gov]

Many business owners track mileage but forget related expenses. Deductible items include:

• Business mileage (standard or actual method)

• Parking fees

• Tolls

Daily commuting is not deductible, but travel between job sites or to meet clients generally is. [thebalancemoney.com]

Small charges add up over the year. These may include:

• Business checking account fees

• Credit card processing fees

• Payment platform fees (e.g., online invoices or client payments)

These are considered ordinary business expenses and are commonly missed because they feel “small”. [thebalancemoney.com]

Fees paid to professionals who support your business are deductible, including:

• Accounting and tax preparation

• Legal services

• Consulting or advisory fees

These expenses are deductible even if paid during the off‑season or for planning purposes. [thebalancemoney.com]

Self‑employed individuals can deduct half of their self‑employment tax when calculating adjusted gross income. This doesn’t reduce the tax itself, but it does reduce taxable income and is often overlooked. [taxgpt.com]

Many missed deductions aren’t complicated—they’re simply not tracked consistently. Year‑round bookkeeping and periodic reviews help ensure you’re not leaving money on the table. If you’re unsure whether an expense qualifies, it’s worth asking before tax season.

What this is

Estimated tax payments are required when income isn’t subject to withholding. This commonly applies to:

• Self‑employed individuals

• LLC and partnership owners

• S‑corporation shareholders

• Anyone with significant side income (rentals, investments, or contract work)

The IRS operates on a pay‑as‑you‑go system, meaning taxes are expected throughout the year, not just at filing time. [kiplinger.com], [nerdwallet.com]

2026 federal due dates

• April 15, 2026

• June 15, 2026

• September 15, 2026

January 15, 2027 (for the 2026 tax year) [blog.taxact.com]

Why it matters

Missing or underpaying estimates can trigger:

• Underpayment penalties

• Interest charges

• Surprise balances due in April

Best practice

Review income mid‑year and adjust estimates rather than guessing once at the beginning of the year.

Who this applies to Any business with employees paying:

• Federal income tax withholding

• Social Security & Medicare (FICA)

• Federal unemployment (FUTA)

Key Payroll Forms & Deadlines

Form 941 – Quarterly payroll tax return

• Q1: due April 30

• Q2: due July 31

• Q3: due November 2, 2026 (Oct. 31 falls on a weekend)

• Q4 (2025 wages): due February 2, 2026 [onpay.com], [irs.gov]

Form 940 – FUTA (annual)

• Due February 2, 2026 for 2025 wages [onpay.com]

Payroll deposits

• Monthly or semi‑weekly—based on prior payroll size

• Deposits are separate from filing

• Missing a deposit is one of the most penalized IRS issues [taxsharkinc.com]

Why it matters

• Penalties can reach 25% of unpaid tax

• Interest accrues daily

Payroll errors are harder to fix retroactively.

Who must file Businesses that paid:

• $600 or more to non‑employees (contractors, freelancers) during the year

Key 1099 Deadlines (2026)

Provide forms to recipients

• February 2, 2026 (1099‑NEC & most 1099s) [articles.a…xforms.com], [boulaygroup.com]

File with the IRS

• Paper filing (with Form 1096): March 2, 2026

• Electronic filing: March 31, 2026 [articles.a…xforms.com]

Why this matters

• Incorrect or late filings can trigger per‑form penalties

• Mismatches often result in IRS notices months later

• Contractors rely on accurate forms to file their returns

Helpful tip Collect W‑9s before paying contractors to avoid last‑minute issues.

Who this applies to Idaho businesses that:

• Sell taxable goods or services

• Collect sales or use tax

• Hold an Idaho seller’s permit

Idaho Sales Tax Filing Deadlines

Most Idaho sellers

• File monthly or quarterly

• Due on the 20th day following the reporting period [business.idaho.gov], [tax.idaho.gov]

Examples:

• January sales → due February 20

• Q1 sales → due April 20

Important notes

• Returns are required even if no sales occurred

• Filing late can result in:

  • 5% penalty per month (up to 25%)

  • Minimum penalty of $10 [tax.idaho.gov]

Local option sales taxes Some Idaho cities impose additional local sales taxes. Businesses operating in those areas may have extra reporting requirements. [business.idaho.gov]