Viktoriya Barsukova, EA, MBA

October 15, 2026: the extended filing deadline for 2025 individual tax returns. More time to file does not mean more time to pay. Still haven’t filed your 2025 tax return? If you received a valid federal filing extension, your individual return is generally due October 15, 2026. California’s automatic extension for individual returns also generally ends that day. There is still time to get organized—but leave room for questions, corrections, and a careful review. Ready to finish your return?...

A business trip can create more than a travel deduction. With the right planning, paying family for legitimate lodging may create a tax benefit for both sides. You travel for business to a city where your parents or another close relative lives. Naturally, you stay with them instead of booking a hotel. And like many people, you may already help your family financially—covering expenses, sending money, or simply giving them something when you visit. Here is where thoughtful tax planning may...

IRS Letters Explained: Know What You’re Dealing With Seeing an envelope from the IRS can make anyone nervous. But receiving an IRS letter does not automatically mean you are being audited, and it does not automatically mean the IRS is correct. The IRS sends notices and letters for many different reasons. It may be a simple correction, an income mismatch, an identity-verification request, an audit, an unfiled tax return, a balance due, or a warning about possible collection action. The most...