Tax Credits & Incentives Posts

Government-created incentives most taxpayers never claim: the R&D tax credit, the 179D energy deduction, Opportunity Zones, oil and gas intangible drilling costs, and similar programs — including who qualifies and where the traps are.
Oct. 2, 2026

Can You Deduct Leftover 2022 to 2024 Research Costs on Your 2025 Return?

TL;DR: Yes, if your business still has research costs from 2022, 2023, or 2024 sitting on an amortization schedule, you can deduct everything that is left on your 2025 return, or split it across 2025 and 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act created …
Sept. 29, 2026

Form 3115 Change Number 152: Catching Up on Old 179D Deductions

Discover how building owners can use Form 3115 and designated change number 152 to claim missed historical 179D deductions on commercial properties owned for years. This automatic accounting method change allows you to capture past energy efficiency…
Sept. 3, 2026

What Is Form 6765, and What Changed for 2026?

TL;DR Form 6765 is the form that carries the federal R&D tax credit onto your return. For tax years beginning after 2025, a section of it called Section G stops being optional. Section G makes you report the credit project by project instead of as …
July 27, 2026

The R&D Tax Credit You Earned Might Expire Before You Use It

TL;DR: Earning an R&D tax credit and actually using it are two separate events. Carryforward provisions protect unused credit value, but the rules vary wildly between federal and state levels. Federal credit carries forward 20 years. State rules ran…
July 20, 2026

Your QOZ Tax Bill Is Coming December 31. Here's What to Model Now

TL;DR: If you invested in a qualified opportunity fund before 2027, the tax you've been putting off is due on December 31, 2026. No exceptions. A new law called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made the QOZ program permanent, but it didn't push that d…
July 15, 2026

One Year After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What Commercial Property Owners and Business Leaders Need to Know Now

TL;DR: One year after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law, three tax strategies need your attention now: 100% bonus depreciation is permanent, R&D expensing is back, and Section 179D has a cutoff date that's already passed. Some deadl…
July 13, 2026

The $120,000 Tax Credit Architecture Firms Keep Missing

TL;DR: Most architecture firms qualify for the federal R&D Tax Credit based on their everyday technical project work, and most of them have never claimed it. A firm with $2 million in qualifying payroll is looking at $120,000 to $160,000 in annual r…
July 7, 2026

Maximizing Real Estate Tax Benefits: Cost Segregation Synergy with Opportunity Zones

Discover how to supercharge your real estate investments by combining the powerful tax deferral of Opportunity Zones with the accelerated depreciation benefits of cost segregation studies. This post breaks down the strategic advantage of this often-…
July 7, 2026

The R&D Tax Credit Most Startups Don't Know They Can Use

TL;DR: Pre-profit startups doing product development, software work, or technical problem-solving likely qualify for the R&D Tax Credit, and they don't need income tax liability to benefit. The PATH Act of 2015 created a payroll-tax offset that turn…
July 5, 2026

R&D Tax Credits for Small Business: The Complete Guide for 2026

TL;DR:R&D tax credits give you a dollar-for-dollar reduction in taxes owed for technical work you're already doing. Most small businesses qualify but never claim it. Software development, manufacturing improvements, construction engineering, food fo…
June 28, 2026

Your Business May Qualify for a Six-Figure Tax Refund But Only If You Act Before July 6, 2026

TL;DR: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act lets small businesses amend 2022-2024 tax returns to claim immediate R&D expense deductions instead of spreading them over five years. This could mean six-figure refunds, but you must file by July 6, 2026. There…
May 21, 2026

Beyond Real Estate: How Oil & Gas Can Fill Your Tax Strategy Gaps

Welcome back to the Tax Strategy Playbook blog! In our latest podcast episode, titled $200K Investment → $81K Tax Savings? The Oil & Gas Strategy Explained, we delved into a fascinating and often overlooked tax strategy that can provide significant …
May 7, 2026

R&D Tax Credit Myths: What Business Owners Still Get Wrong in 2026

TL;DR: The federal R&D tax credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 41 is not reserved for software companies and pharmaceutical labs. It rewards businesses that solve technical problems through trial and error, which describes a lot of manufactur…
April 30, 2026

Section 179D Explained: Your Key to Unlocking Over $1M in Tax Savings

Introduction: The Power of Section 179D for Commercial Property Owners Welcome back to the blog, and if you just tuned into our latest podcast episode, welcome to you as well! This week, we’re diving deep into a topic that has the potential to put …