Tax and Money Tip of the Week:
September 15, 2026 Tax Deadline:  Individual Estimated Taxes and Tax Planning Checkups
September 2, 2026 | No. 493

This is the time of year in our CPA practice that I work with small business owners and individuals to perform tax checkups to help them projecttheir tax liabilities for 2026 and make tax saving recommendations of moves they can make between now and year-end. Frequently, just defining the amount of taxes they owe via these planning services helps manage their cash flow so the businesses and individuals don’t have a big amount due and/or surprise each Spring when they prepare their tax returns.

Coming up September 15, 2026 is the date on which the 3rd installment for individuals that have income that is not taxed and withheld (like W-2 income) is due.

Self employed businesses, e.g. Proprietor Schedule C filers, folks that own S Corporations, Partnerships, LLCs, or other flow-through entities must estimate their unpaid income and/or self-employment taxes for the period January 1-August 31, 2026 and pay ½ of this amount to IRS and/or NC Dept of Revenue on September 15, 2026 and the other ½ of this amount on or before January 15, 2027.  (April 15th and June 17th of 2026 are also Quarterly Estimated Tax Payment dates that have also passed by if you weren’t aware)

The rules for estimated tax payments depend on your modified adjusted gross income for 2026. “Safety” estimates can be designed to avoid penalties and interest, optimize cash flow, and save taxes

Questions or Comments?
You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.

Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next week

Tax and Money Tip of the Week:
Don’t Miss the October 15th Deadline
August 26th, 2026 | No. 492

Final Filing Deadline Reminder

If you put your personal tax return on extension (Form 1040), you have until October 15, 2026 to  file your 2025 return.

Please provide us with all the paperwork that is needed to file your taxes before September 10th.  This will give our office plenty of time to get all of our extended clients filed before the deadline. 

As a reminder, putting your tax returns on extension can be a good thing—but penalties to miss the extension deadline can be steep and costly!

An additional reminder: estimated tax payments are due on September 15

Questions or Comments?

You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.


Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next week.

Tax and Money Tip of the Week:
$1 million retirement myth:  Here’s what to save instead

July, 14, 2026 | No. 487

A great article on Retirement savings. 

Click here to read the article

Questions or Comments?

You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.


Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next time.

August 10, 2026 | No. 490

An article on workers who opt for their employer’s Roth 401k over a traditional 401k may be in for an unwelcome surprise: extra taxes. 

Click here for the article 

Questions or Comments?

You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.


Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next time.

August 3, 2026 | No. 489

An article on how much emergency savings you might need. 

Click here for the article

Questions or Comments?

You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.


Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next time.

Tax and Money Tip of the Week:
Helicopter view of 2026 meals and entertainment deductions

July 7, 2026 | No. 486

An article on new rules for meals and entertainment after the new tax law OBBBA.

Click here to view the article

Questions or Comments?

You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.


Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next time.

TMTW # 486 Upcoming Tax Due Dates

July 15

Employers: Deposit Social Security, Medicare and withheld income taxes for June if the monthly deposit rule applies.

Employers: Deposit nonpayroll withheld income tax for June if the monthly deposit rule applies.

July 31

Employers: File a 2025 calendar-year retirement plan report (Form 5500 or Form 5500-EZ) or request an extension.

Employers: Report Social Security and Medicare taxes and income tax withholding for the second quarter of 2026 (Form 941) and pay any tax due if all of the associated taxes due weren’t deposited on time and in full.

August 10

Individuals: Report July tip income of $20 or more to employers (Form 4070).

Employers: Report Social Security and Medicare taxes and income tax withholding for the second quarter 2026 (Form 941), if all associated taxes due were deposited on time and in full.

Tax and Money Tip of the Week:
Section 179 or bonus depreciation:  What’s best after OBBBA?

June 30, 2026 | No. 485

Great article on optimizing depreciation.

Click here to view the article

Questions or Comments?

You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.


Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next time.

Tax and Money Tip of the Week #484
Happy 4th of July!
July 1st, 2026 

Wishing you and your family a Happy 4th of July!

The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, marking a historic milestone since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Our offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday July 2nd and July 3rd and will reopen on July 6th.


Questions or Comments? You can add comments on the blog, call 919-847-2981, or visit our web site. We look forward to hearing from you.

Mark Vitek, CPA/PFS, CFP®
…until next week.