Blog articles about finance, HR, and tax

Non Qualified Plans: Types, Taxes, and W-2 Box 11 (2026)

Have you ever compared a W-2 to a final pay stub and found an amount in box 11 that appears nowhere else? That's a non qualified plan. These arrangements let a company... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 11, 26

What Is Piece Work? Pay Rules and Examples (2026)

Payroll

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What Is Piece Work? Pay Rules and Examples (2026)

Piece work pays people for what they finish, not for how long they stand at the bench. A sewing operator earns per shirt. An orchard crew earns per bin. A repair tech earns... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 10, 26

Multi Member LLC: Taxes, Setup, and How Members Get Paid in 2026

Business Operations

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Multi Member LLC: Taxes, Setup, and How Members Get Paid in 2026

You and a business partner shook hands, filed some paperwork, and now you own a company together. That structure has a name. It's a multi member LLC, and the moment a... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 08, 26

Form 945: What It Is and How to File It (2026)

Tax

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Form 945: What It Is and How to File It (2026)

Hired a freelancer who never returned a valid W-9? You have to withhold 24% of their pay, and that goes on Form 945. The 945 tax form covers federal income tax withheld from... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 07, 26

CA SDI Tax 2026: Rates, Who Pays, and Your Paycheck

Tax

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CA SDI Tax 2026: Rates, Who Pays, and Your Paycheck

Find the CASDI line on a California pay stub and you'll see money leaving your check for something you never signed up for. That's the CA SDI tax, and in 2026 it... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 06, 26

What Is a 401a? Plan Rules, Limits, and Withdrawals (2026)

Payroll

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What Is a 401a? Plan Rules, Limits, and Withdrawals (2026)

Most people know what a 401k is. Far fewer can explain the plan sitting next to it on their benefits statement, or spot it later on their pay stubs. Maybe you work for a... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 05, 26

What Is Compensation Strategy? A 2026 Employer Guide

Human Resources

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What Is Compensation Strategy? A 2026 Employer Guide

Most small employers don't decide their compensation strategy. They inherit one. The first hire's salary sets an informal benchmark. The second hire negotiates a... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 04, 26

How Many Sick Days a Year Is Normal? 2026 Data

Human Resources

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How Many Sick Days a Year Is Normal? 2026 Data

At some point, almost every worker wonders how many sick days a year is normal. You might go all year without calling in sick, or burn through your balance before spring.... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Aug. 04, 26

Federal Mileage Rate 2026: New 76-Cent Rate Explained

Payroll

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Federal Mileage Rate 2026: New 76-Cent Rate Explained

The federal mileage rate changed in the middle of 2026, and a lot of published guidance still hasn't caught up. On July 1, the IRS raised the business rate from 72.5... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Jul. 30, 26

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What Is a Statutory Employee? Rules and Examples (2026)

Payroll

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What Is a Statutory Employee? Rules and Examples (2026)

Picture a W-2 with an empty federal income tax box and a checkmark in Box 13. That's a statutory employee arrangement. You're an independent contractor by most measures,... Read More

By Samantha Clark

Jul. 30, 26