Guides

Straight answers, written by the people who’d file it.

1,407 plain-English guides on cross-border moves, US and Canadian returns, and small-business money. Each one ends in what to do next, and says when a written Position Check is the smarter first step.

Capital gains RRSP TFSA Departure tax Estate tax FBAR LLC Principal residence

CROSS-BORDER A Canadian Corporation With a U.S. Shareholder

What applies to you
What it costs if you wait
What to do next

Fairlight Accounting · US + Canadian Tax Desks

1,407 guides

Small Business Tax

ATM Business Deductions: The Machines, the Vault Cash That Isn't an Expense, the Surcharge and the Interchange, the Merchant's Commission, and the Armored Car

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for an independent ATM operator: machines as depreciable equipment, vault cash as working capital rather than a deduction, surcharge and interchange income, processing and sponsor bank fees, placement commissions paid to merchants and their Forms 1099, armored car and cash loading, cellular connectivity and software, insurance, interest on a vault cash line, and whether the business is passive.

Small Business Tax

ATM Business Entity and Estimated Taxes: The LLC the Sponsor Bank Expects, the Route You Buy, the Owner Who Loads the Cash and the Investor Who Doesn't, and the Steadiest Income in Small Business

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for independent ATM operators: the LLC that holds the sponsor bank agreement and vault cash line, when profit supports the S election, buying a route of placed machines and allocating the price, the active operator versus the passive investor, estimated taxes on income that barely changes month to month, and selling a route.

Small Business Tax

Auto Body Shop Deductions: The Paint Booth, the Frame Machine, the Materials That Are Inventory, the Insurer's Direct Repair Program, and the Hazardous Waste Fees

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for an auto body and collision repair shop: the paint booth and frame machine as equipment, welders and lifts, paint and materials as inventory versus supplies, parts purchased for jobs, sublet repairs, direct repair program income from insurers, estimating software subscriptions, environmental compliance and hazardous waste disposal, certifications, uniforms, and Florida sales tax on repairs with parts.

Small Business Tax

Auto Body Shop Entity and Estimated Taxes: The LLC for the Paint Booth, the S Election, the Building Next Door, and the Hurricane Quarter That Doubles the Work

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for a collision repair shop: the LLC for environmental and premises liability, the S election once profit exceeds a shop manager's salary, the building in a separate LLC, technicians on payroll and the flat-rate pay system, estimated taxes when insurer receivables lag and a storm season doubles volume, direct repair program cash flow, and selling or passing on the shop.

Small Business Tax

Brewery and Winery Deductions: The Tanks and the Barrels, the Federal Excise Tax and the Reduced Rate, the Florida Excise and the License, the Taproom That Collects Sales Tax, the Ingredients in Process, and the Distributor's Cut

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions and excise taxes for craft breweries and wineries: brewing and winemaking equipment, the taproom build-out, federal excise tax under the Craft Beverage Modernization Act's reduced rates, Florida's alcoholic beverage excise taxes and licensing, sales tax on taproom and tasting room sales, ingredients and work-in-process inventory including barrel aging, merchandise, the three-tier distribution system, and events.

Small Business Tax

Brewery and Winery Entity and Estimated Taxes: The License That Approves Your Owners, the LLC and the Investors, the S Election or the C Corporation, the Excise Calendar, and the Vintage That Sells in Three Years

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for breweries and wineries: the alcoholic beverage license's ownership approval and background checks, the LLC with investor members and the operating agreement, the S election for a profitable taproom brewery versus a C corporation for one raising capital, the real estate in a separate entity, the federal and state excise filing calendar alongside income tax estimates, work-in-process that defers the deduction for years, and seasonality in a tourist market.

Small Business Tax

Cannabis Business Taxes: Section 280E, the Cost of Goods Sold That Survives It, and the Ancillary Company That Escapes It

October 4, 2026

Cannabis taxation under Section 280E: why a plant-touching business still under it cannot deduct ordinary expenses, the April 2026 move of state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III, what cost of goods sold still includes for growers versus retailers, why the small business inventory simplification does not help, the effective tax rate problem, cash and Form 8300, payroll, state conformity, and how ancillary businesses that do not touch the plant deduct everything.

Small Business Tax

Cannabis Entity and Estimated Taxes: The C Corporation Many Operators Choose, the Property Company, and the Quarter You Pay Tax on Profit You Never Saw

October 4, 2026

Cannabis entity structure and estimated taxes: why plant-touching operators lean toward C corporations under Section 280E, the phantom income problem for pass-through owners, separating real estate, equipment, and intellectual property into companies outside 280E, licensing rules that constrain ownership, estimated taxes on taxable income far above cash profit, state license fees, and the April 2026 rescheduling of state-licensed medical marijuana.

Small Business Tax

Content Creator and Influencer Deductions: The Camera and the Ring Light, the Free Products That Are Income, the Trip That Was Half Vacation, the Editor on a 1099, the Manager's Cut, and the Merch Florida Taxes

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for influencers, YouTubers, podcasters, and content creators: cameras, lighting, and audio equipment, the home studio, products received from brands as income at fair value, travel with mixed purposes, editors and assistants as contractors or employees, agent and manager commissions, software and platform fees, clothing and appearance costs that are not deductible, merchandise as inventory and taxable sales, and the forms platforms send.

Small Business Tax

Content Creator and Influencer Entity and Estimated Taxes: The S Election, the Endorsement Income That Is a Specified Service, the Brand Deal Quarter, the Platform in Another Country, and the Loan-Out

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for influencers and content creators: the LLC, the S election once income exceeds a reasonable salary for the creator's work, why endorsement fees and licensing of name, image, and likeness are a specified service business for the qualified business income deduction while ad revenue and merchandise may not be, separating the lines, estimated taxes on lumpy brand deal income, foreign platforms and withholding, and the loan-out corporation.

Small Business Tax

Dog Walker and Pet Sitter Deductions: The Miles, the App's Commission, the Bite Insurance, the Overnight at the Client's House, and the Boarding in Your Own Home

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for dog walkers and pet sitters: mileage between clients as the largest deduction, platform commissions and Forms 1099-K, liability and bonding insurance, supplies and pet first aid certification, the home office, overnight sits at a client's home, boarding in the sitter's own home and the home-use allocation, and why none of it is taxable in Florida.

Small Business Tax

Dog Walker and Pet Sitter Entity and Estimated Taxes: The Sole Proprietor, the LLC for the Bite, the Walkers Who Join You, the Holiday Weeks, and the Tax Set Aside From Every Payout

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for dog walking and pet sitting businesses: the sole proprietor and when the LLC is worth it, why the S election rarely pays until there are walkers on staff, classifying walkers who take your clients, estimated taxes with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer peaks, deposits for holiday bookings, and a percentage of every app payout moved to a tax account.

Small Business Tax

Drone Services Deductions: The Aircraft, the Batteries That Die Every Season, the Part 107 Certificate, the Aviation Liability Policy, and the Photographs Florida Taxes When They Arrive on a Drive

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for drone service businesses: aircraft, sensors, and controllers as equipment, batteries and propellers as supplies, the remote pilot certificate and recurrent training, aviation liability insurance, mapping and editing software, vehicle travel to sites, waivers and airspace authorizations, income from real estate, inspection, agriculture, and mapping work, and Florida sales tax on photographs delivered as tangible media versus electronically.

Small Business Tax

Drone Services Entity and Estimated Taxes: The LLC for the Crash, the Side Pilot With a Day Job, the Inspection Contract That Justifies the S Election, and the Quarterly on Project Income

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for drone service businesses: the LLC for aircraft liability, the side pilot who covers the tax through paycheck withholding, the full-time operator's sole proprietorship, when a recurring inspection or mapping contract supports the S election, pilots as employees or contractors, estimated taxes on project income, and multistate work under one federal certificate.

Small Business Tax

Dumpster Rental Deductions: The Roll-Off Containers, the Hook-Lift Truck, the Tipping Fees, and the Roll-Off Service Florida Treats as Untaxed Waste Removal

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for a roll-off dumpster rental business: containers as seven-year equipment, hook-lift and roll-off trucks with full first-year depreciation and the heavy highway use tax, landfill and transfer station tipping fees, fuel, drivers as employees, overweight and prohibited-item charges as income, container deposits, insurance, and why Florida treats a standard roll-off fee as an untaxed waste removal service unless the customer controls the container.

Small Business Tax

Dumpster Rental Entity and Estimated Taxes: The LLC, the S Election When the Boxes Pay for Themselves, the Construction Cycle, and the Year Forty Containers Arrive

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for a roll-off dumpster business: the LLC for the cracked driveway and the hazardous load, the S election once container income exceeds a dispatcher-owner's salary, the construction and renovation cycle that drives demand, estimated taxes in the year a fleet expansion wipes out taxable income, drivers on payroll, and selling the containers and the customer list.

Small Business Tax

Event Planner Deductions: The Vendor Money That Passes Through, the Site Visits, the Styled Shoot, the Client Gift Limit, and the Home Office That Runs It All

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for event and wedding planners: vendor payments as pass-through or as gross income depending on who contracts with the vendor, travel and site visits, the home office, planning software and subscriptions, samples and styled shoots as marketing, the $25 client gift limit, meals with clients and vendors, liability insurance, assistants and day-of staff, and Florida sales tax when a planner resells rentals.

Small Business Tax

Event Planner Entity and Estimated Taxes: The Sole Proprietor Who Should Be an LLC, the S Election Past the Twentieth Wedding, the Deposit Reserve, and the Season That Runs October to May

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for event and wedding planners: the LLC for the vendor who doesn't show, the S election once profit exceeds a planner's salary, whether planning is a specified service business, deposits received a year ahead and the reserve for them, estimated taxes on a Florida season that runs October through May, day-of staff and payroll, and the client-fund account.

Small Business Tax

Farm and Ranch Deductions: Prepaid Inputs, Raised Livestock, the Conservation Election, and the Fuel Credit Nobody Claims

October 4, 2026

Farm tax deductions on Schedule F: the cash method and prepaid feed and seed, raised versus purchased livestock, equipment and single-purpose structures, soil and water conservation, crop insurance deferral, income averaging, the off-road fuel tax credit, and Florida's agricultural classification and sales tax exemption.

Small Business Tax

Farm Entity and Estimated Taxes: Schedule F or the S Election, the Land in Its Own LLC, and the March 1 Rule That Replaces Four Payments

October 4, 2026

Farm entity structure and estimated taxes: sole proprietorship on Schedule F, the LLC, when an S corporation fits a farm, keeping land in a separate entity, the special estimated tax rule for farmers (one January payment or file by March 1), income averaging, and passing the farm to the next generation.

Small Business Tax

Fence Installer Deductions: The Posts and Panels You Pay Tax On, the Auger and the Post Driver, the Crew, the Permit, and the Hurricane Season That Rebuilds Every Fence in the County

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for fence installation contractors: materials as the contractor's own purchases under Florida's real property rule, augers, post drivers, and trailers as equipment, trucks, crews as employees under the construction workers' compensation rule, permits and local licensing, deposits and progress payments, warranty repairs, and the post-storm surge.

Small Business Tax

Fence Installer Entity and Estimated Taxes: The LLC, the S Election at the Second Crew, the Construction Workers' Compensation Rule, the Deposit That Is Income Today, and the Storm Quarter

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for fence installation companies: the LLC for the fence on the wrong lot, the S election once profit exceeds a foreman's salary, Florida's construction classification and the owner's exemption, deposits and the cash method, estimated taxes through a hurricane surge, subcontracting to general contractors, and the lump-sum versus retail-plus-installation contract classification.

Small Business Tax

Floor Cleaning Deductions: The Truck-Mounted Extractor, the Buffers and the Burnishers, the Chemicals, the Night Crew, and the Commercial Jobs Florida Taxes

October 4, 2026

Tax deductions for carpet, tile, and commercial floor care businesses: truck-mounted and portable extractors, buffers, burnishers, and auto-scrubbers as equipment, cleaning chemicals and pads as supplies, vans, crews working nights as employees, recurring commercial contracts, franchise fees, insurance, and Florida's sales tax on nonresidential hard-floor care versus exempt carpet cleaning and residential work.

Small Business Tax

Floor Cleaning Entity and Estimated Taxes: The LLC, the S Election on Contract Income, the Night Crew Payroll, the Taxable Half and the Exempt Half, and the Restoration Call After the Storm

October 4, 2026

Entity structure and estimated taxes for floor care and carpet cleaning companies: the LLC for the slip-and-fall and the ruined carpet, the S election once recurring commercial contracts produce profit beyond the owner's hours, night crew payroll and overtime, books that separate taxable commercial hard-floor care from exempt carpet cleaning and residential revenue, estimated taxes on steady contract income with a residential spring peak, and the water restoration surge after a hurricane.

The content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax, accounting, or legal advice. See our full legal disclaimer.