Blog - Linkenheimer LLP CPAs & Advisors

IRS Launches New Web Page to Streamline Tax Fraud and Scam Reporting

The Internal Revenue Service announced the launch of a new web page that allows taxpayers to confidentially report suspected tax fraud, scams, evasion, or other tax-related illegal activities, as well as internal-facing improvements that will enhance how referrals are used to stop illegal activity.

“Improvements to the IRS fraud reporting system make reporting suspected wrongdoing easier and simpler and will address historic challenges that had prevented the IRS from making maximum use of the referrals it receives,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. “By reporting suspected tax fraud or scams, taxpayers play an important role in uncovering fraud and supporting the integrity of the nation’s tax system.”

The new web page consolidates multiple IRS fraud-reporting options into a single, centralized location, making it easier for taxpayers to report suspicious activity. The web page can be found by selecting the new ‘Report Fraud’ button on the IRS.gov homepage or at IRS.gov/SubmitATip. Taxpayers are encouraged to report suspected tax-related wrongdoing as soon as possible to help the IRS address fraud and noncompliance.

The new web page is only an initial improvement to the IRS’s fraud reporting process. Over the longer term, […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2026-02-27T18:33:07+00:00February 27th, 2026|irs, News|0 Comments

The Great Subscription Creep: How Software Costs Are Quietly Eating Your Budget

Quick question: How many software subscriptions does your business pay for right now?

If you answered with confidence, you’re in the minority. If you said “I think around 10 or 15?” you’re probably closer to reality—but still low. The average small business now pays for over 15 different software subscriptions, and here’s the uncomfortable truth: you’re likely wasting 30% of that budget on seats nobody’s using.

Welcome to the era of subscription creep, where $12.99 here and $49/month there quietly compounds into a line item that would make your 2015 self faint.

Death by a Thousand Monthly Charges

Remember when software came in a box? You bought it once, installed it, and used it until the CD physically disintegrated. Those days are gone, replaced by the SaaS (Software as a Service) model that promised flexibility and always-updated tools. And it delivered! But it also delivered something else: a slow, steady drain on your operating budget that’s accelerating faster than inflation.

Here’s what the numbers look like in 2026: SaaS costs per employee hit $9,100 annually—up from $7,900 just two years ago. Total SaaS spending increased 8% year-over-year even though companies aren’t adding more tools. 61% of […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2026-02-17T18:42:53+00:00February 17th, 2026|AI, business, Tech|0 Comments

When Medical Expenses are — and aren’t — Tax Deductible

If you had significant medical expenses last year, you may be wondering what you can deduct on your 2025 income tax return. Income-based thresholds and other rules can make it hard to claim the medical expense deduction. At the same time, more types of expenses may be eligible than you might expect.

Limits on the deduction

Medical expenses are deductible only if they weren’t reimbursable by insurance or paid via tax-advantaged accounts (such as Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts). In addition, they’re deductible only to the extent that, in aggregate, they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

For example, if your 2025 AGI was $100,000, your eligible medical expenses during the year would have to total more than $7,500 for you to claim the deduction — and only the amount in excess of that floor would be deductible. If you had $10,000 in eligible expenses, your potential deduction would be $2,500.

In addition, medical expenses are deductible only if you itemize deductions. For itemizing to be beneficial, your itemized deductions must exceed your standard deduction. Due to changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that were made permanent […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2026-02-16T20:48:20+00:00February 16th, 2026|deduction, medical deduction, medical expense|0 Comments

Increase Your Current Business Deductions Under Tangible Property Safe Harbors

Did your business make repairs to tangible property, such as buildings, equipment or vehicles, in 2025? Such costs may be fully deductible on your 2025 income tax return — if they weren’t actually for “improvements” that must be depreciated over a period of years.

Betterment, restoration or adaptation

In general, a cost that results in an improvement to a building structure or any of its building systems (for example, the plumbing or electrical system) or to other tangible property must be capitalized, with depreciation deductions spread over a few years or longer (depending on depreciation method and property type). An improvement occurred if there was a betterment, restoration or adaptation of the unit of property.

Under the “betterment test,” you generally must capitalize amounts paid for work that’s reasonably expected to materially increase the productivity, efficiency, strength, quality or output of a unit of property or that’s a material addition to a unit of property.

Under the “restoration test,” you generally must capitalize amounts paid to replace a part (or combination of parts) that is a major component or a significant portion of the physical structure of a unit of property.

Under the “adaptation […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2026-02-16T20:43:40+00:00February 16th, 2026|business, deductions|0 Comments

Before Claiming a Charitable Deduction for 2025, Make Sure You Can Substantiate It

If you itemize deductions on your 2025 individual income tax return, you potentially can deduct donations to qualified charities you made last year. But your gifts must be substantiated in accordance with IRS requirements. Exactly what’s required depends on various factors. In some cases, you must have a written acknowledgment from the charity.

Substantiating cash donations

If you made a cash gift of under $250, documentation such as a canceled check, bank statement or credit card statement is adequate. However, if you received something in return for the donation, you generally must reduce your deduction by its value — and you must have received a “contemporaneous written acknowledgment” from the charity.

Likewise, for a donation of $250 or more, you must obtain such an acknowledgment. In it, the charitable organization must state the amount of the donation, whether you received any goods or services in consideration for the donation and, if you did, the value of those goods or services.

The “contemporaneous” requirement can sometimes trip up taxpayers. It means the earlier of:

The date you file your tax return, or
The due date of your return, including extensions.

Therefore, if you made a donation last year that requires […]

By Linkenheimer LLP|2026-02-16T20:19:03+00:00February 16th, 2026|charity, deduction, deductions|0 Comments