The Clear Path Blog

Tax strategy for owners who want profit, not panic

Plain-English guidance on the tax and bookkeeping questions small business owners actually ask — written from real cases we work every week.

NIL & student athletes

NIL Income Taxes: What Every College Athlete (and Parent) Needs to Know

That NIL money is self-employment income, nothing was withheld, and the IRS already has the 1099. Deductions, quarterly payments, multistate filings, the dependency question — the complete guide for athletes and their families.

Tax resolution

Got an IRS Notice? Here's Exactly What to Do (and Not Do)

That envelope isn't going away, but it's almost never as bad as it looks. What each common notice means, the deadlines that matter, and the three mistakes that turn a small problem into an expensive one.

Recordkeeping

Audit-Proof Your Business in One Afternoon

Most audits are won or lost before the letter ever arrives. The three deduction categories the IRS scrutinizes hardest, the red flags that draw attention, and a 2-hour organizing system that makes you bulletproof.

Tax planning

Quarterly Estimated Taxes: Who Owes, How Much, and How to Never Get Penalized

If you're self-employed or run a small business, the IRS expects to get paid four times a year — not just in April. The deadlines, the safe harbor rules that protect you, and how to calculate your payment in 15 minutes.