Byron L. Riley, CPA

07/21/2026

Got a bonus this year? Here's what actually happens to it.
A $25,000 bonus on top of $100k income crosses into a new tax bracket. Part gets taxed at 22%, part at 24%. That's $5,886 in tax, more than most people expect.
Your paycheck usually withholds a flat 22%, so you could owe extra at tax time.
I broke down this one plus a 401k move and a rental property loss on the blog.

https://www.rfr.bz/f98ce8ccf

See how income changes affect your taxes: a 401(k) increase, a rental property loss, and a bonus, using real numbers on $100,000 income.

07/20/2026

Had a client ask why his tax bill felt lower than expected.
"I'm in the 22% bracket, shouldn't I owe more?"
Not how it works. I broke it down on the blog.
byronrileycpa.com
https://www.rfr.bz/f1c50034e

07/14/2026

Some people I talk to who have a W-2 think tax planning isn't really for them.
That's one of the biggest tax myths out there.
There are 6 solid moves W-2 employees can make right now to reduce what they owe. We're talking 401(k) contributions, HSAs, FSAs, bunching deductions, fixing your withholding, and understanding your effective tax rate vs. your bracket.
None of these require owning a business. They just require knowing what's available.
I wrote the full breakdown at byronrileycpa.com.
Have questions about your specific situation? Drop them below or text me at 832-303-3995. https://hi.switchy.io/zA-s

Here are 6 proven strategies W-2 employees can use to reduce taxable income and keep more of what they earn.

06/29/2026

What do a banker, an underwriter, and the IRS have in common?
They all make decisions about your business based on reading your balance sheet. And they are reading it whether you handed it to them or not.
Most owners only look at the P&L. The balance sheet tells a completely different story, and all three of those audiences have the authority to act on what they find.
Full breakdown at byronrileycpa.com or book a call at calendly.com/byron-1.

06/24/2026

Quick question. Has the IRS ever sent you a bill that was just wrong?
Not unfair. Wrong. Based on a Substitute for Return they filed without your real deductions, or income reported under your name that was not actually yours.
Most people assume their only option is to pay it or negotiate a payment plan. There is actually a specific IRS process for this exact situation. It is called a DATL Offer in Compromise, Doubt as to Liability, and it is different from the standard Offer in Compromise most people have heard of.
No financial disclosure. No application fee. Just a documented argument that the number is incorrect.
I wrote a full breakdown covering how it works, when it applies, and the most recent IRS acceptance rate data. Spoiler: overall offer approvals dropped significantly in the last two years, so getting this right matters.
Read it at byronrileycpa.com or book a call at calendly.com/byron-1 if you think this might apply to you.
Has anyone in this group ever dealt with an IRS bill that turned out to be a mistake?

https://www.rfr.bz/fe6554b98

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day!

06/18/2026

Houston business owners with partners: when did you last review your operating agreement?
Most partnership and LLC agreements do not adequately address what happens when a partner gets divorced, becomes disabled, disagrees on a major decision, or dies. These are the 5 Ds of Partnership, and they affect every multi-owner business regardless of size or industry.
Byron Riley, CPA has published a full breakdown of all five scenarios, what they mean for your business, and what your agreement should address before any of them happen. The article also covers why working with both a CPA and a business attorney is essential when putting these protections in place. https://hi.switchy.io/5dsofpartnership

06/16/2026

Here is something most business owners never think about.
Communication is not just a management skill. It is a profit lever.
Every time an employee misunderstands what you asked for, you pay for it. Every time a customer feels unheard, you risk losing them. Every time you react too fast to a mistake, you pay a morale tax that is invisible on paper but very real in performance.
I just published an article breaking down seven communication principles from some of the most respected voices in leadership and showing exactly how each one applies to running a small business.
No fluff. No theory. Just practical shifts you can make this week.
Read it at byronrileycpa.com or book a call at calendly.com/byron-1 and we can talk through how your business is doing overall.
What communication habit has made the biggest difference in your business? Drop it below.
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06/15/2026

Did you know the IRS sends at least four notices before they levy your account?
Most people ignore them. Not because they do not care, but because they do not understand what they mean until the money is already frozen.
Here is the sequence:

CP14 - your first bill. 60 days to respond.

CP501 and CP503 - reminders. The tone escalates.

CP504 - they are preparing to act. Your state refund can already be seized.

Letter 1058 - the final notice. A 30-day clock starts here.
Miss that last window and the levy goes out.
New article on the blog covers the full picture: what each notice means, when the IRS is required to release a levy, and what to do right now if you are in this situation.
Read it at byronrileycpa.com or book a call at https://www.rfr.bz/fab4c6bb3 https://www.rfr.bz/f4be4c7f1

06/11/2026

Quick question for my real estate investor friends.
When is the last time you actually reviewed your tax return line by line?
I ask because the five most expensive mistakes I see from real estate investors have nothing to do with bad deals or market timing. They come straight from the tax return itself.
Missing depreciation on a $300,000 rental can cost you over $24,000 in taxes across 10 years. That is money you were fully entitled to keep.
Mixing up repairs and improvements, misclassifying rental income, skipping deductible expenses, and mishandling a 1031 exchange round out the list.
None of these are complicated once you know what to look for. But they are expensive when you don't.
I put together a full breakdown of all five with exactly what each mistake costs you and how to fix it.
Drop a comment if any of these hit home, or if you have a question about your own situation.
Happy to chat. You can also reach me directly at 832-303-3995 or book a free consult at calendly.com/byron-1