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WesTax, Inc Friendly, expert advice. Visit: www.westaxinc.com Or call: (941) 893-1791 WesTax, Inc is proficient in solving IRS tax problems for businesses and individuals.

At WesTax, Inc, we embrace the challenge of working with the IRS to tackle all kinds of tough tax problems for our clients. Our Sarasota, FL CPA firm is well-equipped to resolve your tax problems and give you a fresh start with the IRS. We will negotiate with the IRS on your behalf so you don't have to deal with them directly. Whether you're dealing with back taxes, wage garnishment, tax liens, pa

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Yay for good news!Citing the increase in the cost of fuel, the IRS has set a higher optional standard mileage rate used ...
07/22/2026

Yay for good news!
Citing the increase in the cost of fuel, the IRS has set a higher optional standard mileage rate used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business for the remainder of 2026.

Announcement 2026-11 modified Notice 2026-10. It revised the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, medical, or moving expense purposes and for determining the reimbursed amount of these expenses that is deemed substantiated.

The American Automobile Association reported that the average price for regular gasoline was $2.819 a gallon on Jan. 8, and $3.890 on July 15, an increase of 38%.

The revised standard mileage rates, effective July 1, are: 76 cents per mile for business, an increase from 72.5 cents, and 23.5 cents per mile for medical and moving purposes, up from 20.5 cents per mile for each. The mileage rate that applies to the deduction for charitable contributions is fixed under Sec. 170(i) of the Internal Revenue Code at 14 cents per mile.

All other provisions of Notice 2026-10 remain in effect.

The last midyear adjustment of the standard mileage rate was in 2022.

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The IRS announced it will soon automatically abate three types of penalties — failure to file, failure to pay, and failu...
07/17/2026

The IRS announced it will soon automatically abate three types of penalties — failure to file, failure to pay, and failure to deposit — for taxpayers with a history of timely compliance.

The new process, called automatic exemption from penalty (AEP), replaces the long-standing first-time abatement (FTA) process, the IRS said in a Wednesday news release.

In November, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins, who heads the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), announced the IRS’s intention to automatically apply first-time abatement at the AICPA National Tax Conference.

“For years, too many eligible taxpayers missed out on first-time penalty relief simply because they did not know it was available, did not understand how to request it, could not get through to the IRS, or did not have a tax professional advising them,” Collins said Wednesday in a blog.
“In fiscal year 2025, nearly 220,000 taxpayers received FTA relief through the manual process,” she wrote. “TAS estimates that if AEP had been in place for the same period, over 1.5 million taxpayers would have received penalty relief.”

Program details
AEP, expected to begin this summer, will apply to eligible original returns beginning with tax year 2025 and 2026 quarterly returns, as well as future tax periods, the IRS said. Taxpayers qualify if they have a history of timely filing the return and paying any tax due in the three prior years (or 12 consecutive quarters for quarterly returns).

When taxpayers qualify, penalties are not assessed during processing for failure to file, failure to pay, or failure to deposit. The IRS will apply AEP for eligible taxpayers and issue a notice confirming that the relief was granted.

Not all returns are eligible. For example, information returns and returns that are filed only in response to specific transactions or infrequent events generally are not eligible.

During the transition from the FTA process to the new one, some qualifying taxpayers may still receive penalty notices for eligible tax year 2025 and 2026 quarterly returns. Taxpayers who believe they qualify may contact the IRS to request First Time Abate.

AEP provides relief automatically and will replace FTA for eligible returns with original due dates on or after Jan. 1, 2027. Taxpayers may visit the administrative penalty relief page for more information.

Other penalty relief
Taxpayers who do not qualify for AEP may still request penalty relief based on reasonable cause. The IRS will review those requests and notify taxpayers of the outcome.
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In more than 20 years of teaching family enterprise, I’ve observed one fear that dominates all others among parents—enti...
07/15/2026

In more than 20 years of teaching family enterprise, I’ve observed one fear that dominates all others among parents—entitlement.

Entitlement is defined as the “unjustified assumption that one has a right to certain advantages or preferential treatment.”

This represents the opposite of what entrepreneurial parents hope their success provides for their children. While it is possible that success in one generation leads to entitlement in the next, it’s not inevitable if you take a thoughtful, strategic approach.

Why you shouldn’t purchase success
As parents or families experience entrepreneurial success, the focus often becomes how best to use the resources gained to support the next generation. Wealth is spent on benefits such as safety and security, learning and education, health and wellness, and wide-ranging experiences for the rising generation.

The goal is to increase the likelihood of success, fulfillment, and even happiness. None is negative. But problems arise when parents’ efforts to purchase opportunities lead to a focus on the outcome at the expense of the process. If parents are not careful, hiring tutors, coaches, teachers, and consultants or buying travel experiences and other luxuries can lean toward “purchasing success” rather than setting children up for opportunities.

The difference between the two might seem trivial. It’s not.

Opportunity promotes effort, uncertainty, and growth as the next generation seeks to reap the benefits of opportunities provided. Purchasing success implies none of these. Success without effort and risk bypasses the learning process, resulting in a next generation with all the perks and none of the capability—just another way to define entitlement.

How to prevent entitlement
To prevent entitlement, focus your efforts and those of the next generation on the process of growth, not just the outcome. Outcomes must be understood as the result of a process, not of a transaction.

To accomplish this, you’ll need to embrace some of the things you might have hoped the next generation could avoid because of the success of the family enterprise.

Here are four interrelated ways to embrace the process of growth.

1. Embrace uncertainty
To begin without knowing the end is what gives life meaning. Families should embrace the fact that nothing is guaranteed and that it takes effort and grit to achieve meaningful things. You might make the team, you might earn an A on the calculus test, and you might get into your school of choice—or you might not.

Similarly, you might be successful in your venture, but you might not, even if you do most things right.

The only certain path is inaction. Embracing uncertainty is embracing action, experimentation, and growth, which leads to confidence, capability, and growth.

2. Embrace failure and imperfection
The fact that outcomes can’t be controlled implies that failure is inevitable at some point. Not only is it inevitable, but failure and imperfection can be among the greatest opportunities to learn and grow.

Unfortunately, families often teach the next generation to avoid or to be embarrassed by failure, robbing them of the opportunity to learn through setbacks and falling short.

Thomas Edison is famously quoted as saying, “I’ve not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Embracing failure as an opportunity to learn can minimize its negative effects and enhance the positive.

3. Embrace hard work
Edison was a great example of the rewards of hard work, and this is among the largest factors if not the largest factor in success. Most people can’t excel in school without studying. Practice is the cornerstone of success in athletics.

Any entrepreneurial venture will take long hours to have any chance of success. The hard work promotes grit, resilience, knowledge, capability, and pride, and there’s simply no substitute for it.

So look for opportunities that will ensure the next generation has to put in the work in multiple domains.

4. Embrace the long road
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, to get somewhere meaningful. Focusing on the process is a recognition that getting from Point A to Point B will take time. The more valuable is the outcome, the more time and effort it will take to get there, most likely.

Families are often in a hurry to see the next generation succeed, given the family’s success. This rush, while understandable, can put too much emphasis on the outcome. Families should embrace the journey and celebrate that progress, even if it is slow. It represents time well spent.

Success shouldn’t be purchased for rising generations in family enterprises. When families fall into that trap, it is much more likely to lead to entitlement.

Instead, embrace the process that leads to success, as this will create a growth mindset and sustainable capabilities that will pay dividends well into the future.

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IRS offers gift tax safe harbor for contributions to Trump accountsThe IRS on Monday issued Rev. Proc. 2026-25, which pr...
07/01/2026

IRS offers gift tax safe harbor for contributions to Trump accounts

The IRS on Monday issued Rev. Proc. 2026-25, which provides a gift tax reporting safe harbor for individual donors who make one or more contributions to Trump accounts under Sec. 530A and satisfy certain conditions.

If the conditions are met, contributions will be treated as completed gifts that are not future interests in property and to which the annual per-donee gift tax exclusion applies, the IRS said. Covered taxpayers will not have to file gift tax returns reporting these contributions.

Trump accounts are a new type of individual retirement account for eligible children under Sec. 530A, which was added to the Internal Revenue Code by H.R. 1, P.L. 119-21, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

A $1,000 contribution from the federal government is available under Sec. 6434 for eligible children born after Dec. 31, 2024, and before Jan. 1, 2029. Eligible individuals are generally children with a Social Security number who have not yet reached the calendar year in which they turn 18 years old prior to the election to open a Trump account.

As of June 4, the IRS said, it had received nearly 6 million elections to open a Trump account.

In March, the IRS issued proposed regulations under Sec. 530A (REG-117270-25) that provide guidance on how to open initial Trump accounts and proposed regulations under Sec. 6434 (REG-117002-25) that provide details on the pilot program for the $1,000 donation.

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About a quarter of callers to two IRS lines got poor service, TIGTA says.About one-fourth of callers to two IRS telephon...
06/17/2026

About a quarter of callers to two IRS lines got poor service, TIGTA says.

About one-fourth of callers to two IRS telephone lines during three months in 2025 did not receive quality customer service, a watchdog report dated June 10 said.

“Recurring quality issues could lead to chronic service deficiencies and diminished taxpayer satisfaction,” the report from the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration (TIGTA) said.

The IRS agreed with the three recommendations TIGTA made in its report.

TIGTA said it listened to 200 recordings of calls to Compliance Services and Accounts Management telephone lines from Feb. 15, 2025, to May 15, 2025. Of those, 52 callers, or 26%, did not receive quality customer service, the report said.

Those two phone lines received 3.8 million calls during the three months, TIGTA said. Extrapolating data from its “statistically valid sample,” TIGTA said, about 1 million total taxpayers did not receive quality service. A lack of quality customer service included dropped, disconnected, or improperly transferred calls; extensive hold times; inaccurate information provided; and discourteous service.

TIGTA estimated that 18% (more than 250,000) of the almost 1.4 million taxpayers who called Compliance Services did not receive quality service and that 34% (more than 800,000) of the almost 2.4 million taxpayers who called Accounts Management did not receive quality service.

Because of a previous TIGTA report that identified similar issues, IRS management told TIGTA that it provided training in February to emphasize the importance of professional and courteous service.
The Taxpayer Bill of Rights on the IRS home page says that taxpayers should receive prompt, courteous, and professional assistance; should be spoken to in a way they can easily understand; and should receive explanations of IRS laws, procedures, and decisions about their tax accounts.

The IRS agreed with the following TIGTA recommendations, which said that the IRS should:

Revise Internal Revenue Manual Section 21.1.1, Accounts Management and Compliance Services Overview, to require representatives to document all types of dropped or disconnected calls, or calls that were not properly transferred, including the circumstances of the disconnection when known.
Emphasize to all representatives the importance of following hold time requirements, handling calls properly (e.g., using appropriate tone, avoiding jargon, etc.) and asking probing questions to ensure compliance with procedures and ensure that callers receive good customer service.
Evaluate recurring quality-of-service issues identified by Taxpayer Services’ internal quality reviews, identify areas of improvement, and implement procedural changes or additional training to reduce their recurrence.
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How tighter student loan caps will affect higher educationBeginning in July, federal student loan reforms will reshape h...
06/05/2026

How tighter student loan caps will affect higher education
Beginning in July, federal student loan reforms will reshape how students finance higher education. The changes introduce new borrowing limits, eliminate certain loan options, and distinguish between graduate and professional degrees when determining how much students can borrow. Most provisions take effect July 1, 2026, and apply to federal loans first disbursed for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Existing students are protected from many of these changes, which will apply mostly to members of incoming classes (see the helpful PDF chart prepared by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators).
Undergraduate student loan limits remain unchanged
Although many of the recent student loan reforms have focused on graduate borrowing, undergraduate financing remains the foundation of federal student aid programs (along with community colleges and trade, career, or technical schools, which are not the focus here). Federal Direct Loans continue to serve as the primary borrowing option for undergraduate students and, here, the caps remain unchanged.

Annual loan limits vary by the student’s year in school and dependency status. Broadly speaking, dependent undergraduate students can borrow up to $5,500 in their first year, up to $6,500 in their second year, and up to $7,500 per year during their third and fourth years. Independent students have higher limits and can borrow up to $9,500 in their first year, up to $10,500 in their second year, and up to $12,500 per year during their third and fourth years. Lifetime undergraduate borrowing is capped at $31,000 for dependent students and at $57,500 for independent students. These borrowing limits have remained largely unchanged for many years and are not indexed for inflation, which is one reason they cover a smaller share of college costs today than they did in the past.

Several considerations determine a student’s dependency status, which, as noted, affects these caps. Section 480(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. §1087vv(d)), as amended, defines an “independent student” as an individual who meets any of the following criteria:

24 years of age or older.
Married.
Has legal dependents other than a spouse.
Enrolled in a master’s, doctoral, or professional degree program.
Veteran or currently serving on active duty.
Emancipated minor or in legal guardianship.
Orphan, in foster care, or a ward of the court after turning 13 years old.
An “unaccompanied,” self-supporting homeless youth or at risk of becoming one.
Certain other unusual circumstances apply.
Because federal loan limits rarely cover the full cost of attendance, undergraduate students typically finance the remaining costs through a combination of scholarships, grants, family contributions, savings plans such as 529 accounts, part-time employment, and, in some cases, Parent PLUS or private student loans. For many students, though, undergraduate borrowing represents the first step in financing higher education and can influence whether they later pursue graduate study.

New federal loan limits for graduate study
One of the most significant policy changes in 2026 involves new borrowing limits for graduate and professional students. Under prior rules, graduate students could combine Direct Loans with Graduate PLUS Loans, which allow borrowing up to the full cost of attendance. Beginning in 2026, however, the Graduate PLUS Loan program is eliminated for new borrowers.

Moving forward, graduate students will rely primarily on Direct Loans with stricter borrowing caps. Most graduate programs, including accounting, will be limited to $20,500 per year and $100,000 in total lifetime borrowing for graduate study. However, those enrolled in a narrow set of professional degree programs (i.e., medicine, dentistry, law, etc.) will have higher borrowing limits — $50,000 per year and $200,000 in total lifetime borrowing for professional study.

Under the previous system, federal loans could be taken out up to a school’s cost of attendance, which includes living expenses such as housing and food. The new borrowing caps are no longer tied to the cost of attendance. As such, students may need to rely on other resources to cover the full cost of both tuition and living expenses.

Additional changes affecting families
The 2026 reforms also introduce new limits for Parent PLUS loans. Historically, parents could borrow up to the full cost of attendance for a dependent student’s undergraduate education, less other financial aid received by the student. Beginning in 2026, Parent PLUS borrowing will be capped at $20,000 per year per student, with a lifetime limit of $65,000 per student.

Parent PLUS loans have long served as a supplemental financing option when student loans, scholarships, and other aid do not fully cover college expenses. Because the loans are issued to parents rather than students, repayment responsibility rests with the parent borrower. In some cases, families have relied heavily on Parent PLUS loans to cover tuition at higher-cost institutions.

As a result of the recent changes, some families may need to consider alternative financing strategies, such as scholarships, savings plans, or lower-cost educational pathways when planning for how to pay for a student’s college education.

Implications for accounting education
The effects of these policy changes will vary across fields of study. Professions that involve graduate education for licensure, such as accounting, may be particularly affected. Despite the professional nature of the field and the licensure requirements associated with becoming a CPA, accounting degrees are not classified as professional degrees under a final rule issued by the Department of Education in May on the new federal student loan framework (see “Dept. of Education Releases Final Rule on Professional Degree Programs,” JofA, May 5, 2026). Professional degree programs under the applicable definition generally involve degrees that signify entry into professional practice, such as law, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and theology. The Department of Education determined that accounting programs do not fall within that definition, and as a result, most graduate accounting programs, including master of accountancy (M.Acc.) and master of business administration (MBA) degrees designed to help students reach the 150-credit traditional education pathway to CPA licensure, fall under the standard graduate borrowing limits of $20,500 annually and $100,000 in total federal loans.

Alternatives to student loans
Federal student loans are only one component of higher education financing. Scholarships and grants remain among the most valuable sources of financial aid because they do not require repayment. Employer-sponsored tuition-assistance programs can also play a role in graduate education, as some accounting firms financially support employees pursuing graduate coursework or meeting CPA licensure education requirements.

Students may also use 529 college savings plans and state-sponsored prepaid tuition plans to fund education expenses. In addition, many students offset costs through part-time employment and experiential employment opportunities, including teaching assistantships and internships. Following advocacy by the AICPA, 529 college savings plan rules have been expanded to allow certain postsecondary credentialing expenses, including those associated with the accounting profession.

While private student loans are also an option, they often have less-desirable interest rates, fewer borrower protections, and more limited repayment flexibility than federal student loans.

or find the article here: https://click.e2.aicpa.org/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjQ4OTZ9AAcAAAAAAjqT5F-OJVwJZr5FPkosJOxSQA0ah1rnSOzrM4MygmXn-bPVDAJKcBfNhiqa2c9Pk_P-MCKa7auLqtcBXSJ8GzltXAPqC40VrtuyUU2dovLcM0A

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Most retirees worry about savings — but few use financial advisers.Nearly 7 in 10 retirees are concerned about managing ...
06/03/2026

Most retirees worry about savings — but few use financial advisers.

Nearly 7 in 10 retirees are concerned about managing their savings so they don’t run out of money, yet a similar share aren’t working with a financial adviser.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents in the Schroders 2026 U.S. Retirement Survey said they’re at least slightly concerned about not knowing how to best take retirement income and/or draw down assets; 68% said they’re at least slightly concerned about outliving their assets.

Virtually the same percentage (68%) reported not currently working with a financial adviser.

“What often gets overlooked is that investing for retirement and investing in retirement are fundamentally different challenges,” Deb Boyden, head of U.S. Defined Contribution at global investment management company Schroders, said in a news release. “Once you retire, protecting against losses is just as important as capturing gains. With lifespans extending well into the 80s and beyond, your savings may need to work for you for three or four decades.”

Boyden added that retirees have “a fixed pool of assets and no second chances.” However, CPA financial advisers can provide a strategic safety net.

“Because CPAs have a unique vantage point when it comes to financial planning, they possess the drive to help the community at large not only grasp what to do, but why it matters,” Cary Sinnett, senior manager–AICPA Personal Financial Planning, said in an April news release highlighting National Financial Literacy Month. “When people understand the ‘why’ behind their decisions, they are far more likely to act with confidence and purpose.”
Last year at ENGAGE, retirement researcher David Blanchett called longevity risk the No. 1 risk in retirement and shared a plan for creating more of what he called “lifetime income” — income that is guaranteed for life in retirement.

Even though nearly 70% of retirees surveyed by Schroders were concerned about managing their money in retirement and possibly running out, more than three in four described their current financial situation as either “comfortable” (37%), “not great but not bad” (35%), or “living the dream” (4%).

However, 49% reported that expenses in retirement have been higher than they expected, and 58% said they didn’t know how long their savings would last.

Sixty-four percent said they wish they had done more planning prior to retirement.

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How to budget with irregular income using a simple system!An irregular income can make budgeting feel unpredictable. One...
05/29/2026

How to budget with irregular income using a simple system!
An irregular income can make budgeting feel unpredictable. One month you have more than enough to cover your bills, while the next feels tight. But creating a budget can bring much-needed stability by helping you plan for both high- and low-income months.

Whether you're a freelancer, contractor, commission-based worker or seasonal employee, the right budgeting system can help you manage cash flow, avoid overspending during strong earning periods and stay prepared when income slows down. With a few practical strategies — and potentially a budgeting app to help track spending and savings — you can build a plan that keeps your finances steady year-round.
Why budgeting with irregular income is challenging
If you're a freelancer, seasonal worker or small business owner, your income may not arrive on a predictable schedule. Unlike a salaried employee with consistent paychecks, you might not always know exactly how much you're earning each month — or when payments will hit your bank account.

That uncertainty can make it difficult to plan for bills, savings goals and everyday spending. During lean months, covering essentials like rent, utilities, insurance and debt payments can feel stressful. During stronger months, it can be tempting to loosen spending habits or assume the higher income will continue.
"One month can feel completely fine, and the next can feel really tight," says Andrew Gosselin, CPA at SaveMyCent. "That makes it way too easy to overspend when things are good and panic when they are not."

Without a system in place, fluctuating income can lead to inconsistent spending, missed savings goals or reliance on credit cards to bridge gaps between paychecks. A budget helps create structure by giving every dollar a purpose, even when your income changes from month to month.

Manual vs. automated budgeting: Which one actually works best?
Step-by-step: How to budget with irregular income
Here are the steps for budgeting when your income changes monthly.

1. Calculate your baseline income
Start by building a budget based on your lowest consistent monthly income. Using your baseline income, rather than high-earning months, will help protect you from overspending.

"One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to plan your budget around your worst month, not your best," says Gosselin. "Cover the basic things first, such as rent, food, utilities, insurance, debt and transport."

To find your baseline, review your income from your past six to 12 months. Identify the lowest-earning months, and use that conservative estimate as your default monthly budget.

2. Separate essential and flexible expenses
Next, you'll want to separate your essential expenses from more flexible costs. Some fixed needs include:

Rent or mortgage and utilities
Groceries
Insurance
Transportation
Minimum debt payments
Variable or discretionary costs may include:

Dining out
Shopping
Travel
Streaming services
Entertainment
3. Prioritize essential expenses first
Before anything else, you need to cover your essential expenses, like housing, food and transportation. Once you've got your basic needs covered, you can allocate any remaining income toward other priorities, like savings goals and fun spending.

This approach will give you a safety net, since you'll cover your most important bills before spending money elsewhere.

4. Use a ‘buffer’ or income smoothing strategy
Creating a financial buffer is key when budgeting with a variable income. Aim to set aside savings during high-income months that you can draw from if and when your income dips. This strategy will help smooth out your income and make your finances more predictable even when your income isn't.

"When you earn more, set the extra aside in a separate account," advises Gosselin. "When the slower month comes, that money will be useful when you need it."

It's generally wise to save an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months of expenses. If your income fluctuates significantly, you may aim to save even more so you can make it through low-earning months with less stress.

5. Budget by paycheck (not by month)
A traditional monthly budget may not be the right fit when you're earning a variable income. Rather than budgeting by month, you may want to budget each time you get paid.

Whenever a paycheck hits your bank account, you could allocate that money toward different categories, such as essential bills or your buffer savings account.

This gives you the chance to adjust categories according to your income and needs, rather than trying to predict the entire month in advance.

6. Track income and expenses consistently
Tracking your income and expenses consistently is an important part of budgeting, especially when your income varies. Budgeting apps for irregular income can be a huge help, since they can categorize your expenses and automate the budgeting process.

Monitor your cash flow closely so you can make informed decisions about your spending. You might also identify areas where you can cut back or opportunities to save more during high-income months.

7. Adjust your budget frequently
The most effective budget is one that you check frequently and adjust as you go. Schedule weekly or bi-weekly check-ins of your budget to see if you're sticking to your goals.

During these check-ins, you can adapt your budget to your actual income, rather than using estimates that may or may not be accurate.

Don't be afraid to adjust your spending categories and reallocate money as needed.

Best budgeting approaches for irregular income
Here are a few budgeting approaches that work well for an irregular income:

Zero-based budgeting: With this method, you assign a purpose to every dollar you earn, whether that's paying bills or funneling it into savings. Zero-based budgeting is an intentional approach to budgeting that gives every dollar a job.
Pay-yourself-first approach: This strategy encourages you to save a portion of your income before you start spending. You'll automatically move some of your earnings into your emergency fund, retirement savings or other savings bucket.
Envelope-style budgeting: This has you set spending limits for specific categories, whether by putting cash into envelopes or using digital envelopes for different categories. It can help you avoid overspending.
Switching budgeting apps? Here's how to keep your financial data safe
Common mistakes to avoid
There are some common mistakes that can derail a carefully planned budget. Avoid these missteps as you create your spending plan:

Budgeting based on best-case income: Build your budget around your lowest-earning months rather than your best-case scenarios. If you budget around optimistic earnings, you could end up unable to afford expenses.
Ignoring slow months: When you have a variable income, some months will be slower than others. Prepare for these slow periods by building your savings. If your income follows a seasonal pattern, you may know in advance which months tend to earn less than others.
Not building a buffer: Setting savings aside is key for getting through months when your income dips. Without a savings buffer, you may be forced to rely on credit cards or loans to cover your bills.
Overcomplicating the system: While budgeting for a variable income has some challenges, you don't want to overcomplicate your budget. Identify your baseline income, categorize your spending and adjust the numbers as you go. Keep things simple and straightforward so you're more likely to stick with your budget long term.
How budgeting apps can help with irregular income
Budgeting apps can be powerful tools for managing your spending and irregular income. Many apps provide features like:

Real-time tracking of your spending and earnings
Flexible budgeting categories
Emergency fund and other savings goal tracking
Bill reminders and spending alerts
Cash flow monitoring
Analysis of your income trends
You can often connect your accounts to an app and sync your data automatically, saving you the legwork of having to track all your income sources and categorize your expenses. At the same time, you'll have the chance to customize the categories and adjust your budget as your financial situation changes.

Bottom line
Budgeting with an irregular income calls for flexibility and planning ahead. Using a baseline income, building your buffer savings and prioritizing your essential expenses can help you create stability even when your earnings are unpredictable.

Budgeting apps can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you, making it easy to categorize expenses and track your spending. By checking in with your budget regularly and adjusting it as you go, you can gain control over your income, even as it rises and dips throughout the year.

FAQs about budgeting with irregular income
How do you budget if your income changes every month?
If your income changes every month, consider basing your budget on your lowest-earning months. That way, you'll have a baseline and won't overcommit to expenses you can't afford during slow months. Prioritize your essential expenses and adjust your budget based on your real paychecks, rather than estimates.

What is the best budgeting method for irregular income?
While there's no single best budgeting method for irregular income, some useful methods include zero-based budgeting, pay-yourself-first budgeting and the envelope system.

Should you save more with irregular income?
It can be helpful to save more when you have an irregular income so you'll have a buffer when your earnings dip. You'll be less stressed if you can draw from savings during a low-income month and won't have to rely on credit cards or loans.

Can budgeting apps handle variable income?
Many budgeting apps can work well with a variable income. You can sync your various accounts and allow the app to track your cash flow. Budgeting apps can also categorize your earnings, send you bill payment and spending alerts and analyze your income trends.

What’s the biggest mistake people make?
A common mistake people make is budgeting around high-income months instead of planning more conservatively. Another is not checking in with their budget regularly or adjusting it as their circumstances change.

read STEP BY STEP guidelines in the full article here:
https://click.e2.aicpa.org/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjQ4ODl9AAcAAAAAAezoKqs5LVC034q-FQncaqrhWa56O8S6lGqP4EVQfSf-bqvBfmhBYzozi5SzayaHHj_ojqeVEqSqNVUiI52OChB9-yMGcjilRayoqQmb4vtpWuE

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