Cost of goods sold isn't just a special category of expenses — for tax purposes, it's actually part of the definition of gross income, and only manufacturing, merchandising, and mining businesses qualify to report it. Jeremy breaks down what Treasury Regulation 1.61-3 actually says, why service businesses shouldn't have COGS on their returns even when the financial statements show it, and why getting this wrong can be catastrophic for cannabis businesses operating under IRC Section 280E.

Connect with Jeremy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwellstax
https://www.steadfastbookkeeping.com

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https://www.youtube.com/@TaxinAction

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This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Jeremy walks through the case of a Florida surgeon who lost a $288,000 refund after his CPA failed to file three years of returns, exploring how the failure to file and failure to pay penalties work and why they matter so much. He breaks down the critical differences between these two penalties, explains why an extension to file is never an extension to pay, and covers the Supreme Court's position on taxpayer responsibility even when relying on professionals. The episode also details how first time abatement works, what qualifies as reasonable cause for penalty relief, and why the IRS applies its own administrative waivers before considering statutory reasonable cause exceptions.

Connect with Jeremy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwellstax
https://www.steadfastbookkeeping.com

Subscribe on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@TaxinAction

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast
https://www.earmark.app/

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media

Jeremy breaks down the 2025 Besaw v. Commissioner tax court case, where a taxpayer lost a $6,760 charitable deduction despite everyone agreeing the donation actually happened. The case reveals why blank Goodwill receipts aren't sufficient, what "contemporaneous written acknowledgement" really means under IRC Section 170, and exactly what documentation taxpayers must maintain—whether they're filing Form 8283 or not. Learn the substantiation requirements for non-cash donations under $250, over $250, and over $5,000, plus how to properly value donated household goods and clothing using fair market value standards.

Connect with Jeremy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwellstax
https://www.steadfastbookkeeping.com

Subscribe on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@TaxinAction

Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcast
https://www.earmark.app/

This podcast is a production of Earmark Media