The Profitjets Blog
Finance Writing for People Running the Business
Practical articles on bookkeeping, accounting, tax, payroll and financial strategy, written for founders and operators rather than for other accountants.
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What is Bookkeeping: A Step-by-Step Guide
What bookkeeping covers, how it differs from accounting, and the five-step process behind a clean set of books.
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Form 1099: All You Need to Know About Filing
The variants, who gets one, and what to collect before you pay.
Form 1099: Filing Mistakes and How to Correct Them
The two error types, how to correct each, and how to avoid both.
Form 1120 Download and Filing Guide: Where to Get the C-Corporation Return
Where to Download Form 1120, Key Sections of the Blank Form, and Required Attachments.
Form 1120 Due Dates, Extensions, and Penalties: Complete 2026 Guide
Filing Deadlines, Automatic 6-Month Extension (Form 7004), and Estimated Tax Payments (Form 1120-W).
Form 1120 Schedule C: Dividends, Inclusions, and the Dividends-Received Deduction
What Is Schedule C on Form 1120, What Is the Dividends-Received Deduction (DRD), and The Taxable Income Limitation.
Form 1120 vs Form 1120-S: C-Corp vs S-Corp Tax Filing Comparison
Side-by-Side Comparison, When C-Corp Makes More Sense, and When S-Corp Makes More Sense.
Form 1120-F Filing Requirements: When Foreign Corporations Must File
Who Must File Form 1120-F, ECI vs. FDAP Income, The Core Distinction, and Treaty Elections and Benefits.
Form 1120-S: S-Corporation Tax Return, Complete Filing Guide
S-Corporation Eligibility Requirements, Filing Deadline, and Schedule K: Income, Deductions, Credits Allocated to.
Form 1120: The Complete C-Corporation Tax Guide
Double Taxation, The C-Corp Trade-Off, The 21% Corporate Tax Rate, and Dividends Received Deduction (DRD).
Form 5329: How to Avoid Retirement Account Tax Penalties
When Do You Need Form 5329, The 10% Early Distribution Penalty, and Key Exceptions to the 10% Penalty.
Form 8615: Tax for Children's Unearned Income (Kiddie Tax)
When it applies, where the income comes from, and the election's cost.
Form 8962: Premium Tax Credit, Step-by-Step Instructions
Who Must File Form 8962, Income Eligibility: The Federal Poverty Level Test, and Step-by-Step: Completing Form 8962.
Form 941 Schedule B: Daily Tax Liability for Semi-Weekly Depositors
Who Must Attach Schedule B, Semi-Weekly Deposit Schedule, and How Schedule B Works.
Form 941: The Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, Complete 2026 Guide
What Is Form 941, Who Must File Form 941, and Form 941 Filing Deadlines (2026).
Form W-9 2026: How to Fill It Out Correctly
What Is Form W-9, Who Provides a W-9, and Line-by-Line Completion Guide.
Franchise Tax Requirements: Essential Guide for Small Businesses
Which states charge it, how it is calculated, and when it is due.
FreeTaxUSA Review 2026: Is It Really Free and Is It Good Enough?
What Is FreeTaxUSA, What Is Actually Free, and What Does It Cost.
How Far Back Can the IRS Audit You? Statute of Limitations Explained
Overview: The IRS Audit Window Is Not Unlimited, Standard Rule: 3 Years, and Extended Rule: 6 Years.
How Long to Keep Tax Returns and Supporting Documents
Why Record Retention Matters, General Rule: 3 to 7 Years, and IRS Guidance Explained.
How to Amend a Tax Return: Form 1040-X Step-by-Step Guide
When Should You Amend Your Tax Return, When NOT to Amend, and Understanding Form 1040-X: The 3-Column Structure.
How to Check Your IRS Refund Check Status: Paper vs Direct Deposit
Paper Check vs. Direct Deposit: Know the Difference, Tracking a Direct Deposit Refund, and Tracking a Paper Check.
How to Check Your IRS Tax Refund Status in 2026
The Fastest Way: IRS Where's My Refund Tool, When Can You First Check, and The Three Status Stages.
How to Complete IRS Form 56: Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship
Why it protects you, and why the termination notice matters.
How to File Form 1040-X: Amending Your Federal Tax Return
When Should You Amend, Deadline to File Form 1040-X, and How to Complete Form 1040-X.
What we write about
Eight topics we come back to
Pick a topic and the library above filters to it.
Bookkeeping
Clean books, reconciliations, chart of accounts and month-end close.
Accounting
Close process, financial statements, cash against accrual, and reporting that gets used.
Tax
Preparation, planning, entity choice, deductions, quarterly estimates and the IRS forms behind them.
CFO
Forecasting, cash flow, fundraising readiness and the executive roles founders confuse.
Payroll
Withholding, payroll taxes, W-2s and 1099s, and multi-state teams.
Metrics
The ratios and statements that tell you what is actually happening in the business.
Software
QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite and the tools that feed them.
Business Finance
Entity formation, banking, budgeting, funding and getting the finances in order.
Would You Rather We Just Did It?
Reading about reconciliation is useful. Not having to do it is better.