Dear Valued Client,

Your tax return doesn’t have to be stressful.

Our team is ready to prepare your 2025 tax return, but we require your information no later than August 15^th, 2026 to ensure your return is completed and filed on time.

✔ Here’s What We Need

Please submit all of your tax documents by August 15, 2026, including any income statements, deductions, credits, or other tax-related information.

📂 How to Send Your Documents

Choose whichever option is most convenient for you:

🔒 Secure Client Portal

Upload your documents anytime through our secure portal.

📍 Office Drop-Off

875 94th Avenue N.

Naples, FL 34108

📧 Questions?

Not sure if a document is needed? Contact us—we’re happy to help.

Don’t Let a QR Code Cost You: How to Avoid the Latest IRS Scam

Scammers are constantly finding new ways to steal personal and financial information, and one of the latest tactics involves something many of us use every day: QR codes.

QR code can seem harmless, especially when it appears on what looks like an official IRS notice. But before you scan, it’s important to know that scammers are using fake IRS letters and fraudulent QR codes to direct taxpayers to websites designed to steal sensitive information.

How the Scam Works

You receive a letter that appears to come from the IRS. It may include official-looking logos, realistic formatting, and even a legitimate IRS phone number or website listed on the notice.

The catch? The QR code.

Instead of taking you to an official IRS webpage, the code may send you to a fake website that asks for personal information such as:

• Social Security numbers
• Bank account information
• IRS account login credentials
• PINs or passwords

Once this information is submitted, scammers can use it to commit identity theft or financial fraud.

Why This Scam Is So Convincing

QR codes have become part of everyday life, making them an easy target for scammers.

A fake IRS notice may appear completely legitimate at first glance. In some cases, even the website address or phone number printed on the letter may be accurate. The fraudulent QR code is often the only part of the notice designed to deceive you.
That’s why it’s important to verify before you scan.

How to Protect Yourself

If you receive an unexpected IRS notice, keep these tips in mind:

● Don’t scan QR codes on unexpected letters or notices.
● Go directly to IRS.gov by typing the address into your web browser.
● Never provide personal or financial information through links received from unsolicited emails, text messages, or social media.
● If you’re unsure whether a notice is legitimate, contact the IRS using information found on IRS.gov, not the information provided by a suspicious message or QR code.

Remember: The IRS Won’t Contact You This Way

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message, or social media to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for:

• Passwords
• PIN numbers
• Bank account information
• Credit card information
• Other sensitive financial details

If you receive a message asking for this information, it’s almost certainly a scam.

Stay Informed

Tax scams continue to evolve each year, making awareness one of your best defenses. The IRS publishes its annual Dirty Dozen list to help taxpayers recognize the most common scams targeting individuals and businesses.

Review the 2026 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams to learn more about the latest threats and how to protect yourself.

Staying cautious and taking a few extra moments to verify before clicking or scanning can help protect your identity, your finances, and your peace of mind. When in doubt, skip the QR code and go directly to IRS.gov.

The IRS may have wrongly charged you penalties during COVID. Get them refunded.

Which Tax Years Could Be Affected?

The issue may affect taxpayers with federal tax deadlines that fell during the COVID-19 disaster period, including certain deadlines related to 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 tax returns.
In general, the refund opportunity may be relevant for taxpayers who:

• Filed or paid after the original due date, but before July 10, 2023
• Were assessed late-filing penalties, late-payment penalties, estimated tax penalties, or certain interest during the COVID-19 disaster period
• Paid those penalties or interest and may now want to preserve a potential refund claim

Why July 10, 2026, Matters

The statute of limitations for refund claims is generally three years from the date a return was filed or two years from the date the tax was paid, whichever is later. For returns treated as filed by the postponed July 10, 2023, deadline, the three-year window may expire on July 10, 2026.

Taxpayers who believe they may have paid penalties or interest affected by the Kwong decision should consult their tax advisor as soon as possible. A protective claim may help keep the tax year open while the issue continues to be litigated.
In many cases, taxpayers may need to file Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement, with the IRS. This form is generally paper filed, so taxpayers should allow enough time for preparation, mailing, and documentation before the July 10, 2026, deadline.

What Should Taxpayers Do Now?

Taxpayers who paid IRS penalties or interest connected to COVID-era filing or payment deadlines should consider taking the following steps:

• Review IRS account transcripts for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
• Identify any penalties or interest assessed during the COVID-19 disaster period
• Determine whether payments were made before July 10, 2023
• Consult a tax advisor about whether a protective refund claim may be appropriate
• File any required claim before the applicable deadline

The opportunity is still developing, and refunds are not guaranteed. However, for taxpayers who paid significant penalties or interest during the pandemic period, the potential benefit may be worth reviewing before the July 10, 2026, deadline.
If you paid IRS penalties or interest related to COVID-era filing or payment deadlines, ML&R can help you evaluate whether a protective refund claim may be appropriate.

How Did This Issue Arise?

In late 2019, Congress enacted changes to Internal Revenue Code Section 7508A, which provided an automatic 60-day postponement for certain federal tax filing and payment deadlines following a federally declared disaster.
On January 20, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a federal disaster. Because the original declaration did not include a formal end date, taxpayers have argued that certain federal tax deadlines were automatically postponed for the duration of the disaster period, plus an additional 60 days.

President Biden later ended the COVID-19 national emergency effective May 11, 2023. Under the reasoning in Kwong, that end date, plus the additional 60-day period, created a postponed deadline of July 10, 2023. In 2021, Congress amended the law to prevent this type of open-ended extension for future disasters, but that change applies prospectively and does not resolve the question for the COVID-19 disaster period.

As a result, some taxpayers and practitioners are arguing that the IRS should not have assessed certain interest or penalties on underpaid, late-paid, or late-filed taxes during that period.

Is the Kwong Decision Final?

No. The law remains unsettled, and the government is expected to continue challenging this position. Because the issue may take years to resolve through additional litigation or IRS guidance, taxpayers who may be affected should not assume refunds will be automatic.

However, waiting too long could cause taxpayers to lose the ability to file a claim. That is why many tax advisors are encouraging affected taxpayers to consider filing a protective refund claim before the applicable statute of limitations expires

Taxpayers should review IRS transcripts and payment records to determine whether a protective claim may be appropriate.

Important Tax Filing Deadlines | Are You Prepared?

Key Deadlines

• March 15th, 2026 – Filing deadline for business taxes (S-Corporations and Partnerships)
• April 15th, 2026 –  Filing deadline for Personal Taxes and Estate/Trust return (Form 1041) and business taxes (C-Corporation)

Need additional time?
Our office can file a 6 month extension of time on the client’s behalf, at no additional charge.

• September 15th, 2026 – Extension filing deadline for Filing deadline for business taxes (S-Corporations and Partnerships)
• October 15th, 2026 – Extension filing deadline for Personal Taxes and Estate/Trust return (Form 1041) and business taxes (C-Corporation)

Learn more about the Safe-Harbor rule here.

One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions –

– and what that means for you as an individual

For everyday taxpayers, the bill brings tax credits that can benefit families and some workers. But it also introduces stricter eligibility for some safety-net programs.

Key Provisions:

• Child Tax Credit: Raised to $2,200 per child, with a portion refundable. Applies only to qualifying dependents and is indexed for inflation.
• Dependent Credit: $500 for other qualifying dependents, such as elderly parents.
• Senior Deduction: Taxpayers of 65 years or older can claim an extra $6,000 (or $12,000 for married couples filing jointly where both filers are 65 years old or older) standard deduction through 2028. However, this amount starts to phase out for individuals making more than $75,000 (or joint filers making more than $150,000). Seniors with an income of $175,000 and couples with a combined income of $250,000 are not eligible for this deduction.
• SALT deduction cap: The cap on deducting state and local taxes (SALT) is temporarily raised to $40,000 for tax year 2025—but it’s scheduled to return to lower levels after 2029 unless Congress acts again.
• Car loan interest deduction: Individuals can deduct up to $10,000/year in interest from car loans for U.S.-assembled vehicles purchased between 2025 and 2028. Income limits and other restrictions apply.
• “Trump Accounts”: The new tax-deferred savings accounts for children born between 2025 and 2029 allows families to contribute up to $5,000/year, and the money can be used for education, medical expenses, or first-time home purchases starting at age 18.
• Major federal tax credits and some rebate programs for energy-efficient home improvements are expiring at the end of 2025. This includes the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) and the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D), which provided significant tax savings for upgrades like solar panels, efficient windows, and heat pumps.

How to Understand the Major Shift

The One Big Beautiful Bill reshapes both personal and business taxes by locking in lower rates, expanding deductions, and introducing new but sometimes temporary credits. At the same time, it trims certain safety net and environmental programs, showing the trade-offs built into the law.

For most individuals and families, this means greater certainty in planning, but also the need to track which benefits are temporary. Tax law is always evolving, and while the OBBB settles some questions, it also raises new ones. It’s normal to feel uncertain about what applies to you. That’s why professional guidance is so valuable.

One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions –

– and what that means for you as a business owner

Business owners gain several permanent tax advantages. The 20% deduction for QBI is now permanent, offering clarity to owners of pass-through entities. The bill also makes 100% bonus depreciation permanent, allowing companies to fully expense capital investments right away.

Workforce Related Updates

• Tips and Overtime Pay: Starting in 2025, tips and part of overtime income are no longer taxable. What’s important for employees to know is that only the “extra” portion (the half-time premium) is tax free. For example, if an employee normally earns $20/hour and makes “time and a half” ($30/hour) for overtime, only the extra $10 is tax-deductible. For employers, regular payroll tax rules still apply. But employers must report the portion of the employee’s pay that is qualified overtime separately on the W-2 form.
• Section 179D (Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Tax Deduction): It’s been 20 years since the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which included Section 179D to reduce energy use, was signed into law. Businesses will no longer be able to claim this deduction starting in July of 2026. The OBBB phases out the popular deduction, but projects that begin construction before July 1, 2026 can still qualify, even if they’re completed later. This change affects developers, building owners, and contractors who’ve used 179D to offset costs for installing high-efficiency HVAC, lighting, and building envelope systems.

Business owners should evaluate how these provisions affect entity structure, capital investment plans, and workforce benefits. Not all companies will benefit equally, as outcomes depend on industry, size, and workforce composition.

How to Understand the Major Shift

The One Big Beautiful Bill reshapes both personal and business taxes by locking in lower rates, expanding deductions, and introducing new but sometimes temporary credits. At the same time, it trims certain safety net and environmental programs, showing the trade-offs built into the law.

For most individuals and families, this means greater certainty in planning, but also the need to track which benefits are temporary. Tax law is always evolving, and while the OBBB settles some questions, it also raises new ones. It’s normal to feel uncertain about what applies to you. That’s why professional guidance is so valuable.

What is a Trump Account?

A Trump account is a new, tax-advantaged custodial Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for children under 18, created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and launching in 2026

• No contributions necessary—but you can deposit up to $5,000 per year to maximize growth.
  Your account balance will grow over time on its own, whether you choose to contribute additionally or not. You may contribute up to $5,000 per year to accelerate gains.
• The account is fully in your child’s name, and you are the sole custodian until they turn 18. –
  They’re free to continue letting it grow, or they can withdraw funds right away to use for things like education or a home—with all the tax advantages of a traditional IRA.
• Get $1,000 for every American child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. –
  The federal government will make a one-time $1,000 contribution for each eligible child’s account

– Enroll your child at anytime or by making an election when you file your 2025 taxes –

Additional Information:

Overview of Trump Accounts

• Parents, guardians, or others can establish a Trump Account for an eligible child
• Trump Accounts cannot be funded before July 4, 2026
• The federal government will make a one-time $1,000 contribution for each eligible child’s account
• Authorized contributions from individuals and employers are allowed up to $5,000 per year
• Employers can contribute up to $2,500 per year toward an employee’s or dependent’s Trump Account without it counting as taxable income for the employee
• Funds must be invested in certain mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that track a U.S. stock index such as the S&P 500

Withdrawal and use

• Generally, money cannot be withdrawn before the year the child turns 18
• After that point, the account is treated like a traditional IRA with similar tax rules

Who must receive a 1099-NEC?  

Any individual or unincorporated entity (such as sole proprietors or partnerships) that you paid $600 or more during the tax year for services rendered.

What is needed to issue a 1099-NEC? 

• Full Legal Name
• Social Security Number
• Mailing Address
• Total Amount paid in 2025

Confirming and gathering this information now allows you to avoid last-minute stress and potential filing penalties.

**A best practice tip from the Professionals**  Have all laborers at the start of work, complete a Form W-9 – this will provide you, the employer with all the necessary information to file a 1099-NEC.

Form W-9 linked here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf

The October 15th, 2025 deadline to file your 2024 personal tax return is almost here. If you filed an extension, this is your final chance to submit your return for our office to guarantee completion by the October 15^th deadline. — let our team at Tax Professional Group help you file quickly, accurately and avoid penalties.

We make the process simple:

• Gather and organize your documents
• Submit them securely to our team
• We’ll prepare and file your return before the deadline

Are You Ready?

2024 Tax season is moving quickly, and missing deadlines can cost you.

Key Deadlines:
September 15, 2025 – Filing deadline for Partnerships, S-Corporations, and C-Corporations (with extension).

October 15, 2025 – Filing deadline for Individuals (with extension).

Don’t let these important dates pass you by. Our team is here to help you stay compliant and file with confidence.