Founder & Developer
Muhammad Haroon
Full-Stack Developer & Independent Researcher
Muhammad Haroon is a full-stack software developer and independent researcher who creates financial modeling tools, tax calculators, and educational resources for freelancers and small business owners.
After experiencing the opacity and high costs of standard tax planning advice first-hand, he founded Indie Tax Stack to make these calculations transparent. Instead of offering passive advice or generic rules-of-thumb, he researches official IRS guidelines, models the exact math, and writes detailed breakdowns explaining the mechanics.
His authority model is built on transparency: Research the tax code → Build interactive calculators → Write clear explanations → Verify math against official examples → Ship open-source tools. All calculators run entirely client-side in the browser so that your financial information remains private.
Calculators Built
S-Corp Optimizer
Compares the federal employment-tax difference between a sole proprietor and an S-corp, with Solo 401(k) and potential-QBI breakdowns.
QBI Entity Selection Calculator
Models the Section 199A deduction across entity types, including the taxable-income, SSTB, W-2 wage, and UBIA limits.
1031 Exchange Wizard
Calculates realized versus recognized gain, boot, and replacement property requirements.
Capital Gains Simulator
Nets short and long-term gains, models tax-loss harvesting, and bracket stacking.
Tax Return Documentation Checkup
A documentation readiness checklist for records, reporting, and classification. It does not predict audits or score a return.
Technical & Research Skills
Editorial methodology and disclosure
All calculators and articles are independently researched and developed using publicly available IRS Publications, Instructions, Forms, and Treasury Guidance. Calculations are tested against official formulas and published examples where available. Indie Tax Stack is not a CPA firm, law firm, or financial advisory service, and does not provide professional tax, legal, or financial advice. Always consult a licensed tax professional before making tax decisions.
Articles Written
June 21, 2026
1031 Exchange Deadlines: The 45-Day and 180-Day Rules Explained (2026)
Both 1031 exchange clocks start the day your relinquished property closes. Here is how the 45-day identification deadline and the 180-day closing deadline really work, including the tax-return rule that can quietly cut your time short.
June 21, 2026
What Is Boot in a 1031 Exchange? Cash Boot, Mortgage Boot, and Fresh-Cash Offsets
Boot is the part of a 1031 exchange that gets taxed. Here is how cash boot and mortgage boot work, why outside cash can offset a smaller new loan, and why a bigger loan cannot shelter cash you already pocketed.
June 15, 2026
How a 1031 Exchange Actually Defers Capital Gains Tax: The Definitive 2026 Guide
A 1031 exchange doesn't erase your capital gains. It rolls the tax forward. Here's the exact deferral mechanism, the 45/180-day deadlines, boot traps, and the same-taxpayer rule that catches entrepreneurs off guard.
June 21, 2026
1031 Exchange Depreciation Recapture: Unrecaptured §1250 Gain Explained
Depreciation lowers your basis, which raises your gain. Here is how unrecaptured Section 1250 gain works in a 1031 exchange, why the rate can fall below 25% but never above it, and what happens when you receive boot.
June 21, 2026
1031 Property Identification Rules: The 3-Property, 200% and 95% Rules
The three identification rules are alternatives, not a checklist. Up to three properties has no value cap, four or more invokes the 200% rule, and the 95% exception is a narrow rescue. Here is how the waterfall works.
June 19, 2026
The §199A QBI Deduction Explained: How the 20% Tax Break Actually Works in 2026
A plain English walkthrough of the Section 199A qualified business income deduction for 2026: who qualifies, the income thresholds, the W-2 and UBIA limits, SSTB phaseouts, and the mistakes that quietly shrink your 20%.
June 19, 2026
How to Choose the Best Business Entity for the QBI Deduction
Compare LLC, S-Corp, partnership, rental, and C-Corp tax outcomes to choose the best business entity for the §199A QBI deduction in 2026. See how owner salary, W-2 wages, UBIA, and NIIT decide which structure leaves the most after-tax cash.
June 21, 2026
Business Travel, Meals, and Vehicle Deductions: Records You Need
What records substantiate travel, meal, and vehicle deductions for a small business. A documentation guide built on IRS substantiation rules, not on safe percentages.
June 21, 2026
California 1031 Exchange Rules: Form FTB 3840 and Deferred-Gain Tracking
If you exchange California property for an out-of-state replacement, California keeps tracking the deferred gain on Form FTB 3840 until you recognize it. Here is how that works and how it differs from closing withholding.
June 19, 2026
Can Software Developers Claim the QBI Deduction in 2026?
Software developers, freelancers, agencies, and SaaS founders: whether your income qualifies for the §199A QBI deduction in 2026 depends on business vs employee income and SSTB status. Examples for W-2 engineers, freelancers, S-Corps, and consultants.
June 21, 2026
2026 Capital Gains Tax Brackets: 0%, 15%, and 20% Income Thresholds
The 2026 long-term capital gains brackets by filing status, where the 0%, 15%, and 20% rates start, and why crossing a threshold does not tax your entire gain at the higher rate. Figures from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
June 21, 2026
Collectibles Capital Gains Tax: Why Art, Gold, Coins, and NFTs Can Face a 28% Rate
Long-term gains on collectibles such as art, gold, coins, and certain NFTs use a maximum 28% rate, not the usual 0/15/20%. Here is how the 28% ceiling works, why it is a maximum and not a flat rate, and how it differs from the 25% Section 1250 rate.
June 21, 2026
CP2000 Notice vs. IRS Audit: How to Tell What the IRS Wants
A CP2000 is a proposed adjustment from an information mismatch, not an audit and not a bill. Here is how to read one, compare it to your return, and choose the right response.
June 21, 2026
Digital Asset Tax Records and Form 1099-DA
Form 1099-DA reports digital-asset proceeds starting with 2025 transactions, but many statements may not include complete basis. Here is how to reconcile your own records across exchanges and wallets before you file, and why you must report taxable activity even without a form.
June 21, 2026
FBAR Filing Requirements: Foreign Accounts, $10,000 Threshold, and Deadlines
When an FBAR is required, how the $10,000 aggregate threshold works, and how FinCEN Form 114 differs from IRS Form 8938. Plus the April 15 deadline, the automatic October 15 extension, and the records to keep for foreign accounts.
June 21, 2026
Hobby vs. Business: Profit-Motive Rules Explained
An activity is presumed to be for profit if it shows a profit in at least 3 of 5 years, but the IRS also weighs the broader facts and circumstances. Falling short of that test does not automatically make your activity a hobby.
June 21, 2026
Home Office Deduction in 2026: Simplified Method vs. Actual Expenses
The simplified home office method is $5 per square foot up to 300 square feet, capping at $1,500. This guide helps you pick between that and the actual-expense method and shows the records each one needs.
June 21, 2026
How Long to Keep Tax Records: 3-Year, 6-Year, and 7-Year Rules
A clear guide to how long to keep tax records, including the 3-year, 6-year, and 7-year rules. Covers employment-tax records, asset-basis records, and what to keep forever.
June 21, 2026
Independent Contractor vs. Employee: IRS Classification Factors
How the IRS decides whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee, using behavioral control, financial control, and the relationship of the parties. Plus what to document before you hire recurring contractors and when Form SS-8 makes sense.
June 21, 2026
IRS Audit by Mail vs. In-Person Examination
Most IRS examinations happen by mail, but some take place face to face at an IRS office or your place of business. Here is how the two formats differ and how to prepare for each.
June 21, 2026
How IRS Audit Selection Works: What DIF Scores Can and Cannot Tell You
The IRS uses computer screening and information-return matching to pick returns for review. Public materials do not give taxpayers a usable DIF formula, so no outside tool can estimate a real DIF score or audit probability.
June 21, 2026
IRS Notice Response Checklist: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
An IRS letter in your mailbox calls for reading and record-gathering, not panic. This checklist walks the first two days step by step so you respond from facts, not fear.
June 21, 2026
Late S-Corp Election Relief: How Form 2553 Works
You elect S-corp status with Form 2553, normally by 2 months and 15 days into the tax year. If you missed it, Revenue Procedure 2013-30 may still let you file late with a reasonable-cause statement.
June 11, 2026
LLC vs S-Corp Tax Election 2026: The Math Nobody Shows You
Most guides stop at 'save on SE tax.' Here's the actual profit threshold, salary sweet spot, and the QBI trap that quietly kills your deduction.
June 21, 2026
How the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax Applies to Capital Gains
The 3.8% NIIT is not an automatic surcharge on every gain. It applies to the lesser of your net investment income or the amount your MAGI exceeds the threshold. Here is the lesser-of math, with a worked example.
June 21, 2026
Noncash Donations and Form 8283: Records and Appraisal Requirements
Form 8283 is generally required when your total noncash charitable deductions exceed $500, and contributions over $5,000 generally require Section B. The exact rules and exceptions depend on the type of property you give.
June 19, 2026
QBI Income Thresholds and Phaseouts 2026: §199A Limits by Filing Status
See the 2026 QBI income thresholds, phaseout ranges, SSTB limits, W-2 wage and UBIA phase-ins, and how taxable income changes your §199A deduction.
June 21, 2026
QSBS Section 1202 Exclusion Guide: Startup Stock Tax Rules in 2026
Qualified Small Business Stock can let founders and early investors exclude a large share of their gain under IRC Section 1202. Here are the eligibility tests, the 50/60/75/100% exclusion tiers, the 28% interaction, and the California warning.
June 21, 2026
How to Choose a Qualified Intermediary for a 1031 Exchange
In a deferred 1031 exchange you cannot touch the sale proceeds, so a qualified intermediary holds them for you. Here is what a QI does, who is disqualified from the role, and what to check before you sign.
June 21, 2026
What Records the IRS May Request in an Audit
When the IRS examines a return, it sends a written request for the specific records it wants to review. Here is what those records usually are and how to organize a clean package.
June 19, 2026
REIT & PTP QBI Deduction Guide 2026: How the 20% §199A Deduction Works
Learn how qualified REIT dividends and publicly traded partnership income can qualify for the 20% §199A QBI deduction in 2026, how they affect taxable income, and how NIIT may apply.
June 21, 2026
S-Corp Accountable Plans: Reimbursing Home Office, Phone, and Mileage Expenses
An accountable plan lets your S-corp reimburse you for business use of your home, phone, and car, tax-free to you and deductible to the company. It works only if you follow the three rules.
June 21, 2026
S-Corp Health Insurance for Owners: How It Is Reported
For a more-than-2% S-corp shareholder, company-paid health premiums go into W-2 Box 1 wages but stay out of Social Security and Medicare wages. The owner can then usually deduct them on the Form 1040.
June 21, 2026
How S-Corp Owner Payroll Works: W-2, Forms 941, 940
An S-corp owner who works in the business is an employee of the corporation and has to run real payroll. The company withholds and remits taxes, files Forms 941 and 940, and issues a W-2.
June 14, 2026
What Does the IRS Actually Consider a "Reasonable Salary" for S Corp Owners?
The IRS has strict rules about what S Corp owners must pay themselves. Get this wrong and you lose your tax savings, or worse, trigger an audit.
June 19, 2026
How S-Corp Salary Impacts QBI in 2026
Your S-Corp salary is not QBI, so a higher salary can shrink your §199A deduction even as it satisfies reasonable-compensation rules. Here is how owner wages change QBI, the W-2 wage limit, and net cash in 2026, with a worked $300,000 example.
June 21, 2026
S-Corp vs. Sole Proprietor Solo 401(k): How Salary Changes Your Limit
Your S-corp salary, not your profit, sets your Solo 401(k) employer contribution. Here is how the two structures differ at the same profit, and why lowering your salary to save payroll tax also lowers your retirement ceiling.
June 21, 2026
Section 1256 Contracts: How the 60/40 Capital Gains Tax Rule Works
Section 1256 contracts are marked to market at year end and taxed 60% long-term, 40% short-term regardless of holding period. Here is how the 60/40 rule works, with a worked example on a $100,000 gain, plus a Form 6781 warning.
June 21, 2026
Short-Term vs. Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Rates in 2026
Holding an asset one year or less gets you ordinary income rates up to 37%. Holding it more than a year gets you 0%, 15%, or 20%. Here is how the holding period changes your tax, with a worked example on the same $50,000 gain.
June 21, 2026
Small Business Recordkeeping Checklist: What to Keep for Taxes
A practical checklist of the records small businesses should keep for taxes, from bank statements to mileage logs. Built around what the IRS expects your books to show.
June 19, 2026
SSTB vs Non-SSTB: How Specified Service Businesses Affect the QBI Deduction
Find out whether your business is a specified service trade or business (SSTB) and why the §199A QBI deduction shrinks or disappears for SSTBs once taxable income passes the 2026 threshold. Includes the categories, a worked example, and edge cases.
June 15, 2026
Swap Till You Drop: How Chained 1031 Exchanges May Reduce Deferred Federal Gain at Death
Every 1031 exchange rolls your deferred gain forward in a lower basis. Chain enough of them over a lifetime and, under current federal law, your heirs generally inherit at fair market value under IRC §1014, which can eliminate the built-in federal capital-gain exposure on a later sale. Estate tax, state rules, and future law still matter.
June 21, 2026
Tax-Loss Harvesting Rules: Capital Losses, the $3,000 Deduction, and Carryforwards
Tax-loss harvesting works by offsetting gains first, not by erasing salary tax. Here are the netting rules, the $3,000 ordinary-income limit, the $1,500 MFS limit, and how carryovers keep their character, with worked examples.
June 21, 2026
How to Verify an IRS Notice and Avoid Tax Scams
The IRS first contacts taxpayers by mail and does not initiate contact through social media or text messages. Here is how to confirm a notice is genuine and spot the fakes.
June 19, 2026
W-2 Wage and UBIA Limit for QBI: How the §199A Limit Works in 2026
Why your QBI deduction is not simply 20% of profit. A 2026 guide to the §199A W-2 wage and UBIA limit: the greater of 50% of wages or 25% of wages plus 2.5% of property, what counts, and how wages or equipment can raise the deduction.
June 21, 2026
Wash Sale Rule Explained: When a Capital Loss Is Disallowed
Sold at a loss but got no deduction? The wash-sale rule under IRC Section 1091 disallows a loss when you buy a substantially identical security within 30 days. The loss is not erased, it is added to your replacement basis. Worked example inside.
June 21, 2026
When Does an S-Corp Make Sense? A 2026 Break-Even Framework
There is no fixed profit threshold and no $60,000 rule for electing S-corp status. An S-corp helps when the federal employment-tax saving beats your real compliance costs, so compare the two with your own numbers.