As the founder of Ever>Green Accounting, a Puget Sound–based tax and accounting firm built around proactive planning, I find it helpful to start each year with a simple gut check: what would I do if this were my business and my money? If the strategy isn’t practical enough for me to implement amid a busy schedule, it’s probably not practical for many business owners and investors either.

That’s also why we’ve invested heavily in modern workflows and automation. When routine tasks run smoothly, you gain the bandwidth to focus on the decisions that matter—cash flow, taxes, and long-term wealth—without turning every choice into a fire drill.

With the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) now in effect (signed July 4, 2025), 2026 offers a handful of planning opportunities for owners who want to be deliberate, reduce surprises, and stay in control of their outcome.

100% "Bonus" Depreciation is Back - but time equipment and vehicle purchases around “placed in service” (not just date of purchase)

If you’re planning to buy equipment, technology, or business vehicles, the tax result often hinges on one deceptively simple question: was it placed in service in the year you want the deduction? In other words, it’s not just about when you paid for it—it’s about when it was actually ready and available for business use.

With bonus depreciation back at 100% under current law, the “placed-in-service” date can be the difference between a highly efficient deduction and an underwhelming one. In practice, this means planning ahead—lead times, installation, delivery delays, and even scheduling can matter. The best outcomes usually happen when purchases are coordinated with your broader plan, not made in the final week of December out of panic to bring down taxable income.

For owners expanding operations, it’s worth watching the evolving incentives around domestic investment. Recent changes include enhanced depreciation rules that can allow accelerated write-offs for certain qualifying property—particularly for businesses building or substantially investing in U.S.-based manufacturing activity.

These rules are technical, and eligibility depends on facts and timing. But for the right business, the benefit can be significant enough to justify early planning and careful documentation. 

If you invest in software, process improvement, or product development—revisit R&D and interest strategy

R&D is commonly misunderstood. In many modern businesses, it has nothing to do with test tubes and everything to do with product development, process improvement, engineering time, technical problem-solving, and building internal tools. 

Recent law changes revived favorable treatment for certain domestic research and experimentation costs and improved how some businesses can navigate the business interest limitation rules. If you’re reinvesting heavily, hiring technical talent, building software, or funding growth with debt, this is a strong year to review how those costs flow through your return—and whether your current bookkeeping captures the detail needed to support the position.

The practical takeaway: good tax outcomes start with good categorization. If everything goes to “miscellaneous” or “contract labor” with no supporting detail, your options can potentially shrink or could be costly for you to untangle later. 

Make retirement a “non-negotiable” line item 

Many business owners quietly treat the business itself as the retirement plan: “Someday I’ll sell,” or “Someday the business will run without me.” The problem is that “someday” has a way of arriving late—and often after you’ve already traded time, health, and flexibility for years longer than you intended.

Retirement plans can be one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available to owners, and in 2026 the contribution limits increased for 401(k)-type plans. But the bigger issue I see isn’t the limit—it’s timing and follow-through. For example: SEP IRAs can often be established and funded as late as the business return due date (including extensions), making it a useful “after year-end” planning lever. However, a SIMPLE IRA generally must be established within a specific window during the year to be effective. 

Business owners also frequently forget that some employer contributions—like profit sharing—may be made after year-end while still being deductible for the prior year (depending on plan design and deadlines). That can create flexibility, but it has to be coordinated carefully to avoid overfunding, missed deadlines, or plan compliance issues.

Qualified Opportunity Zones: rural areas got more attractive

Opportunity Zones aren’t for everyone—but investors in real estate or operating businesses (or you’re considering a strategic exit and reinvestment plan), the IRS issued guidance that makes certain rural QOZ investments easier to structure. Specifically, the IRS clarified the definition of “rural area” and reduced the “substantial improvement” threshold from 100% to 50% for certain property in rural QOZs.

That’s a meaningful shift for feasibility—and it’s exactly the kind of strategy that benefits from early modeling (and a clear understanding of timelines and compliance).

In closing, effective tax results aren’t won through exotic loopholes. They’re earned through good timing, clean records, disciplined follow-through, and a plan that’s tailored to your actual business reality—supported by systems that keep you from missing the moments that matter.

And importantly: no tax strategy is one-size-fits-all. Every business—and every owner—has different goals, constraints, risk tolerance, and timing considerations. That’s why it’s essential to work closely with tax professionals who are trusted, knowledgeable, and attentive, so the plan is not only effective, but also strategic and accurate.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not tax advice. Readers should consult with a qualified tax professional regarding their specific situation.