J.R. Martin & Associates - CPA

05/27/2026

Google's updates to its search bar are really interesting: https://www.techbrew.com/stories/google-it-while-you-still-can

And if you own a business, you might be tempted to ask Gemini something like:

“How do I know if my business is profitable?”

It will give you an answer curated from thousands of online results. Maybe even one that sounds convincing.

Look at revenue, expenses, profit margins, and cash flow.

But Gemini can’t see your books or track the financial history of your business.

It can’t find the leaks. Or the opportunities.

It can’t tell if your expenses are coded right, if your reports are current, or if the profit you’re looking at is actually money you can use.

That part takes an experienced advisor looking at your actual business.

That’s what we’re here for.

05/26/2026

𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙗𝙮 𝘼𝘾𝙃 𝙮𝙚𝙩?

Don’t assume that because your business pays duties by ACH, your refund will automatically come back the same way.

CBP requires a separate ACH refund enrollment.

That means you need to manually verify your bank details in the ACH Refund Authorization tab inside your ACE Portal.

If that isn’t active and linked to your Form 5106, your refund can sit in a non-interest-bearing suspense account.

That can freeze your capital and stop any additional interest from accruing until the paperwork is fixed.

Before you count on the refund timeline, make sure the ACH refund setup is complete.

05/24/2026

LLC or LOL? The Real Benefits of Forming an LLC

Confused about LLCs? We break down the real benefits — liability protection, tax flexibility, and ownership control — in plain language, so you can build your business with confidence.

05/22/2026

"𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?"

If your business runs on a seasonal rhythm, you need a plan for managing the gaps between stronger revenue cycles. Here are four things you can do to help steady your seasonal cash flow:

1. Pull your P&L from the last two or three years and look for patterns. When does revenue dip? How long does it last? Which expenses stay high even when sales slow down?
2. Send invoices quickly, follow up consistently, use automatic reminders, and consider upfront deposits for larger projects.
3. If you have unused space in the off-season, consider whether subleasing, short-term rentals, or event use could bring in extra income.
4. Use slower months to test revenue pivots, market your next busy season, and encourage referrals from happy customers.

A slowdown just means your strategy needs to match your seasonality.

And we can help you build that seasonality-optimized cash flow strategy.

05/21/2026

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙨?

A recent study found that resilient entrepreneurs tend to believe they can get better at managing what they already have. Money. Time. Cash flow.

And when things get tight, they’re more likely to look for options instead of assuming they’re stuck.

That’s a good reminder for any business owner.

You can’t make smart decisions with books that are months behind.

When your books are up to date, it’s easier to see what you can cut, pause, or keep moving.

When things get tight, do your books give you answers or more questions?

New research shows entrepreneurs who believe they can improve resource management are more resilient. Learn how a growth mindset supports recovery and persistence.

05/20/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗔 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗘?
If you qualify for an IEEPA tariff refund, you’ll file through the CAPE tab in ACE.

Here’s what that process looks like:

1. Verify your ACE account -- Make sure your CBP Importer Record uses your company email, not your broker’s.
2. Set up ACH -- Refunds are paid by ACH, so your bank info needs to be set up in ACE.
3. Identify eligible shipments -- Review your Form 7501 records for IEEPA-related HTS Chapter 99 codes.
4. Prepare your CAPE declaration -- Your CSV needs one column titled “Entry Number,” with each entry number exactly 11 characters.
5. Submit and monitor your claim -- Upload the file in ACE under the CAPE tab and watch for your Claim Number.

A wrong digit, old email, or mismatched filer code can slow down the whole refund process.

We can help you review your records, spot potential refund opportunities, and figure out the right next step.

05/19/2026

What's the most unconventional thing you've done to save money in your business?

05/18/2026

𝘿𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙?

Not all tariffs you paid are eligible for the recent tariff refunds you've seen talked about in the news.

Right now, refunds apply specifically to IEEPA tariffs (like certain imports from China, Canada, and Mexico).

Not... a) section 301 tariffs, b) section 232 (steel/aluminum), or c) anti-dumping duties.

The easiest way to check? Look for a Chapter 99 HTS code on your customs paperwork.

If it’s there, you may have a refund opportunity.

Find out more here:

05/17/2026

Thinking of Starting a Business With Someone? Here's the Tax Truth About Partnerships.

Starting a business with a partner? Learn the real tax rules around partnerships, what the IRS requires, and how to build your structure the right way.

05/15/2026

𝘼𝙢 𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙢 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙?

Right now, refunds are being issued in phases. You may qualify if your shipment is:
• 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 → Customs hasn’t finalized the fees yet
• 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 → Was finalized within the last 80 days

If it’s older than that, then you'll have to wait to apply. We'll keep you updated if that changes.

Until then, keep your records organized. Because when the window opens, you'll be clear on what you imported and when.