Nexus Accounting & Tax Advisors

08/17/2026

Did you know you may be able to receive a tax refund even if you owe the IRS?

Most people assume that if they owe the IRS, any refund they receive is automatically gone.

That’s not necessarily the case.

There are circumstances where the IRS may allow a taxpayer experiencing significant financial hardship to receive all or part of their refund instead of having it applied to their tax debt.

There’s a process for requesting this relief… but timing is critical.

If you owe the IRS and you’re expecting a refund next year, this is something you should look into before you file and before your refund is offset.

If this sounds like your situation, send me a message. I’ll explain how it works and whether it may be something you can pursue.

Don’t wait until the IRS has already taken the refund.

08/17/2026

08/04/2026

A major acquisition with local roots…

Harvey-based Atkore has agreed to be acquired by global cable manufacturer Prysmian in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $3.8 billion. Shareholders are expected to receive $95 per share, representing about a 30% premium over the company’s recent closing price. (Reuters)

This is another reminder that manufacturing in our region continues to attract major global investment….especially as demand grows for electrical infrastructure supporting AI, data centers, energy, and grid modernization. (Reuters)

Congratulations to the Atkore team on this milestone. It’ll be interesting to watch what this means for jobs, investment, and economic growth in the south suburbs over the coming years.

08/03/2026

Illinois Remote Retailers: This one’s for you.

The Illinois Department of Revenue has opened its 2026 Remote Retailer Tax Amnesty Program—a limited-time opportunity for eligible businesses to resolve past Illinois sales tax liabilities with penalties and interest waived.

If you think this may apply to your business, let’s talk. I’ve summarized the program below. 👇

07/21/2026

I finally launched my new LinkedIn newsletter... NEXUS Business Intelligence!

My first edition is Illinois Business Owner's Guide to Sales Tax Nexus, where I break down one of the most misunderstood tax topics for business owners in plain English.

If you're a business owner, or know someone who is, I'd love for you to check it out and subscribe.

erica johnson - public accountant If you're a business owner, you've probably heard the word nexus thrown around at some point. Maybe by your accountant, maybe by another business owner, or maybe while reading about sales tax.

07/14/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions in business is that if a company looks successful, it must be financially healthy.

Revenue is not cash flow.

I've seen businesses with impressive sales, growing customer lists, and strong brand recognition struggle because they lacked the financial visibility needed to manage growth, debt, and cash tlow. In many cases, rapid growth outpaces a company's ability to fund it through operations alone.

Stories like this are always fascinating to me because they remind us how little we actually know from the outside looking in.

I have no opinion on the allegations in this case, and I don’t know the facts beyond what’s been reported. What I do know is that situations like this are a reminder that financial health is often much more complex than the public realizes.

As someone who spends a lot of time inside privately held companies, I’ll definitely be following this one.

After nearly a decade at the helm, Uncle Nearest CEO Fawn Weaver has been terminated amid ongoing legal and financial trouble.

07/03/2026

⚠️ Heads up, taxpayers…

A client recently received what appeared to be an IRS notice…inside a bubble mailer with an IRS-branded USB thumb drive.

Don’t plug it in.

The IRS generally does not send unsolicited USB drives, and these have been linked to malware scams designed to steal your personal and financial information.

If you receive one…throw up a red flag and report it. Stay safe! 👀

06/29/2026

Nobody is too famous… or too successful… to outrun the IRS.

According to reports, Twista’s accountant warned him. The IRS warned him. The tax debt continued to grow anyway.

This is the part people miss…

The IRS knows not everyone can pay immediately. What they expect is communication. Ignoring notices is what turns a manageable tax problem into liens, levies, criminal charges, and years of unnecessary stress.

If you’re behind on taxes, don’t wait until the IRS makes the next move. There are often options available… but they work best when you act early.

The worst tax strategy is pretending the problem doesn’t exist.

Nexus Accounting & Tax Advisors
Tax Resolution • Installment Agreements • Offers in Compromise • IRS Notice Review

06/25/2026

President Trump has floated the idea of eliminating federal income tax for Americans earning $150,000 or less.

If that were enacted, it would affect the vast majority of taxpayers...which is why the proposal has generated so much attention.

The proposal suggests replacing much of the revenue currently collected through individual income taxes with tariffs on imported goods.

On the surface, it sounds like a win for many American households. The bigger question is whether the numbers work.

As a public accountant, I've learned it's important to separate campaign proposals from actual tax law. They're not the same thing.

For fiscal year 2025, the federal government collected approximately **$2.7 trillion** from individual income taxes. Tariff revenue, while significantly higher than in previous years, was approximately **$195 billion.** That's a substantial gap.

Many economists have questioned whether tariffs alone could generate enough revenue to replace the federal income tax. Others point out that at least some tariff costs are often passed on to consumers through higher prices.

It's also important to remember that **this proposal has not become law.**

The tax legislation that ultimately passed extended many existing tax provisions, but it did **not** eliminate federal income taxes for individuals earning under $150,000.

Whether you support the idea or oppose it...it's worth understanding the difference between a proposal, a campaign promise, and an enacted law.

As public accountants, our job is to help clients understand the law as it exists today...while keeping an eye on what may change tomorrow.