Tax & Accounting Insights
for Texas Businesses
Strategic tax tips, accounting advice, and financial insights from Evans Sternau CPA — serving businesses and individuals in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and The Woodlands.
The Section 179 Election: What It Is, Who Benefits, and When It Makes Sense
Learn how the Section 179 election lets business owners immediately deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment and software instead of depreciating it over years and when it makes sense to use it.
Year-End Tax Planning Moves to Make Before December 31
As the year end draws near, it is crucial to navigate the tax planning window whether you’re an individual or business. Here are moves that work, and ones action-required before December 31st.
When a Like-Kind Exchange Goes Bad: Failed 1031s and the Tax Fallout
When a 1031 exchange fails, the full gain from the property sale becomes immediately taxable. Learn the most common ways exchanges fall apart — and what options remain when they do.
Understanding Recourse vs. Nonrecourse Debt in Partnerships
In real estate partnerships, how debt is classified — recourse or nonrecourse — determines how much basis each partner receives and how much loss they can deduct.
The Earnout Trap: How Deal Structure Can Turn a $5M Sale into a $3M Tax Bill
Earnouts look like a bridge between buyer and seller — but their tax treatment can quietly convert capital gains into ordinary income. Here’s what to watch for before you sign.
Selling a Business Before Year-End: The Tax Calendar Decisions That Can’t Be Undone
The date you close a business sale can cost or save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Learn which tax calendar decisions lock in once the deal closes — and how to plan before that happens.
The Short-Term Rental Loophole: How Airbnb Hosts Can Unlock Passive Loss Deductions
Short-term rentals are treated differently under the passive activity rules — and that difference can unlock significant loss deductions for Airbnb hosts who meet the right criteria.
Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale: Who Wins in the Tax Math?
Whether a business sale is structured as an asset sale or a stock sale determines who pays more in taxes — and the gap can be significant. Here’s how the math works for buyers and sellers.
What Most Investors Get Wrong About the 1031 Exchange Boot
Boot is the most misunderstood concept in 1031 exchange planning — and misunderstanding it can turn a tax-deferred exchange into a partial or fully taxable event.
