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Tax Cafe — Autarky Tax and Accounting
Autarky Tax & Accounting
Tax Cafe
Practical guides, tax planning strategies, and accounting insights from our CPAs and Enrolled Agents
NIL & Student-Athlete Tax
Individual Tax · Jun 24, 2026
NIL Earners & Student-Athletes: Your Complete Tax Guide
International Tax · Jul 23, 2026
International Student-Athletes, NIL Income, U.S. Tax Residency, and FIRPTA
International Tax · Jul 24, 2026
O-1A and P-1A Athletes: The Only NIL Solutions for International Collegiate Athletes
Individual Tax · Jul 25, 2026
The Jock Tax and NIL: How State Income Taxes Follow Student-Athletes Across State Lines
NIL & Student-Athlete Tax · Jul 27, 2026
The Arizona Sports Agency Landscape: Who Protects Your Wealth?
NIL & Student-Athlete Tax · Jul 27, 2026
NIL Isn't Free: What Every Student-Athlete Should Know Before Signing
110 posts
FBAR and FATCA Compliance for US Expats: What You Must File and When
US citizens living abroad face two overlapping foreign account reporting regimes — FBAR and FATCA. Missing either one can trigger penalties that dwarf the account balances themselves. Here is exactly what you need to know.
Form 8621 and Form 5471: The Two Most Dangerous International Tax Forms
Form 8621 for passive foreign investment companies and Form 5471 for controlled foreign corporations carry some of the steepest penalties in the tax code — and most expats and international investors have never heard of them.
IRS Audit Red Flags for Small Businesses: What Triggers a Review
Most small business audits are not random. Former IRS agents reveal the specific patterns and deductions that put your return at the top of the selection pile — and what to do about them.
Irwin Schiff: A Cautionary Tax Figure—What We Can Learn About Taxes, Constitutional Arguments, and the Rule of Law
Irwin Schiff spent decades challenging the federal income tax—and paid a severe price. His story offers important lessons about the difference between lawful tax planning and arguments that courts have consistently rejected.
The Politics of Taxes: Why Simple Promises Often Ignore Economic Reality
Every election cycle, voters hear familiar promises about taxes. As tax professionals who work with the actual tax code, one lesson becomes clear: there is no such thing as a free government program.
Don't Step Over a Dollar to Save a Dime: The Tax Strategy That Costs More Than It Saves
One of the most common mistakes business owners make is letting taxes dictate business decisions. Here's why chasing deductions can quietly cost you more than it saves.
Don't Let the Tax Tail Wag the Dog: Why Chasing Tax Deductions Can Limit Your Wealth
Many business owners believe paying taxes means they're losing. In reality, a large tax bill is often the byproduct of something every owner wants — profit. Making decisions solely to avoid taxes can quietly limit your long-term wealth.
The Tax-Efficient Retirement Withdrawal Strategy
A poorly designed withdrawal strategy can result in higher taxes, increased Medicare premiums, and unnecessary RMDs. Here's how to maximize after-tax retirement income across all your accounts.
The Philosophy Behind Autarky Tax Advisors: What Diogenes Can Teach Us About Modern Tax Planning
The concept of autarkeia — self-sufficiency — reaches back over 2,300 years to Diogenes of Sinope. Here is how that ancient philosophy shapes everything we do at Autarky Tax.