Nobody likes feeling lost about money, and taxes are where a lot of smart, capable people feel the most lost. Every week someone calls us and starts with, "This is probably a dumb question, but…" It almost never is. Usually it's a question the rules made confusing on purpose, or one that changed last year without anyone explaining it.
So here are the questions we hear most often, answered the way we'd answer them on the phone: plainly, with the real numbers, and without making you feel bad for asking. The figures below are current as of October 2026.
"When is my refund coming?"
If you e-file and choose direct deposit, the IRS says most refunds arrive in about three weeks. Paper returns take six weeks or more. One exception catches a lot of families: if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or the refundable part of the Child Tax Credit, the law makes the IRS hold your refund until mid-February, no matter how early you file. That delay isn't a problem with your return. It's built in.
One more change worth knowing: the IRS is phasing out paper refund checks, so set up direct deposit if you haven't.
"Is it true there's no tax on tips or overtime now?"
Partly. For 2025 through 2028, there are two new federal deductions. Tips can be deducted up to $25,000 a year, but only for jobs on the IRS list of customarily tipped occupations, and only for tips that were reported. Overtime can be deducted up to $12,500 ($25,000 for married couples filing jointly), but only the extra "half" of time-and-a-half counts, and only for workers covered by federal overtime law. Both start phasing out once income passes $150,000 ($300,000 joint).
Two things people miss. First, Social Security and Medicare tax still come out of those dollars; the deduction lowers income tax only. Second, Georgia didn't copy the federal rules. Georgia passed its own smaller break starting in 2026: up to $1,750 of tips and $1,750 of overtime left out of state income.
"Is Social Security tax-free now?"
No, even though you may have heard that it is. What actually passed is an extra $6,000 deduction for each person 65 or older, on top of the standard deduction, for 2025 through 2028. It phases out above $75,000 of income ($150,000 joint). For many retirees that means less tax on their Social Security, and for some it means none. But the benefit itself didn't become tax-free.
"I can't pay what I owe. Should I still file?"
Yes, and this is the most important answer on this page. The penalty for not filing is 5% of the unpaid tax for each month you're late. The penalty for not paying is 0.5% a month. Not filing costs about ten times more than not paying. File on time, pay what you can, and set up a payment plan for the rest.
Payment plans are more doable than most people expect. If you owe less than $100,000, you can get up to 180 days with no setup fee. For $50,000 or less, a longer monthly plan can be set up online for $69, or $29 if you use automatic bank payments. Interest still adds up, so the sooner it's handled, the cheaper it is.
If you filed an extension this spring, remember that it only extended the time to file, not the time to pay. Those 2025 returns are due October 15, 2026.
Not filing costs about ten times more than not paying. File on time, even if you can't pay it all.
"Is the $600 Venmo and PayPal rule happening?"
No. The law changed back. Payment apps only send a Form 1099-K when you receive more than $20,000 across more than 200 transactions in a year. But here's the part that trips people up: income is taxable whether or not you get a form. If you're paid for work through an app, it still belongs on your return. Splitting dinner with friends was never income.
"I got a letter from the IRS. Is it real? Am I being audited?"
Take a breath. The IRS starts almost every contact with a letter in the mail. It does not text you, it does not demand gift cards or wire transfers, and it does not threaten arrest over the phone. If something feels off, you can check the notice number on IRS.gov or call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.
Most letters are not audits. A CP2000 means the income the IRS has on file (from a W-2 or 1099) doesn't match your return. It's a proposed change, not a bill and not an audit, and you can agree, partly agree, or disagree with paperwork. A CP14 says there's a balance due. Every letter has a reply-by date. The worst thing you can do is put it in a drawer.
"I started a side hustle. What do I owe?"
Congratulations, and yes, it counts. Once you earn $400 or more in net self-employment income, you owe self-employment tax of 15.3% on top of income tax. That's the Social Security and Medicare an employer would normally split with you. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more for the year, the IRS expects quarterly estimated payments. The next one, for the last part of 2026, is due January 15, 2027.
The good news: you can deduct real business expenses, like supplies, a share of your phone, or mileage, which lowers both taxes. Keep receipts from day one.
"Do I need a tax pro, or can I use software?"
Plenty of people do fine with software. A person is worth it when something changed: a new business or side income, a home purchase, a marriage or divorce, a new baby, an IRS letter, years you didn't file, or a return you're just not sure about. A good preparer also looks forward, not just back, so next April isn't a surprise.
Whoever you choose, a few red flags: anyone who promises a specific refund before seeing your paperwork, bases their fee on the size of your refund, or won't sign the return as the paid preparer.
"How long do I keep my tax records?"
The IRS's general rule is three years from when you filed. Keep them six years if income was underreported by more than 25%, and keep them indefinitely if a return was never filed. Employment tax records for a business: at least four years. A folder or a scanned copy is plenty.
The question behind all the questions
When people call us, the question underneath is usually the same: "Am I okay?" Most of the time, the answer is yes, or yes once a few things are fixed. If any of these questions sounds like yours, call us at (800) 850-5237. The first call is free, takes 30 minutes, and you don't need to bring anything.
This article is general information, not tax advice for your situation. Figures are from IRS.gov and Georgia sources and are current as of October 2026; tax rules change, so confirm before you act. Sources: IRS refund FAQ, IRS: new deductions for tips, overtime and seniors, failure-to-file penalty, failure-to-pay penalty, payment plans, 1099-K threshold, CP2000, self-employment tax, record keeping, Georgia HB 463.