The RamGrows Blog
Practical tax and money answers from the office on Brighton Beach Ave. No jargon, no scare tactics.
The NYC Uber and Lyft Driver's Tax Guide
How NYC rideshare drivers should handle 1099-K forms, Schedule C, self-employment tax, and TLC deductions without getting an IRS letter.
6 min readPer Diem for Truck Drivers, Explained Like a Human
What per diem really is, who can claim it, the 80 percent rule for DOT drivers, and the records that make it hold up.
6 min readThe Mileage Log That Survives an Audit
What the IRS actually wants in a mileage log, why app totals fall short, and the habits that protect your biggest deduction.
6 min read1099 or W-2: What Your Paperwork Says About Your Taxes
The real differences between 1099 and W-2 work: withholding, self-employment tax, deductions, and what to do when you have both.
6 min readQuarterly Estimated Taxes Without the Panic
Who owes quarterly estimated taxes, when the four deadlines land, how safe harbor works, and a simple system for never falling behind.
6 min readLLC or S-Corp in New York: How Small Owners Actually Choose
A plain-English guide to choosing between a default LLC and an S-corp election in New York, including the NYC tax wrinkles most articles skip.
7 min readYour EIN: What It Is, Why You Need It, How to Get It Right
What an EIN is, who needs one, how to apply free with the IRS, and how owners without a Social Security number can still get one.
6 min readSeven Bookkeeping Mistakes That Sink New Restaurants
The seven bookkeeping mistakes that quietly kill new restaurants, from spending sales tax to guessing at food cost, and how to fix each one.
7 min readNew York Sales Tax for Small Shops: The Plain-English Version
How New York sales tax really works for small shops: registration, what is taxable, the odd filing calendar, and the mistakes that trigger notices.
7 min readBOIR and Beneficial Ownership: What Small Businesses Need to Know Now
What the beneficial ownership report (BOIR) is, why the rules kept changing through 2024 and 2025, and how to find out if your business must file.
6 min readYou Got an IRS Letter. Here's Exactly What to Do.
A calm, step-by-step guide to reading, verifying, and answering an IRS letter, with deadlines, common notice types, and when to get help.
6 min readThe ITIN Guide: Filing Taxes Without a Social Security Number
How to file US taxes without a Social Security number: what an ITIN is, how the W-7 process works, and how to apply without mailing your passport.
7 min readHaven't Filed in Years? Here's the Road Back
A practical path back to good standing with the IRS after years of not filing: transcripts, which years to file, penalties, and payment options.
7 min readWhere's My Refund? How Refund Timing Actually Works
How IRS refund timing really works: e-file and direct deposit norms, the Where's My Refund tool, common delays, and when it is time to act.
6 min readDependents and the Child Tax Credit: Getting It Right
Who counts as a dependent, how the Child Tax Credit is structured, and the mistakes that freeze family refunds, explained for NYC households.
7 min readCredit Repair Without the Scams: What Actually Works
What credit repair can and cannot do, how disputes really work, and how to spot the companies selling you a fantasy.
7 min readFunding a Small Business: The Realistic Menu
A plain-English tour of real small business funding options, what each one costs, and what lenders actually want to see.
7 min readSmart Tax Moves to Make Before December 31
Practical year-end tax moves for NYC families and business owners, plus the overrated ones you can skip.
7 min readHow to Choose a Tax Preparer (and the Red Flags That Should Scare You)
How to vet a tax preparer, what credentials mean, and the red flags, from ghost preparers to refund-based fees.
7 min readFrom Shoebox to System: Recordkeeping That Takes 10 Minutes a Week
A realistic recordkeeping system for small business owners: one afternoon of setup, ten minutes a week, no shoebox in April.
6 min read