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-TCoL

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Thanks to growing demand, lithium stock prices grew 2X+ from June 2025 to January 2026. $ALB climbed as high as 227%. $LAC hit 151%. $SQM, 159%.

But the real winner may be a stock not listed on public exchanges, EnergyX.

This $1B unicorn’s patented technology can recover 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That’s earned investment from leaders like General Motors.

Now they’re preparing for commercial production just as experts project 5X demand growth by 2040. They’ve announced what could be one of the US’ largest lithium production facilities and have rights to approximately 150,000 lithium-rich acres across North and South America.

Unlike public stocks, you can buy private EnergyX shares alongside 40,000+ other investors. Invest for $11/share by the 2/26 deadline.

Invest in EnergyX Today

_{This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com. Under Regulation A, a company may change its share price by up to 20% without requalifying the offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.}

SMB NEWS: Florida Property Tax Relief: Not for SMBs (here is a short and sweet summary)

Florida lawmakers are pitching HJR 203 as “property tax relief,” but it is really a targeted break for one group: people who live in their own Florida homes full-time. The measure, which has passed the House and is now waiting on the Senate, would eliminate the non-school portion of property taxes charged by cities, counties, and most local districts on homesteaded primary residences starting in 2027, but only if it is placed on the November 2026 ballot and at least 60% of voters approve it.

The school portion of the tax bill would not change, so the typical homeowner would still owe roughly 40% of today’s bill, with the exact share varying by county.

Commercial property, rental housing, and non-homestead second homes get no relief and continue under the current rules. Local governments would lose a large share of revenue from owner-occupied homes while still being expected to fund core services such as police and fire, which is likely to mean more pressure on the remaining tax base — especially businesses and landlords — or cuts in other services that businesses rely on.

If you are staring at your 2025 income numbers thinking, “I should have planned better,” you are not alone. Many business owners discover their tax problem only after the year is closed.

December 31 shuts some doors. It does not shut all of them.

A handful of meaningful moves remain available before you file. Most involve prior-year contributions and careful reporting. None are exotic. All are practical.

If you qualify, you can still make a 2025 IRA contribution up to the regular April filing deadline and designate it for 2025.

Important: a filing extension gives you more time to file your return, not more time to fund an IRA for the prior year. The contribution deadline is generally the unextended due date.

If you are eligible for a deductible traditional IRA contribution, the deduction reduces your 2025 taxable income. If you are funding a Roth, there is no current deduction, but the contribution still counts toward your 2025 limit.

Before you fund it, confirm income phaseouts and workplace plan rules. A contribution only helps if it is allowed and properly reported.

If you were covered by a qualifying high-deductible health plan in 2025, you can generally make a 2025 HSA contribution up to the unextended due date of your 2025 return.

Two practical points:

HSAs remain one of the most efficient tools in the Code: deductible going in, tax-deferred growth, tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. If you missed funding it during the year, this is one of the few clean second chances.

If you are self-employed, your lever may be larger.

For many sole proprietors and single-member LLC owners, a SEP IRA allows an employer contribution for 2025 to be made up to the due date of the business return, including extensions.

That extension point matters. Unlike IRA contributions, SEP contributions can generally follow a properly filed extension.

The calculation is income-based and mechanical. It is not something to guess at - talk to your CPA. But if your 2025 income was strong, this can materially reduce taxable income.

Even when the year is closed, reporting choices can change the final number.

Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing

In 2025, the deduction for state and local income and property taxes is capped (generally $40,000, or $20,000 if married filing separately). If you are considering itemizing because of high property taxes, run the math using the cap.

Mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and medical expenses may push you over the standard deduction. But medical expenses help only to the extent they exceed the percentage-of-AGI threshold. Confirm you clear that hurdle before assuming they matter.

Run the return both ways.

Your Filing Status

That small box controls brackets, phaseouts, and credit eligibility.

If you were newly married or divorced in 2025, or if you supported dependents in a way that might qualify you for head-of-household status, confirm the rules rather than guessing. The correct status can shift the result meaningfully.

Sometimes the tax itself is largely fixed. The penalty may not be.

Underpayment Safe Harbors

Many taxpayers avoid the underpayment penalty if they:

If your income was uneven during the year, the IRS allows an annualized income method (Form 2210, Schedule AI) that can better match payments to when income was earned.

In cases involving disaster, casualty, or unusual circumstances, the IRS has authority to waive penalties when it would be inequitable to impose them.

The tax may be fixed. The penalty calculation often is not.

Installment Agreements

If you cannot pay in full, an installment agreement can prevent escalation with the IRS.

Interest and applicable penalties generally continue until the balance is paid. But structured payment is better than ignoring the bill - talk to your CPA if you need time to pay.

The most valuable move you make this spring may not affect 2025 at all.

Once your 2025 return is complete:

Tax planning works best when it is dull and timely.

You cannot rewrite 2025. You can prevent it from repeating. The goal is not brilliance, it is steadiness.

And steadiness, unlike December 31, does not expire.

Editor’s note: The above is general business advice. You should consult your CPA sooner rather than later - especially if you are concerned about your 2025 tax liability.

Have an interesting business question and need a free bit of advice? Send your question to [email protected]. No confidential info, please!