I'm writing to you from Las Vegas, Nevada, where I'm proudly embracing my role as a GirlDad at our final Las Vegas Red Rock Rave Volleyball National Qualifier with my daughter's Rancho team. Over the past two days, we've remained undefeated with a 6-0 record. Tomorrow, we face the intensity of single-elimination matches—a blend of excitement and bittersweet sentiment as we conclude this chapter of our volleyball journey.

Reflecting on the court's pressures, I can't help but draw parallels to the current climate many self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs are navigating. The recent imposition of a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico by President Trump has introduced significant uncertainty, affecting global markets and small businesses alike.

In this week's Income Unchained newsletter, we delve into four pivotal topics to equip you with the knowledge and strategies to thrive amidst these challenges:

Enjoy,
Carlos Samaniego EA

Why INCOME UNCHAINED? Because I'm tired of seeing hard-working Americans:

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When major policy shifts happen, it's the small business owner who needs practical information FAST.

The recent implementation of 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada affects $2.2 trillion in annual trade. As small business owners and self-employed professionals, we need to understand the real-world implications - not politics, just facts.

THE TARIFF MATH THAT IMPACTS YOUR BOTTOM LINE

Reports from the border reveal the immediate business effects:

• A customs broker in Laredo reports clients seeing daily import taxes on auto parts jump from $2,000 to $40,000

• Businesses that have operated for seven decades are reassessing their viability

• Companies with manufacturing operations in Mexico face significant cost increases

As one customs professional with 25+ years of experience was quoted saying, "I've never seen anything like this before."

WHO ABSORBS THESE COSTS?

The economic reality is straightforward:

1. Businesses face higher input costs

2. Consumers ultimately pay higher prices

3. Supply chains become disrupted

4. Market uncertainty increases

THE PRACTICAL IMPACT: UNCERTAINTY

For small business planning, unpredictability creates genuine challenges:

• Inventory management becomes more complex

Sponsored content from TaxDebtConsultant.com

The IRS "Chaos Window": Why Smart Business Owners Are Fixing Their Tax Problems Now

If you haven't filed tax returns for your business, you're not alone. Nearly 15 million Americans fall into this "non-filer" category. But what you may not know is that a rare opportunity exists right now—one that likely won't last.

Why This Moment Is Different

The Internal Revenue Service is currently operating in unprecedented disarray. Recent funding reductions and staffing changes have created what tax professionals call a "chaos window"—a period where the IRS's ability to process cases, conduct audits, and enforce collections has been dramatically hampered.

"We're seeing cases resolved in weeks that would normally take months," explains James Anderson, founder of TaxDebtConsultant.com. "Settlement amounts that would have been rejected outright two years ago are being approved within days."

The Facts About Non-Filing

When you fail to file tax returns, the IRS doesn't simply forget about you. They create "substitute returns" that:

• Allow no business deductions

• Disregard your legitimate expenses

• Assign maximum tax liability

• Trigger penalties that grow daily

These substitute returns often assess 4-5 times more tax than you actually owe.

Why Act Now?

Three critical factors make this moment unique:

1. Reduced enforcement personnel: The IRS has 31% fewer revenue officers than five years ago, creating massive backlogs.

2. System transitions: The agency is struggling with outdated technology during attempted modernization.

3. Processing delays: Tax professionals report settlement offers being accepted simply to clear cases from overwhelmed desks.

"I've been doing this for 23 years," says Anderson. "I've never seen the IRS more willing to resolve long-standing non-filer cases than right now."

The Simple Solution

The process to resolve unfiled returns is straightforward but requires expertise:

MARKETING SALES

Why Smart Business Owners Are Giving Away Their THE 7 BATTLE-TESTED WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS LOSING THEIR SHIRT

How smart entrepreneurs are PROFITING from market chaos

Dear Friend and Fellow Entrepreneur,

Let me be blunt.

Most small business owners are going to get CRUSHED in the coming months. They'll blame tariffs. They'll blame politics. They'll blame everything except their own lack of preparation.

But not you.

Because I'm about to share the exact 7-step system that has helped my most successful clients not just survive but THRIVE during market upheavals.

This isn't theory. This isn't fluff. This is brass-tacks, take-it-to-the-bank advice from someone who's been in the trenches.

So grab a cup of coffee and pay attention. This might be the most profitable letter you read all year.

BATTLE PLAN #1: BUILD A "BULLETPROOF" SUPPLY CHAIN

Look, when I started my first business, I made a rookie mistake that nearly cost me everything: I relied on a single supplier. Sound familiar?

HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT TO DO: Create a one-page "Supply Vulnerability Map" listing every critical component in your business. Then identify THREE alternative sources for each - from different regions. Do this NOW, not when disruption hits.

A gourmet food client of mine who followed this advice recently told me: "When my main olive oil supplier got hit with that 25% tariff, I was already shipping product from my backup source while my competitors were still making panicked phone calls."

BATTLE PLAN #2: USE "BRUTAL HONESTY" TO LOCK IN CUSTOMER LOYALTY

When prices go up, most businesses hide it until the last possible moment, then shock their customers. DUMB!

HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT TO DO: Create a monthly "Inside The Numbers" email for your customers explaining exactly what's happening with costs and supplies. Make it brief but specific. Include ONE action they can take to minimize impact.

EXAMPLE: A landscaper I know sends his commercial clients a simple monthly bulletin tracking fertilizer and fuel costs. When he needed to raise prices 12%, not a single client balked because they'd watched the costs climb in real time.

BATTLE PLAN #3: TRANSFORM YOUR COMMODITY INTO A NECESSITY

When money gets tight, people cut commodities first but cling to necessities. The difference? Mostly positioning.

HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT TO DO: Take your most profitable product and rewrite its description to emphasize how it helps customers PROTECT what they have rather than GAIN something new.

CASE IN POINT: A consultant friend was selling "efficiency training" (yawn) until we repositioned it as "Margin Protection Systems" during market volatility. Bookings increased 40% in 60 days.

BATTLE PLAN #4: CREATE YOUR "FINANCIAL EARLY WARNING SYSTEM"

TECHNOLOGY

3 POWERFUL AI PROMPTS TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS DURING TOUGH TIMES

When economic headwinds blow, smart entrepreneurs look for every advantage they can find. The three AI prompts below are designed to help you weather the storm by focusing on what matters most: preserving cash flow, retaining valuable customers, and outmaneuvering larger competitors who lack your agility.

Simply copy these prompts into ChatGPT (or your preferred AI assistant), customize the bracketed sections with your specific business details, and you'll receive actionable strategies tailored to your situation. These aren't theoretical exercises—they're battle-tested approaches that successful businesses are using right now to not just survive but thrive when others are struggling.

Best of all, you can implement these strategies immediately, with minimal cost and maximum impact. In uncertain times, speed and efficiency aren't just virtues—they're requirements for survival.

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