About Zain
Zain Merchant is an ACCA-qualified accountant and the founder of Merchant Financial Advisory (MFA). Before starting MFA, he spent eight years at Big Four accounting firms, including PwC in New York, working on audits, SOX and internal-controls engagements for Fortune 500 financial services clients, with a rotation through tax.
Today he helps individuals, freelancers and small and mid-sized businesses keep accurate, accrual-basis books, stay on top of IRS and New Jersey filing deadlines, and get more out of QuickBooks. He is a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.
What Zain writes about
- Tax filing deadlines, IRS updates and New Jersey tax rules
- Form 1099s, W-9s and year-end compliance
- Accrual accounting, month-end close and clean books
- QuickBooks Online tips, setup and cleanups
- Tax planning for business owners and the self-employed
Articles by Zain Merchant
- Tax Planning · Oct 9, 2026Section 179 vs. Bonus Depreciation for 2026: Year-End Equipment GuideSection 179 deduction 2026 limit is $2.56M and 100% bonus depreciation is back. How to write off equipment by Dec. 31, which to use, and the NJ catch.
- Bookkeeping · Oct 9, 2026Form 1099 Preparation Guide for 2026 Payments: The New $2,000 Rule and How to File RightThe 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC threshold jumps to $2,000 for 2026 payments. Who needs a 1099, the 2027 deadlines, and a step-by-step QuickBooks process to file right.
- Tax Deadlines · Oct 9, 2026October 15, 2026 Tax Extension Deadline: What to Do Before It HitsFiled an extension for your 2025 return? Your deadline is Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. What to file, what waiting costs, and the NJ and disaster-area exceptions.