2026 Medicare Premium and IRMAA Changes: What Taxpayers Need to Know
A clear overview of the 2026 Medicare Part A, B, and D premium increases and IRMAA thresholds, with charts that show the key income levels that affect premiums and year end tax planning decisions for taxpayers.
IRC §139L Interest Exclusion for Rural and Agricultural Real Estate Loans
An overview of the IRC §139L 25% interest exclusion for qualified rural and agricultural real estate loans, including qualification rules, property use standards, and planning considerations for lenders and borrowers.
GENIUS Act Requirements for Payment Stablecoin Users and Issuers
A taxpayer focused explanation of the GENIUS Act, detailing the new federal rules for payment stablecoin issuers, reserve requirements, disclosures, and what individuals should know when using stablecoins.
Education Tax Benefits Overview for 2025: Credits, Deductions, and Planning Opportunities
Comprehensive overview of federal education tax benefits for 2025, including the AOTC, LLC, student loan interest deduction, §529 plans, Coverdell ESAs, scholarship rules, and OBBBA education changes. Learn how to coordinate benefits and maximize tax savings.
2026 Retirement Plan Limits Increase Under IRS Notice 2025-67
IRS Notice 2025-67 raises 2026 contribution limits for 401k plans, 403b plans, governmental 457 plans, SIMPLE and SEP IRAs, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs. Includes updated catch-ups for ages fifty and sixty through sixty three, new income phase outs, and expanded saver credit limits. Learn how these changes affect tax planning for 2026.
IRS Revenue Procedure 2025 31 — Safe Harbor for Digital Asset Staking by Investment and Grantor Trusts
IRS Revenue Procedure 2025 31 confirms that properly structured investment and grantor trusts may stake digital assets without reclassification as business entities, preserving pass through tax treatment for staking rewards beginning with tax years ending on or after November 10, 2025.
Understanding Section 1231 Gains and Losses for 2025
Learn how Section 1231 gains and losses are taxed under 2025 law, why they matter for real-estate and business sales, and how to optimize timing.
Creating a Reimbursed Employee Business and Travel Expense Program
A step-by-step guide for employers to create an IRS-compliant accountable plan so employee business and travel expenses are reimbursed tax-free, even after the permanent end of miscellaneous itemized deductions.
Sohail S. Hussaini v. Commissioner: When W-2 Employees Cannot Deduct Travel Expenses
In T.C. Memo. 2025-82 the Tax Court disallowed $46,147 in unreimbursed travel expenses claimed by a W-2 employee under IRC §§62(a)(2) and 67(g). Learn the employee vs trade-or-business distinction, reimbursement plan requirements and deduction risk.
Young v. Commissioner: When Poor Recordkeeping Destroys a Case
In Young v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2025-95), the Tax Court denied deductions because the taxpayers failed to demonstrate a profit motive and lacked organized records. The ruling highlights that good intentions do not substitute for disciplined accounting and documentation.
2025 Year-End Tax Planning Checklist
A complete 2025 year-end tax planning checklist to reduce taxes and meet deadlines. Includes RMDs, Roth conversions, charitable giving, gifting, and more.
IRS Math and Taxpayer Help Act: Clearer Notices and Fewer Taxpayer Headaches
Congress has passed the Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act (H.R. 998)—a bipartisan reform aimed at improving IRS communication with taxpayers. The bill requires the IRS to make math and clerical error notices clear, specific, and easy to understand. This legislation benefits taxpayers by reducing confusion, helping them respond accurately, and avoiding unnecessary penalties.
Are Mortgage Points Deductible? Rules for Your Home, Rental, and Vacation Property
Mortgage points—sometimes called discount points—are fees paid to a lender at closing to obtain a lower interest rate. Each point equals 1% of the loan principal.
Points can represent either:
Prepaid interest, which may be deductible, or
Origination or service fees, which are not deductible.
The tax treatment depends on how the property is used and the purpose of the loan.
Major Federal Tax Changes in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act preserved many TCJA benefits, but charitable deduction limits will still tighten in 2026. Accelerating contributions this year can capture higher deduction value while the 60 percent AGI rule remains in effect.
Harvesting Losses Without Losing Position: Understanding Wash Sales and Correlated Stock Strategies
The wash sale rule under Internal Revenue Code §1091 limits when capital losses can be deducted, but investors can still maintain market exposure through correlated securities. This article explains how to use substitution strategies to harvest losses responsibly, outlines the benefits and risks, and reviews current crypto exceptions and proposed legislation.
The Typical Bay Area Home, the Typical Audit — What Seddiqui (2024) Teaches About Proving Basis
In Seddiqui (2024), a Bay Area couple faced a familiar problem: selling a longtime home without complete records of decades of improvements. The OTA’s precedential opinion explains when the Cohan rule allows credible estimates and when it does not.
California Residency on Trial for $5,924- What Ajith (2024) Says
The OTA’s Ajith (2024) decision involved only $5,924 of tax, but its lesson is far bigger: California residency turns on facts. A student’s claim of non-residency failed when the FTB showed his “closest connections” still pointed to California.
IRS Releases 2026 Inflation Adjustments Under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill
IRS 2026 inflation adjustments and One, Big, Beautiful Bill overview by a CPA
Two Tax Court Decisions That Clarify What Counts as Taxable Income
Tax law reaches into almost every corner of life, from settlements that compensate someone for an injury to retirement accounts that are lost through legal action. I find that reading about unusual cases is one of the best ways to understand how the Internal Revenue Code defines income. Two recent decisions highlight that definition in very different ways.
Why a Health Savings Account Deserves a Place in Your Financial Plan This Enrollment Season
As annual open enrollment season approaches, it is an ideal time to review your health coverage options and consider the financial advantages of a Health Savings Account (HSA). Among the many tax-favored benefits available to individuals, the HSA remains one of the most flexible and powerful tools in the tax code. It can be used by nearly every taxpayer, provided that one important requirement is met.