Practical tax tips and deduction strategies for individuals and small business owners. Actionable advice to help you minimize liability and maximize returns.
What are the federal student loan caps 2026 effective July 1? The Department of Education’s final rule eliminates unlimited borrowing under the Graduate PLUS Program effective July 1, 2026. Eleven designated “professional” degrees (law, medicine, dentistry, etc.) face $50K annual / $200K aggregate caps. All other graduate fields — including accounting, engineering, and nursing —…
How can I tell if an IRS letter is real or a scam in 2026? The IRS’s paper-check phase-out has triggered an unprecedented wave of legitimate letters asking taxpayers for bank account information — which looks suspiciously like a scam. Always verify by logging into your IRS online account at IRS.gov, where every real notice…
What is the IRS conservation easement settlement opportunity announced in 2026? Per IR-2026-63 (May 6, 2026), the IRS updated its Conservation Easement site with expanded warnings on abusive transactions and recent court decisions, and announced a forthcoming time-limited settlement program — letting eligible partnerships resolve disputed federal tax consequences with certainty before pursuing litigation. If…
Why use the IRS Withholding Estimator OBBBA update for mid-year tax planning? The IRS Tax Withholding Estimator now reflects all the new OBBBA deductions and credits — tipped income, overtime pay, car loan interest, enhanced senior deduction, plus updated family, homeownership, and charitable giving items — making mid-year withholding adjustments essential to avoid surprise balance-due…
What is the new wagering losses 90% limitation under OBBBA? Section 70114(a) of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act amended IRC Section 165(d) to limit the deduction of wagering losses to 90% of the amount lost during the year — and only to the extent of wagering gains. Treasury’s proposed regulations (REG-113229-25) implement this change…
What are the California PTE elective tax 2026 deadlines and SB 132 changes? Qualified entities must make the PTE elective tax initial payment by June 15, 2026 — the greater of 50% of last year’s elective tax or $1,000 — or face a 12.5% reduction in PTE credit allocated to consenting partners under Senate Bill…
What are the IRS tax debt resolution options if I can’t pay what I owe? The IRS offers four main paths: short-term and long-term Installment Agreements, Offer in Compromise (OIC) for those who can prove inability to pay, Currently Not Collectible (CNC) status to pause collections, and Penalty Abatement to reduce or eliminate associated penalties….
What is the foreign earned income exclusion relief under Rev. Proc. 2026-16? The IRS waives the section 911 residency and presence tests for 2025 for qualified individuals who had to leave seven specified countries due to war, civil unrest, or similar adverse conditions. If you’re a US citizen or resident who was living abroad and…
Which jobs qualify for the new qualified tips deduction under OBBBA? The IRS final rule under Section 224 lists 68 tipped occupations across 8 categories — from servers and bartenders to barbers, delivery drivers, golf caddies, and digital content creators — capped at $25,000 per year through 2028. The long-awaited IRS final regulations on the…
How does the new 1% remittance tax affect LA families? The new remittance transfer tax 2026 imposes a 1% excise on cash-based international money transfers under OBBBA Section 4475. Learn exemptions, compliance tips, and how to legally reduce exposure. The remittance transfer tax 2026 is officially here. With the enactment of the One, Big, Beautiful…
