Which year-end tax planning moves actually shift a high earner’s 2026 tax bill? The ones the Internal Revenue Code closes at midnight on December 31 — retirement contributions coded to a payroll cycle, wash-sale-safe loss harvests, exercised stock options, direct-to-charity IRA distributions, and completed annual-exclusion gifts. Year-end tax planning for high earners is less about…
Does my trust’s charitable deduction still require a Form 1041-A? Two carve-outs would say no. The IRS’s August 2026 proposed regulations (REG-109082-25) would remove Form 1041-A for a trust charitable deduction that is only a distributive share from a pass-through entity, and confirm that a split-interest trust filing Form 5227 does not also file Form…
How do the inherited IRA RMD rules work in 2026? A non-spouse beneficiary of an IRA whose owner died after 2019 generally must empty the account within 10 years — and, if the owner had already started taking RMDs, must take annual RMDs in years 1 through 9. The IRS’s temporary relief expired at the…
Does California’s billionaire tax apply to me? Only if you are a California resident on January 1, 2026 and your net worth reaches $1 billion on December 31, 2026. If Proposition 40 passes on the November 3, 2026 ballot, the california billionaire tax imposes a one-time levy that phases in to 5% between $1B and…
Estate tax vs inheritance tax — who actually pays, and when? The estate tax vs inheritance tax distinction is simple in principle: the estate pays estate tax before assets are distributed; the beneficiary pays inheritance tax after they receive them. In 2026 the federal estate tax exemption sits at $15 million per person (IRS Rev….
Do I have to file a gift tax return for money I put in a Trump Account? In most cases, no. Under IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-25, the Trump Account gift tax safe harbor treats qualifying cash contributions as current-interest gifts within the $19,000 annual exclusion, so most families skip Form 709 entirely. The launch of…
When is a California resident beneficiary of a discretionary trust actually taxed on trust income? Only when the trustee decides to distribute. In its new Legal Ruling 2026-01, the FTB confirmed that California discretionary trust tax under R&TC section 17742 hinges on whether the beneficiary’s interest is “contingent” — and while the trustee holds sole…
What is the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax, and why do ILITs so often get it wrong? The GST tax (Internal Revenue Code Chapter 13) is a flat 40% tax imposed — on top of gift or estate tax — on transfers that “skip” a generation, such as gifts to grandchildren or to a dynasty trust….
How are billionaires responding to new state wealth taxes? As states like Washington and California propose taxes on the ultra-wealthy, billionaire wealth tax planning strategies — including dynasty trusts, IDGTs, and charitable trust structures — are surging in popularity among high-net-worth individuals and their advisors. A wave of state-level wealth tax proposals is reshaping the…
How to Finally Finish Your Estate Planning 📝 Stop procrastinating on your legal documents! Discover practical, stress-free strategies to cross estate planning off your to-do list and protect your loved ones today. Let’s be real for a second: nobody actually enjoys thinking about their own mortality. It’s exactly why so many of us…
Want to Protect Your U.S. Assets? This guide reveals the legal “landmine” many families face and how a simple document, the Living Trust, can help you avoid it. If you own any assets in the United States—a home, a business, or even just a bank account—you’re sitting on what could be a legal landmine…
What is the Step-Up in Basis? Learn how this powerful tax rule can help you pass on appreciated assets like real estate or stocks to your heirs, potentially eliminating a massive capital gains tax bill. Have you ever watched an investment, like a house or a stock portfolio, grow in value over the years…
What does a secure retirement plan actually look like? This guide is your A-to-Z map, breaking down everything from savings accounts to income strategies, helping you build a future filled with financial freedom and peace of mind. Ever get that late-night feeling of anxiety, wondering if you’ll have enough money to live comfortably when…
