Does the Section 351 ETF conversion still work after Rev. Rul. 2026-20? Not the way it has been sold. The IRS now treats a planned transfer of securities to a new ETF followed by an authorized-participant redemption of those same securities as a single taxable exchange, not a tax-free diversification. The Section 351 ETF conversion…
Will individual fraud victims be able to deduct their losses again? On September 16, 2026, the House passed HR 9500 by a 408–17 vote. If the Senate agrees and the President signs, the fraud victims tax deduction is restored outside federally declared disasters, the retirement-account early-withdrawal penalty is waived in scam cases, and victims gain…
Are influencer tax rules any different from regular tax rules? No. The Tax Court’s first ruling involving a social-media creator, Sami v. Commissioner, applied the same ordinary-and-necessary business expense standard used for every other business. What actually decides an influencer tax audit is substantiation, business purpose, and whether the activity is a real trade or…
Can FTB return money it collected years ago? Sometimes, yes. FTB Legal Ruling 2026-02 (issued August 21, 2026) draws a sharp line between an overpayment (subject to the four-year refund statute) and an FTB overcollection (excess taken by mechanical or clerical error during involuntary collection). Overcollections can be returned even after the SOL — but…
Is IRA fraud still taxable if the money was stolen? Usually, yes. A withdrawal you were tricked into making is still a distribution to you, so the amount is taxable and a Form 1099-R follows. The IRS has waived the 60-day rollover deadline for IRA fraud victims in several private letter rulings, but the waiver…
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…
What is the new IRS Saver’s Match, and how do I get it? The savers match is a federal 50% match on up to $2,000 of your qualified retirement contributions — worth up to $1,000 per year — deposited directly into your retirement account. It starts with 2027 contributions and the first payments arrive in…
What are the 2026 retirement plan limits? The 401(k) elective deferral limit rises to $24,500, the age-50 catch-up to $8,000, and a new “super catch-up” lets employees aged 60–63 add $11,250. The 2026 retirement plan limits also bring a major SECURE 2.0 change: high earners must now make catch-up contributions as Roth. If you sponsor…
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…
