What employee tax benefits can my business offer in 2026? The federal tax code pays for a surprising share of a competitive benefits package. The right employee tax benefits can lower a small employer’s net cost of paid leave, education, child care, retirement savings, and even a new Trump Account, through credits and exclusions that…
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…
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…
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 Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA), and could it lower my 401(k) tax bill? Net unrealized appreciation is a federal tax election under IRC §402(e)(4)(B) that lets you move employer stock out of a qualified retirement plan and pay ordinary income tax only on the stock’s original cost basis. The built-in gain is then taxed…
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 is the 4% rule, and how do taxes change the picture? The 4% rule is a widely cited retirement rule of thumb: withdraw 4% of your savings in your first year of retirement, then adjust that dollar amount for inflation each year, aiming to make a portfolio last about 30 years. It’s popular because…
Can you use 401(k) money to pay long-term care insurance premiums without the 10% penalty? Yes — within limits. Under SECURE 2.0 Act §334 (effective for distributions after December 29, 2025), a defined contribution plan may permit “qualified long-term care distributions” under new IRC §401(a)(39). The annual cap is the LEAST of: (1) the amount…
The Most Common Social Security Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. Are you at risk of losing over $182,000 in lifetime benefits? This guide breaks down the four biggest traps, from claiming early to the confusing earnings test, so you can maximize your retirement income. Deciding when and how to claim Social Security is…
Want to Maximize Your Retirement Savings in 2025? This guide provides a clear, step-by-step priority list for your investments and explains the powerful Backdoor Roth IRA strategy for high earners. Stop guessing and start building wealth effectively! Feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the different retirement accounts? 401(k), IRA, Roth, HSA… it’s a lot…
Must High-Earners Make Roth Catch-Up Contributions? A key change from the SECURE 2.0 Act is coming. If you earn over $145,000, find out how your retirement catch-up contributions will be affected and what you need to do to prepare. Are you diligently saving for retirement and looking forward to making those extra “catch-up” contributions…
Annuity vs. Life Insurance: Which is the right financial tool for you? This guide breaks down these complex products into simple, understandable terms, helping you choose the best path for protecting your family and securing your retirement. Have you ever felt like you’re trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing when…
