Who can claim the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit? Starting January 1, 2027, individual taxpayers can claim the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit — a federal credit of up to $1,700 for cash donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) in a participating state. Twenty-eight states have already opted in. Beginning next year, a new line item…
Is the SALT deduction cap going away in 2026? No. Federal courts continue to uphold the SALT deduction cap, with a New Jersey federal court dismissing another constitutional challenge in May 2026. But there is relief: the One Big Beautiful Bill raised the cap from $10,000 to $40,000 beginning in 2025, with a 1% annual…
How can summer activities affect your next tax return? Several common summer events have tax consequences worth handling now, per the IRS: (1) summer DAY CAMP costs may count toward the Child and Dependent Care Credit; (2) getting MARRIED means reporting any name change to the Social Security Administration and any address change to USPS,…
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…
Trump’s Tax Plan 2025: A Deep Dive into the New ‘Build Back Better’ Proposals The 2025 tax landscape is shaping up to be a topic of intense discussion, and a significant new set of proposals under the ‘Build Back Better’ banner, associated with Donald Trump’s platform, is drawing considerable attention. These proposals suggest some…
Navigating the Top California Tax Changes for 2025: An Essential Guide The 2025 tax year is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal and complex periods for California taxpayers in recent memory. A perfect storm of expiring federal provisions, significant state-level legislative proposals, and crucial inflation adjustments creates a landscape of uncertainty…
The IRS audit risk is a growing concern for many taxpayers, especially with the significant funding boost from the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRS is now enhancing its enforcement capabilities, and a key part of this strategy involves leveraging artificial intelligence to identify non-compliance. This means the audit risk for certain groups is expected to…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is heading into 2025 on a contradictory path. On one hand, it’s empowered by significant funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to enhance services and enforcement. On the other, it faces potential budget cuts, workforce reductions, and shifting priorities due to political pressures. For U.S. taxpayers and businesses, this…
