Divorce Cases: Active versus Passive Appreciation
It's common in divorce cases for an interest in a closely held business or professional practice to be the marital estate's most valuable asset. In many states, when the [...]
Tax Planning Can Ease the Sticker Shock of Raising a Child
If you're a parent who's been doing some back-to-school shopping lately, you know that raising a child is expensive. Whether real or virtual, that overflowing cart is just one [...]
Getting Divorced? Consider Taxes When Splitting Up Retirement Accounts
Divorce is a major life event that can have significant personal and financial consequences. In addition to addressing family and emotional concerns, you'll need to determine whether your assets [...]
Self-Employed? You May Be Eligible for the Home Office Deduction
Once upon a time, employees could claim home office expenses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, subject to a 2%-of-adjusted-gross-income floor, if the arrangement was for their employer's convenience. But [...]
Disability Benefits May Have Income Tax Consequences You Don’t Expect
Disability insurance is a valuable benefit provided by many employers. It replaces a portion of the insured person’s income — typically 45% to 65% of pre-disability earnings — after a [...]
How What You Donate Impacts Your Tax Deductions
Have you already made contributions to charity this year? Are you considering making more between now and year end? If so, it’s important to be familiar with the tax [...]
Before You Spend Lottery, Gambling or Other Winnings, Understand the Tax Rules
It’s easy to focus on the excitement of a big win. But federal tax law generally treats lottery prizes, gambling winnings and other awards as taxable income. Knowing the [...]
Trump Accounts Go Live and the IRS Provides Tax-Reporting Relief
Parents, grandparents and others can now contribute to Internal Revenue Code Section 530A accounts — also known as "Trump Accounts" — to benefit eligible children. This new type of [...]
IRS Revs Up Standard Mileage Rates for the Second Half of 2026
The IRS recently announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rate for business vehicle use for the second half of 2026. The adjustment reflects higher fuel costs this [...]
Selecting a Tax Accounting Method for Your Small Business
Small business owners must answer an important question: Should we use the cash or accrual accounting method for federal income tax purposes? Larger entities are required to use the [...]
Will Your Social Security Benefits Be Taxable?
Last year, the new tax deduction for taxpayers 65 and older was sometimes referred to as “no tax on Social Security.” In actuality, this up-to-$6,000-per-individual deduction, also known as [...]
Joint Returns: Spouses Are Guilty Until Proven Innocent
When you got married, you knew it was for "better or worse." But you might not know about laws that hold you responsible if your spouse cheats on a [...]
Demystifying like-kind exchanges
If you’re a real estate developer or a small business owner who owns commercial real estate, you might be thinking about selling a property. If it has appreciated significantly, [...]
Medical Costs: Can I Really Get a Tax Break for That?
It's difficult for many people to write off medical expenses because of the limits imposed under the tax laws. But you may qualify by including every expense allowed. Some of the qualified [...]
Midyear Tax Planning for Noncorporate Small Business Owners
If you operate your small business as a sole proprietorship or a single-member limited liability company (LLC) treated as a sole proprietorship for tax purposes, paying close attention to [...]