Tax

The IRS recently released the 2026 inflation-adjusted amounts for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Employees will be able to save a modest amount more in their HSAs next year. HSA basics An HSA is a trust created or organized exclusively for the purpose of paying the “qualified medical expenses” of an “account beneficiary.” An HSA can […]

The gig economy offers flexibility, autonomy and a way to earn income, but it also comes with tax obligations that can catch many workers off guard. Whether you’re driving for a rideshare service, delivering food, selling products online or offering local services like pet walking, it’s crucial to understand the tax implications of gig work

Many businesses turn to independent contractors to help manage costs, especially during times of staffing shortages and inflation. If you’re among them, ensuring these workers are properly classified for federal tax purposes is crucial. Misclassifying employees as independent contractors can result in expensive consequences if the IRS steps in and reclassifies them. It could lead

If you’ve recently received a settlement or award from a lawsuit, or you’re expecting one, you may be wondering how the IRS views this money. Will you need to pay taxes on it? The short answer: It depends on the type of damages you received. Understanding the basic rules can help you avoid surprises. Taxable

Even well-run companies experience down years. The federal tax code may allow a bright strategy to lighten the impact. Certain losses, within limits, may be used to reduce taxable income in later years. Who qualifies? The net operating loss (NOL) deduction levels the playing field between businesses with steady income and those with income that

Even after your 2024 federal return is submitted, a few nagging questions often remain. Below are quick answers to five of the most common questions we hear each spring. 1.When will my refund show up? Use the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund?” tracker at IRS.gov. Have these three details ready: Enter them, and the tool will tell

Determining “reasonable compensation” is a critical issue for owners of C corporations and S corporations. If the IRS believes an owner’s compensation is unreasonably high or low, it may disallow certain deductions or reclassify payments, potentially leading to penalties, back taxes and interest. But by proactively following certain steps, owners can help ensure their compensation is seen

Stock, mutual fund and ETF prices have bounced around lately. If you make what turns out to be an ill-fated investment in a taxable brokerage firm account, the good news is that you may be able to harvest a tax-saving capital loss by selling the loser security. However, for federal income tax purposes, the wash

Your business can set up an educational assistance plan that can give each eligible employee up to $5,250 in annual federal-income-tax-free and federal-payroll-tax-free benefits. These tax-favored plans are called Section 127 plans after the tax code section that allows them. Plan basics Sec. 127 plans can cover the cost of almost anything that constitutes education, including

If you inherit assets after a loved one passes away, they often arrive with a valuable — but frequently misunderstood — tax benefit called the step-up in basis. Below is an overview of how the rule works and what planning might need to be done. What “basis” means First, let’s look at a couple definitions. Basis is