Category: News (Page 1 of 11)

The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed regulations providing general requirements for Trump Accounts, certain definitions relating to Trump Accounts, election rules to open an initial Trump Account by an authorized individual for an eligible individual, and rules for who is the responsible party for the initial Trump Account once the account has been opened. These proposed regulations provide useful information for parents and guardians who may want to elect to open an initial Trump Account, and for prospective trustees of Trump Accounts.

The proposed regulations request comments on all aspects of these proposed regulations.

Opening initial Trump Accounts

The proposed regulations provide that the election to open an initial Trump Account must be made by an authorized individual on Form 4547, Trump Account Election(s). An election to open an initial Trump Account must be made on or before Dec. 31 of the calendar year in which the eligible individual attains age 17. The election form also provides an opportunity for the authorized individual to request the $1,000 pilot program contribution from the Secretary for an eligible child.

If an election for the $1,000 pilot program contribution is being made at the same time as the election to open the initial Trump Account, the authorized individual is the individual able to make the election for a pilot program contribution.

If no election for a pilot program contribution is being made at the same time as the election to open an initial Trump Account, a different rule applies for determining who is an authorized individual. Under the proposed ordering rule for who may make the election, the authorized individual would be, in order of priority:

• a legal guardian,
• parent,
• adult sibling, then
• grandparent of the eligible individual.

Responsible party for the Trump Account

In general, the individual who makes the election to open an initial Trump Account for an eligible individual will be the responsible party of the initial Trump Account. The responsible party generally will have the authority, while the account beneficiary does not have legal capacity, to select among eligible investments (if more than one eligible investment is offered), request a qualified rollover contribution to a rollover Trump Account, request a transfer for a qualified ABLE rollover contribution, or select a successor responsible party for the account.

For more information about Trump Accounts, please contact our office.

The Internal Revenue Service published, for tax year 2025, a new schedule that you can use to take advantage of some tax benefits provided the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on car loans, and no tax on seniors.

Schedule 1-A and its related instructions (included in the Form 1040 Instructions) allow taxpayers to deduct amounts for tips, overtime, car loans, and the enhanced deduction for seniors.

Part II of the new instructions explains how to determine the amount of qualified tips, how to claim the deduction, up to $25,000, and the phaseout for modified adjusted gross income greater than $150,000 ($300,000 for married taxpayers filing joint returns). Workers can claim this deduction whether they claim the standard deduction or itemize.

Part III of the new instructions explains how to claim a deduction for overtime compensation you may have received. To claim this deduction, you must file a joint return if you are married. Workers can claim this deduction whether they claim the standard deduction or itemize.

Part IV of the new instructions explains how taxpayers can claim a deduction for car loan interest. You can deduct qualified passenger vehicle loan interest whether you claim the standard deduction or itemize.

Part V describes the enhanced deduction for seniors, which can be claimed whether you take the standard deduction or itemize; to claim the deduction, married couples must file jointly.

To qualify for the enhanced deduction, the taxpayer (and/or the taxpayer’s spouse, if filing a joint return) must have been born before Jan. 2, 1961. The taxpayer must have a valid Social Security number; if married filing jointly, each spouse who is claiming the enhanced deduction for seniors must have a valid SSN.

The maximum enhanced deduction for seniors is $6,000 per person. For married filing jointly, if both spouses were born before Jan. 2, 1961, and both have a valid SSN, the enhanced deduction for seniors is $12,000. The $6,000-per-person amount is reduced if the MAGI exceeds $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly).

For more information about these tax benefits, please contact our office.

There are some changes for the 2026 tax filing season that people who are 65 years of age and older should be aware of. The most recent being the enhanced deduction for seniors, which is provided for in recent legislation.

Enhanced deduction for seniors

This is a new deduction that is in addition to the current additional standard deduction for seniors under existing law.

• For tax years 2025-2028, taxpayers who are age 65 or older may be eligible to claim an additional $6,000 deduction per person ($12,000 if married filing jointly and both spouses are eligible)
• To be eligible, you must be 65 on or before the last day of the tax year
• It is available to eligible taxpayers who claim the standard deduction or itemize
• The deduction phases out if you have a modified adjusted gross income over $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers)

Earned Income Tax Credit

• EITC helps low to moderate-income workers and families get a tax break
• The maximum income amount for claiming the credit for the 2025 tax year is $68,675. The amount of the credit may vary based on income, family size and filing status.

Check withholdings

Any earned wages you may have are subject to withholding for income tax, social security tax, and Medicare tax even if you are receiving social security benefits.

There are several new tax deductions that have been introduced for the 2026 filing season. A deduction is an amount subtracted from the taxpayer’s income when filing. Deductions lower the taxable income resulting in lowering the federal income tax obligation.

New deductions for 2026 filing season

• Seniors age 65 and older may be eligible to claim an additional $6,000 deduction
• Tipped workers may be eligible to deduct up to $25,000 for qualified tips
• Individuals may be eligible to deduct up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) for qualified overtime
• Individuals may deduct up to $10,000 in qualified passenger vehicle loan interest

All new or enhanced deductions are available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers. Each of these deductions phase out based on income level for individual and joint filers and have specific eligibility requirements.

Standard deduction amounts for tax year 2025

The standard deduction is a flat amount based on federal income tax filing status (single, married filing separately, married filing jointly, head of household, or qualifying surviving spouse). The IRS adjusts the standard deduction annually for inflation.

• $15,750 for single or married filing separately
• $31,500 for married couples filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse
• $23,625 for head of household

Most people take the standard deduction. However, some may not be eligible to take it or if deductible expenses and losses are more than the standard deduction, taxpayers have the option to itemize deductions. Itemized deductions are subject to certain dollar limitations. They can include amounts paid during the taxable year for: state and local income or sales taxes, real property taxes, personal property taxes, mortgage interest, disaster losses, gifts to charities, certain gambling losses, and medical and dental expenses.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has a significant effect on federal taxes, credits and deductions. Millions of taxpayers reported earning tips and overtime on their tax returns, many of them are veterans and people working in lower wage jobs. This relief will impact most of these taxpayers and they can start taking advantage of the deduction this filing season.

No tax on tips

Both employees and self-employed individuals may deduct qualified tips received in certain qualified occupations, such as wait staff, bartenders, salon workers, personal trainers, gig economy workers, and many more who customarily and regularly receive tips might qualify.

You may be able to claim a deduction for qualified tips paid to you in 2025 that are included on Form W-2, Form 1099-NEC, Form 1099-MISC, Form 1099-K, or reported directly by you on Form 4137.

• “Qualified tips” are voluntary cash or charged tips received from customers or through tip sharing
• Maximum annual deduction is $25,000; for self-employed, deduction may not exceed individual’s net income, without regard to this deduction, from the trade or business in which the tips were earned
• The deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers)

No tax on overtime

If you receive qualified overtime compensation, you may deduct the pay that exceeds your regular rate of pay, generally the “half” portion of the “time-and-a-half” compensation that’s required by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

• Maximum annual deduction is $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers)
• Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers)
• The deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026, while the mileage rate for vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent.

Optional standard mileage rates are used to calculate the deductible costs of operating vehicles for business, charitable, and medical purposes. Additionally, the optional standard mileage rate may be used to calculate the deductible costs of operating vehicles for moving purposes for certain active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and certain members of the intelligence community.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be:

• 72.5 cents per mile driven for business use, up 2.5 cents from 2025.
• 20.5 cents per mile driven for medical purposes, down a half cent from 2025.
• 20.5 cents per mile driven for moving purposes for certain active-duty members of the Armed Forces and the intelligence community, reduced by a half cent from last year.
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, equal to the rate in 2025.

The rates apply to fully-electric and hybrid automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.

While the mileage rate for charitable use is set by statute, the mileage rate for business use is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The rate for medical and moving purposes, meanwhile, is based on only the variable costs from the annual study.

Under the law, taxpayers cannot claim a miscellaneous itemized deduction for unreimbursed employee travel expenses, except for certain educator expenses. However, deductions for expenses that are deductible in determining adjusted gross income remain allowable, such as for certain members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, certain state and local government officials, certain performing artists, and eligible educators. Alternatively, eligible educators may claim an itemized deduction for certain unreimbursed employee travel expenses. In addition, only taxpayers who are members of the military on active duty or certain members of the intelligence community may claim a deduction for moving expenses incurred while relocating under orders to a permanent change of station.

Use of the standard mileage rates is optional. Taxpayers may instead choose to calculate the actual costs of using their vehicle.

Taxpayers using the standard mileage rate for a vehicle they own and use for business must choose to use the rate in the first year the automobile is available for business use. Then, in later years, they can choose to use the standard mileage rate or actual expenses.

For a leased vehicle, taxpayers using the standard mileage rate must employ that method for the entire lease period, including renewals.

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service has issued a notice announcing upcoming regulations and providing guidance regarding Trump Accounts, which are a new type of individual retirement account (IRA) for eligible children.

The Working Families Tax Cuts provides for establishing a Trump Account on behalf of every eligible child for whom an election is made, generally by a parent or guardian, and who has not turned age 18 before the end of the calendar year in which the election is made. Contributions to Trump Accounts cannot be made before July 4, 2026.

Additionally, the federal government will make a one-time $1,000 pilot program contribution to the Trump Account of each eligible child for whom an election is made, who is a U.S. citizen and who is born on or after Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028.

Certain governmental entities and charities may also make qualified general contributions to Trump Accounts, if given to a qualified class of account beneficiaries. Other persons are also able to make contributions up to an aggregate limit of $5,000 per year. Furthermore, an employer may contribute to a Trump Account of the employee or the employee’s dependent up to $2,500 per year (which counts against the $5,000 annual limit) under an employer’s Trump Account contribution program, and the contribution will not count toward the employee’s taxable income. The annual contribution limits are indexed to inflation and will adjust starting after 2027.

The funds in Trump Accounts must be invested in certain mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that track the S&P 500 or another index of primarily American equities.

Amounts generally cannot be withdrawn from Trump Accounts before January 1st of the calendar year in which the child turns 18 years old. After that point, the account generally is treated as a traditional IRA and generally is subject to the same rules as other traditional IRAs.

The Internal Revenue Service have issued guidance for workers eligible to claim the deduction for tips and for overtime compensation for tax year 2025. Specifically, the IRS clarified for workers how to determine the amount of their deduction without receiving a separate accounting from their employer for cash tips or qualified overtime on information returns such as Form W-2 or Form 1099, as those forms remain unchanged for the current tax year. It also provides transition relief to workers who receive tips in the course of a specified service trade or business.

No Tax on Tips

Under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, workers may be eligible for new deductions for tax years 2025 through 2028 if they received qualified tips. For tipped workers, the maximum annual deduction is $25,000, which phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers).

It is estimated that there are about 6 million workers who report tipped wages.

Examples of how the rules work for tipped employees

The IRS provided some examples to illustrate various situations tipped employees might encounter; below are abridged versions of some of those examples.

Waiter with reported tips in box 7, Form W-2

Ann is a restaurant server whose 2025 Form W-2, box 7 reports $18,000 of social security tips. Ann did not report any additional tips on Form 4137. Ann may use $18,000 in determining the amount of her qualified tips for tax year 2025.

Bartender with additional reported tips on Form 4137

Bob is a bartender who reports $20,000 in tips to his employer during the 2025 tax year on Forms 4070 and reports $4,000 of unreported tips on Form 4137, line 4. Bob’s 2025 Form W-2 reports $200,000 in box 1 and $15,000 in box 7. Bob may use either the $15,000 in box 7 of the Form W-2, or the $20,000 of tips reported to Bob’s employer on Forms 4070 in determining the amount of qualified tips for tax year 2025. Regardless of the option chosen, Bob may also include the $4,000 of unreported tips from Form 4137, line 4 in determining the amount of qualified tips.

Self-employed travel guide

Doug is a self-employed travel guide who operates as a sole proprietor. In 2025, Doug receives $7,000 in tips from customers paid through a third-party settlement organization (TPSO). For tax year 2025, Doug receives a Form 1099-K from the TPSO showing $55,000 of total payments. The Form 1099-K does not separately identify the tips. However, Doug keeps a log of each tour that shows the date, customer, and tip amount received. Because Doug has daily tip logs substantiating the $7,000 tip amount, he may use the $7,000 tip amount in determining qualified tips for tax year 2025.

No Tax on Overtime

For tax years 2025 through 2028, individuals who receive qualified overtime compensation may deduct the pay that exceeds their regular rate of pay (generally, the “half” portion of “time-and-a-half” compensation) that is required by the Fair Labor Standards Act and reported on a Form W-2, Form 1099, or other statement furnished to the individual.

• Maximum annual deduction is $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers).
• Deduction phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers).

The deduction is available for both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers.

Certain employees are exempt from the rules on overtime

Generally, the FLSA requires that most employees in the United States be paid at least the federal minimum wage for all hours worked and overtime pay at not less than time and one-half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. However, the law provides for certain exemptions.

The IRS provided a series of examples illustrating situations that workers who receive qualified overtime might encounter. The IRS guidance does not affect any rights or responsibilities regarding tips or overtime compensation under the FLSA. Below are abridged versions of some of those examples.

Overtime examples

Andrew works overtime during 2025, and he receives a payroll statement from his employer that shows $5,000 as the “overtime premium” that he was paid during 2025. Andrew may include $5,000 (the FLSA overtime premium) to determine the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025.

Assume the same facts as in the first example except that Andrew’s payroll statement shows a total “overtime” amount of $15,000, which is the total amount Andrew was paid for working overtime (the FLSA overtime premium combined with the portion of his regular wages). Andrew may include the $5,000 FLSA overtime premium, computed by dividing $15,000 by 3 in determining the amount of qualified overtime compensation for 2025.

Brad’s employer has a practice of paying overtime at a rate of two times an employee’s regular rate of pay, and Brad was paid $20,000 in overtime pay during 2025. Brad’s last pay stub for 2025 shows “overtime” of $20,000 paid in 2025. For purposes of determining the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025, Brad may include $5,000 ($20,000 divided by 4).

Carol is a covered, nonexempt employee under the FLSA and works in law enforcement and is paid $15,000 of overtime pay on a “work period” basis of 14 days that complies with the FLSA. For purposes of determining the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025, Carol may include $5,000 ($15,000 divided by 3).

Diane works for a State or local government agency that gives compensatory time at a rate of one and one-half hours for each overtime hour worked. In 2025, Diane was paid wages of $4,500 for compensatory time off based on that overtime. To determine the amount of qualified overtime compensation received in tax year 2025, Diane may include $1,500, one-third of these wages, for purposes of determining the qualified overtime compensation deduction.

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that the amount that individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, governmental 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan plans in 2026 has increased to $24,500, up from $23,500 for 2025.

The limit on annual contributions to an IRA is increased to $7,500 from $7,000. The IRA catch‑up contribution limit for individuals aged 50 and over was amended under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0) to include an annual cost‑of‑living adjustment is increased to $1,100, up from $1,000 for 2025.

The catch-up contribution limit that generally applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is increased to $8,000, up from $7,500 for 2025. Therefore, participants in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan who are 50 and older generally can contribute up to $32,500 each year, starting in 2026. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a higher catch-up contribution limit applies for employees aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 who participate in these plans. For 2026, this higher catch-up contribution limit remains $11,250 instead of the $8,000 noted above.

The income ranges for determining eligibility to make deductible contributions to traditional Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), to contribute to Roth IRAs and to claim the Saver’s Credit all increased for 2026.

You can deduct contributions to a traditional IRA if you meet certain conditions. If during the year either you or your spouse was covered by a retirement plan at work, the deduction may be reduced, or phased out, until it is eliminated, depending on filing status and income. (If neither you nor your spouse is covered by a retirement plan at work, the phase-outs of the deduction do not apply.) Here are the phase‑out ranges for 2026:

• For single taxpayers covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to between $81,000 and $91,000, up from between $79,000 and $89,000 for 2025.
• For married couples filing jointly, if the spouse making the IRA contribution is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is increased to between $129,000 and $149,000, up from between $126,000 and $146,000 for 2025.
• For an IRA contributor who is not covered by a workplace retirement plan and is married to someone who is covered, the phase-out range is increased to between $242,000 and $252,000, up from between $236,000 and $246,000 for 2025.
• For a married individual filing a separate return who is covered by a workplace retirement plan, the phase-out range is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.

Other phase-out ranges and limitations

The IRS also announced limitations for 2026 for Roth IRAs, the Saver’s Credit and SIMPLE retirement accounts.

• The income phase-out range for people making contributions to a Roth IRA is increased to between $153,000 and $168,000 for singles and heads of household, up from between $150,000 and $165,000 for 2025. For married couples filing jointly, the income phase-out range is increased to between $242,000 and $252,000, up from between $236,000 and $246,000 for 2025. The phase-out range for a married individual filing a separate return who makes contributions to a Roth IRA is not subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment and remains between $0 and $10,000.
• The income limit for the Saver’s Credit (also known as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit) for low- and moderate-income workers is $80,500 for married couples filing jointly, up from $79,000 for 2025; $60,375 for heads of household, up from $59,250 for 2025; and $40,250 for singles and married individuals filing separately, up from $39,500 for 2025.
• The amount individuals can generally contribute to their SIMPLE retirement accounts is increased to $17,000, up from $16,500 for 2025. Pursuant to a change made in SECURE 2.0, individuals can contribute a higher amount to certain applicable SIMPLE retirement accounts. For 2026, this higher amount is increased to $18,100, up from $17,600 for 2025.
• The catch-up contribution limit that generally applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in most SIMPLE plans is increased to $4,000, up from $3,500 for 2025. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a different catch-up limit applies for employees aged 50 and over who participate in certain applicable SIMPLE plans, which remains $3,850. Under a change made in SECURE 2.0, a higher catch-up contribution limit applies for employees aged 60, 61, 62 and 63 who participate in SIMPLE plans, which remains $5,250.

Recent legislation retroactively reinstated the reporting threshold in effect prior to the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) so that third party settlement organizations are not required to file Forms 1099-K unless the gross amount of reportable payment transactions to a payee exceeds $20,000 and the number of transactions exceeds 200.

Form 1099-K is an IRS information return used to report certain payments to improve voluntary tax compliance. The requirement to file a Form 1099-K can be triggered when payments are received for goods or services through a payment settlement entity.

If you you have questions about whether you are required to file Form 1099-K, please contact our office to schedule a consultation.