The passage of the OBBBA surprised taxpayers and professionals with one crucial rule change affecting gamblers. To me, it seems illogical. Beginning with the 2026 tax returns, taxpayers can only deduct 90% of their gambling losses against their gambling income. … Read More »OBBBA Limits IRS Gambling Losses
Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in July 2025, enacting sweeping changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Most of the change significantly impact 2025 tax returns filed in 2026. Some changes take effect for the tax year… Read More »How the OBBBA Changes Contribution Deductions
1. What’s New? 2. What Counts as “Qualified Overtime”? 3. Who Qualifies? Eligibility Condition Details Filing Status Available to both itemizers and standard deduction filers. Taxpayer ID Must include a valid Social Security Number; married individuals must file jointly if… Read More »Overtime Tax Relief Under the OBBBA
Beginning with the 2025 tax year and extending through 2028, eligible buyers can deduct up to $10,000 per year in auto loan interest paid on new, personal-use vehicles assembled in the U.S. This is an above-the-line deduction, meaning it can… Read More »Deducting Auto Loan Interest
In July 2025, Congress passed, and the President signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), introducing a number of significant changes to the federal tax code. As is often the case, currently, California has chosen not to conform to… Read More »California Nonconformity with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)
The deduction for state and local taxes (referred to as the SALT deduction) was a big part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed in 2017, imposed a cap of $10,000… Read More »State and Local Tax (SALT) Limit Increases
I am already receiving questions concerning the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its impact on the taxability of Social Security. Depending on your income, up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be subject… Read More »Taxing Social Security Benefits
The IRS and the Employment Development Department (EDD) of the State of California, as well as other state agencies, have long wrestled with the challenge of identifying businesses that misclassify employees as independent contractors. The employer’s motivation for such misclassification… Read More »Worker Classification Audits
Could you use a quick infusion of tax-free cash? Your life insurance policy may provide one. Here’s the really good thing: you don’t actually have to die to collect! To access money from your life insurance policy without dying, you… Read More »Life Insurance – collecting before you check out!
Scams are incredibly common. I have written about them in many newsletters. According to recent data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. They reported losing more money to investment scams—$5.7… Read More »Deducting theft (fraud) loses
