Above the Line or Below? Why It Matters for Your Taxes

During the lengthy debate over provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we often heard tax deductions described as “above-the-line” or “below-the-line.” What’s the difference? The “line” refers to the place on your tax return that lists adjusted gross income (AGI). Above-the-line deductions reduce income before calculating AGI. This can lower taxable income and […]

Thinking of Donating to a Foundation You Run? Read This First.

Tax law permits taxpayers to deduct donations to qualified charities, but the donor must be able to prove the donation. For cash gifts of $250 or more, you’ll need a timely letter from the charity that states the amount, date, whether any goods or services were received in exchange and, if so, their value. One […]

The QBI deduction and what’s new in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act

The qualified business income (QBI) deduction, which became effective in 2018, is a significant tax benefit for many business owners. It allows eligible taxpayers to deduct up to 20% of QBI, not to exceed 20% of taxable income. It can also be claimed for up to 20% of income from qualified real estate investment trust […]

Big Changes for Corporate Giving: Are You Ready for the 1% Rule?

One of the changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is to the tax treatment of charitable donations made by corporations. For tax years after 2025, corporations may deduct charitable contributions only to the extent that the contributions (in aggregate) exceed 1% of that tax year’s taxable income. The deduction can’t exceed 10% […]

Tax Court Clarifies: Compensation Stock May Still Be Taxable

In a recent case, the U.S. Tax Court ruled that a taxpayer must include the value of employer stock in gross income reported to the IRS. The taxpayer claimed that the transfer of stock by her former employer violated agreements in place. She emphasized that the stock transfer was erroneous and, therefore, she didn’t owe […]

What you still need to know about the alternative minimum tax after the new law

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a separate federal income tax system that bears some resemblance to the regular federal income tax system. The difference is that the individual AMT system taxes certain types of income that are tax-free under the regular system. It also disallows some deductions that are allowed under the regular system. […]

💡 Summer Camp May Cut Your Tax Bill: Don’t Miss the Child Care Credit

Did you send your child to day camp this summer? You may be able to offset some of the costs by claiming the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. For middle-income-and-higher taxpayers, for 2025, the credit generally equals 20% of the first $3,000 of qualified expenses for one child or 20% of up to $6,000 […]

Act Now or Miss Out: Clean Energy Tax Credit Rules Tighten

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminates the Clean Electricity Investment Credit (Sec. 48E) and the Clean Electricity Production Credit (Sec. 45Y) for wind and solar facilities placed in service after 2027, unless construction begins on or before July 4, 2026. The IRS has provided guidance (IRS Notice 2025-42) on what constitutes the “beginning of […]

The financial triple play: 3 reports to help you stay at the top of your game

In baseball, the triple play is a high-impact defensive feat that knocks the competition out of the inning. In business, you have your own version — three key financial statements that can give you a competitive edge by monitoring profitability, liquidity and solvency. First base: The income statement The income statement (also known as the […]

Student Athletes: NIL Income Comes With Tax Responsibilities

Student athletes will soon head back to school, and some will earn income from the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This form of compensation is fairly new. Many student athletes don’t realize that it’s considered self-employment income, subject to Social Security and Medicare tax, federal and possibly state income tax. This applies […]