Don't Buy That Mutual Fund in December — the IRS Will Tax Gains You Never Earned
Buying a mutual fund before its December record date hands you IRS tax on a full year of gains you never earned — wait until after the ex-dividend date.
#tax-planning
Tax Planning
Strategic tax planning to minimize liability and maximize savings
Living on a Fellowship or Research Stipend? What the IRS Taxes, What It Doesn't, and How to Report It With No W-2
Fellowship stipends spent on living expenses are taxable under Section 117 — report them on Schedule 1, line 8r and pay quarterly estimates.
Selling or Swapping a Life Insurance Policy Can Make the Death Benefit Taxable
Under IRS Section 101(a)(2), selling a life policy for value makes the death benefit taxable above your cost — five exceptions decide if you owe.
Washington's Small-Business B&O Tax Credit Is Set to More Than Double in 2029 — If Its Funding Survives
Washington's small-business B&O credit rises to $375/$125 monthly in 2029 — unless voters repeal its funding on Nov 3 or courts strike it.
Marriage Penalty vs. Marriage Bonus: What Filing Jointly Really Costs (or Saves) You in 2026
A single $120K earner saves $7,530 filing jointly in 2026, while two top earners pay up to $10,250 more — federal thresholds decide.
The Deal Died — Can You Deduct What You Spent? Abandoned Acquisition Costs as a Section 165 Loss
IRS rules let dead-deal fees become an ordinary Section 165 loss in the year you abandon — if you split investigatory from facilitative costs and prove the end.
How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment: Comparable Sales, Unequal Appraisal Claims, and the Evidence That Actually Wins Reductions
Win a US property tax appeal with evidence: fix record errors, file 3-5 arm's-length comps, and add an unequal-appraisal claim before the 30-60 day deadline.
Charitable Gift Annuities, Explained: Lifetime Income, a Tax Deduction, and Capital-Gains Relief in One Gift
A charitable gift annuity trades a lump sum for lifetime income plus an IRS deduction — fundable with cash, stock, or a $55,000 IRA QCD.
New Mexico Just Said No to 100% Bonus Depreciation: What SB 151 Means for Your 2027 State Taxes
New Mexico SB 151 makes C corporations add back federal 100% bonus depreciation from 2027; pass-through owners keep it. Place assets in service in 2026.
The 412(e)(3) Plan: The Fully Insured Pension That Lets Small Business Owners Deduct Six Figures a Year
A 412(e)(3) plan funds pensions through insurance contracts, letting owners in their 50s deduct $100,000+ a year — with IRS-mandated fixed premiums.
Your Q4 2026 Tax-Planning Checklist: 10 Moves to Make Before December 31
Ten IRS-smart moves before December 31: place equipment in service, max out 401(k)s, bunch charitable gifts, and prep 1099s under the new $2,000 rule.
Selling Your Home After a Home Office: The Depreciation Recapture Tax
Section 121 won't shield home-office depreciation: the IRS taxes it as unrecaptured Section 1250 gain at up to 25%, even if you never claimed it.