Weekly Tax Brief

Are you missing a valuable tax deduction for Medicare premiums?

Details: Published: 19 June 2025 19 June 2025

If you’re age 65 or older and enrolled in basic Medicare insurance, you may need to pay additional premiums to receive more comprehensive coverage. These extra premiums can be expensive, particularly for married couples, since both spouses incur the costs. However, there may be a silver lining: You could be eligible for a tax deduction for the premiums you pay.

Deducting medical expenses: What counts?

For purposes of claiming an itemized deduction for medical expenses on your tax return, you can combine premiums for Medicare health insurance with other eligible medical expenses. These include amounts for “Medigap” insurance and Medicare Advantage plans. Some people buy Medigap policies because Medicare Parts A and B don’t cover all their health care expenses. Coverage gaps include co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles and other costs. Medigap is private supplemental insurance that’s intended to cover some or all gaps.

Is itemizing required?

Qualifying for a medical expense deduction can be difficult for many people for several reasons. For 2025, you can deduct medical expenses only if you itemize deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040 and only to the extent that total qualifying expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income.

In recent years, many people haven’t been itemizing because their itemized deductions are less than their standard deductions. For 2025, the standard deduction amounts are $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married couples filing jointly and $22,500 for heads of household. (Under The One, Big, Beautiful Bill being considered by Congress, these amounts would increase. If the bill is enacted, the standard deduction will increase for 2025 through 2028 by an additional $1,000 for singles, $2,000 for married joint filers and $1,500 for heads of households.)

Note: Self-employed people and shareholder-employees of S corporations don’t need to itemize to get tax savings. They can generally claim an above-the-line deduction for their health insurance premiums, including Medicare premiums.

What other expenses qualify?

In addition to Medicare premiums, you can deduct various medical expenses, including those for dental treatments, doctor visits, ambulance services, dentures, eye exams, eyeglasses and contacts, hearing aids, hospital visits, lab tests, qualified long-term care services, prescription medicines and others.

There are also many other items that Medicare doesn’t cover that can be deducted for tax purposes if you qualify. And itemizers can deduct transportation expenses to get to and from medical appointments. If you go by car, you can deduct a flat 21 cents-per-mile rate in 2025, or you can keep track of your actual out-of-pocket expenses for gas, oil, maintenance and repairs.

Claim all eligible expenses

Contact us if you have any questions about whether you’re able to claim medical expense deductions on your tax return. We’ll help ensure you claim all the tax breaks you’re entitled to.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill could change the deductibility of R&E expenses

Details: Published: 11 June 2025 11 June 2025

The treatment of research and experimental (R&E) expenses is a high-stakes topic for U.S. businesses, especially small to midsize companies focused on innovation. As the tax code currently stands, the deductibility of these expenses is limited, leading to financial strain for companies that used to be able to expense them immediately. But proposed legislation dubbed The One, Big, Beautiful Bill could drastically change that. Here’s what you need to know.

R&E expenses must currently be capitalized

Before 2022, under Section 174 of the Internal Revenue Code, taxpayers could deduct R&E expenses in the year they were incurred. This treatment encouraged investment in innovation, as companies could realize a current tax benefit for eligible costs.

However, beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changed the rules. Under the law, R&E expenses must be capitalized and amortized over five years for domestic activities and 15 years for foreign activities. This means businesses can’t take an immediate deduction for their research spending.

The practical impact on businesses

Startups, tech firms and manufacturers, in particular, have reported significant tax hikes, even in years when they operated at a loss. The shift from immediate expensing to amortization has created cash flow issues for innovation-heavy firms and complicated tax reporting and long-term forecasting.

Lobbying groups, tax professionals and industry associations have been pushing for a reversal of the TCJA’s Sec. 174 provisions since they took effect.

What’s in The One, Big, Beautiful Bill?

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill is a comprehensive tax and spending package that narrowly passed in the U.S. House in May. It contains a provision that would restore the immediate deductibility of R&E expenses, among other tax measures.

Specifically, it would allow taxpayers to immediately deduct domestic R&E expenditures paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and before January 1, 2030. This provision would also make other changes to the deduction.

If enacted, the bill would provide a lifeline to many businesses burdened by the amortization requirement — especially those in high-growth, innovation-focused sectors.

Legislative outlook and next steps

Passage of the current version of The One, Big, Beautiful Bill remains uncertain. The bill is now being debated in the U.S. Senate and senators have indicated they’d like to make changes to some of the provisions. If the bill is revised, it will have to go back to the House for another vote before it can be signed into law by President Trump.

However, it offers hope that lawmakers recognize the challenges businesses face and may be willing to act. If enacted, the bill could restore financial flexibility to innovators across the country, encouraging a new wave of research, development and economic growth.

Stay tuned, and contact us if you have questions about how these potential changes may affect your business.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill could change the deductibility of R&E expenses

Details: Published: 09 June 2025 09 June 2025

R&E expenses must currently be capitalized

The practical impact on businesses

Lobbying groups, tax professionals and industry associations have been pushing for a reversal of the TCJA’s Sec. 174 provisions since they took effect.

What’s in The One, Big, Beautiful Bill?

If enacted, the bill would provide a lifeline to many businesses burdened by the amortization requirement — especially those in high-growth, innovation-focused sectors.

Legislative outlook and next steps

Stay tuned, and contact us if you have questions about how these potential changes may affect your business.

The advantages of a living trust for your estate plan

Details: Published: 05 June 2025 05 June 2025

Do you believe you don’t need to worry about estate planning because of the current federal estate tax exemption ($13.99 million per individual or $27.98 million for married couples in 2025)? Well, think again. Even with this substantial exemption, creating a living trust can offer significant benefits, especially if your goal is to avoid probate and maintain privacy.

Here are some answers to questions you may have about this estate planning tool.

What’s a living trust?

A living trust — also known as a revocable trust, grantor trust or family trust — is a legal entity that holds ownership of your assets during your lifetime and distributes them according to your instructions after your death. Unlike a will, a living trust allows your estate to bypass probate, which is the often lengthy and public court process of settling an estate.

How does a living trust work?

You begin by creating a trust document and transferring ownership of specific assets to the trust. These may include:

Your primary residence,
Vacation properties, and
Valuable personal items like antiques.

You’ll name a trustee to manage and distribute the assets after your death. You can serve as the trustee while you’re alive and legally competent. After that, you may appoint a successor trustee — such as a trusted family member, friend, attorney, CPA or financial institution.

Because a living trust is revocable, you can amend or cancel it at any time during your lifetime.

What are the tax implications?

For federal income tax purposes, the IRS doesn’t treat the living trust as separate from you while you’re alive. You’ll continue to report all income and deductions from the trust’s assets on your personal tax return.

However, under state law, the trust is recognized as a separate entity. When structured properly, this allows your estate to bypass probate, helping to ensure a more private and efficient distribution of your assets.

Upon your death, assets in the trust are generally included in your estate for federal estate tax purposes. However, any assets passed to a surviving spouse who’s a U.S. citizen qualify for the unlimited marital deduction, which exempts them from estate tax.

It’s also important to note that the current high federal estate tax exemption is set to expire at the end of 2025, unless Congress extends it. Under “The One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” which recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives, the federal gift and estate tax exemption would be increased to $15 million per individual in 2026. This amount would be permanent but annually adjusted for inflation. The bill is now being considered by the Senate. Keep in mind that the pending legislation could change.

Are there any common pitfalls to avoid?

While a living trust is a powerful tool, it’s only effective when properly executed. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:

Outdated beneficiary designations. The beneficiaries named on retirement accounts, life insurance policies and brokerage accounts override your trust. Make sure your designations align with your overall estate plan.
Jointly owned property. Real estate held as “joint tenants with right of survivorship” automatically passes to the surviving co-owner, regardless of what your trust says.
Failing to transfer assets. Simply creating a trust isn’t enough. You must formally transfer ownership of assets to the trust. Failing to do so means those assets may still be subject to probate.

When is more planning needed?

Although a living trust helps avoid probate, it doesn’t reduce estate or inheritance taxes. If your assets exceed the current exemption or if state estate taxes apply, additional strategies (such as irrevocable trusts, charitable giving or gifting) may be necessary.

Not a one-size-fits-all solution

A living trust is an estate planning tool that can simplify the transfer of your assets, protect your privacy and avoid probate. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. To make the most of your estate plan and stay ahead of changing tax laws, consult with us or an estate planning attorney.

Planning a summer business trip? Turn travel into tax deductions

Details: Published: 04 June 2025 04 June 2025

If you or your employees are heading out of town for business this summer, it’s important to understand what travel expenses can be deducted under current tax law. To qualify, the travel must be necessary for your business and require an overnight stay within the United States.

Note: Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, employees can’t deduct their unreimbursed travel expenses on their own tax returns through 2025. That’s because unreimbursed employee business expenses are “miscellaneous itemized deductions” that aren’t deductible through 2025. In the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” passed by the U.S. House and now being considered by the Senate, miscellaneous itemized deductions would be permanently eliminated. Keep in mind that pending legislation could still change.

However, self-employed individuals and businesses can continue to deduct business expenses, including expenses for away-from-home travel.

Deduction rules to know

Travel expenses like airfare, taxi rides and other transportation costs for out-of-town business trips are deductible. You can deduct the cost of meals and lodging, even if meals aren’t tied directly to a business discussion. However, meal deductions are limited to 50% in 2025.

Keep in mind that expenses must be reasonable based on the facts and circumstances. Extravagant or lavish meals and lodging aren’t deductible. However, this doesn’t mean you have to frequent inexpensive restaurants. According to IRS Publication 463, Travel, Gift and Car Expenses, “Meal expenses won’t be disallowed merely because they are more than a fixed dollar amount or because the meals take place at deluxe restaurants, hotels or resorts.”

What other expenses are deductible? Items such as dry cleaning, business calls and laptop rentals are deductible if they’re business-related. However, entertainment and personal costs (for example, sightseeing, movies and pet boarding) aren’t deductible.

Business vs. personal travel

If you combine business with leisure, you’ll need to divide the expenses. Here are the basic rules:

Business days only. Meals and lodging are deductible only for the days spent on business.
Travel costs. If the primary purpose of the trip is business, the full cost of getting there and back (for example, airfare) is deductible. If the trip is mainly personal, those travel costs aren’t deductible at all.
Time matters. In an audit, the IRS often considers the proportion of time spent on business versus personal activities when determining the primary purpose of the trip.

Note: The primary purpose rules are stricter for international travel.

Special considerations

If you’re attending a seminar or conference, be prepared to prove that it’s business-related and not just a vacation in disguise. Keep all relevant documentation that can help prove the professional or business nature of the travel.

What about bringing your spouse along? Travel expenses for a spouse generally aren’t deductible unless he or she is a bona fide employee and the travel serves a legitimate business purpose.

Maximize deductions

Tax rules can be tricky, especially when business and personal travel overlap. To protect your deductions, keep receipts and detailed records of dates, locations, business purposes and attendees (for meals). Reach out to us for guidance on what’s deductible in your specific situation.

Digital assets and taxes: What you need to know

Details: Published: 29 May 2025 29 May 2025

As the use of digital assets like cryptocurrencies continues to grow, so does the IRS’s scrutiny of how taxpayers report these transactions on their federal income tax returns. The IRS has flagged this area as a key focus. To help you stay compliant and avoid tax-related complications, here are the basics of digital asset reporting.

The definition of digital assets

Digital assets are defined by the IRS as any digital representation of value that’s recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger (also known as blockchain) or any similar technology. Common examples include:

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum,
Stablecoins, which are digital currencies tied to the value of a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar, and
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which represent ownership of unique digital or physical items.

If an asset meets any of these criteria, the IRS classifies it as a digital asset.

Related question on your tax return

Near the top of your federal income tax return, there’s a question asking whether you received or disposed of any digital assets during the year. You must answer either “yes” or “no.”

When we prepare your return, we’ll check “yes” if, during the year, you:

Received digital assets as compensation, rewards or awards,
Acquired new digital assets through mining, staking or a blockchain fork,
Sold or exchanged digital assets for other digital assets, property or services, or
Disposed of digital assets in any way, including converting them to U.S. dollars.

We’ll answer “no” if you:

Held digital assets in a wallet or exchange,
Transferred digital assets between wallets or accounts you own, or
Purchased digital assets with U.S. dollars.

Reporting the tax consequences of digital asset transactions

To determine the tax impact of your digital asset activity, you need to calculate the fair market value (FMV) of the asset in U.S. dollars at the time of each transaction. For example, if you purchased one Bitcoin at $93,429 on May 21, 2025, your cost basis for that Bitcoin would be $93,429.

Any transaction involving the sale or exchange of a digital asset may result in a taxable gain or loss. A gain occurs when the asset’s FMV at the time of sale exceeds your cost basis. A loss occurs when the FMV is lower than your basis. Gains are classified as either short-term or long-term, depending on whether you held the asset for more than a year.

Example: If you accepted one Bitcoin worth $80,000 plus $10,000 in cash for a car with a basis of $55,000, you’d report a taxable gain of $35,000. The holding period of the car determines whether this gain is short-term or long-term.

How businesses handle crypto payments

Digital asset transactions have their own tax rules for businesses. If you’re an employee and are paid in crypto, the FMV at the time of payment is treated as wages and subject to standard payroll taxes. These wages must be reported on Form W-2.

If you’re an independent contractor compensated with crypto, the FMV is reported as nonemployee compensation on Form 1099-NEC if payments exceed $600 for the year.

Crypto losses and the wash sale rule

Currently, the IRS treats digital assets as property, not securities. This distinction means the wash sale rule doesn’t apply to cryptocurrencies. If you sell a digital asset at a loss and buy it back soon after, you can still claim the loss on your taxes.

However, this rule does apply to crypto-related securities, such as stocks of cryptocurrency exchanges, which fall under the wash sale provisions.

Form 1099 for crypto transactions

Depending on how you interact with a digital asset, you may receive a:

Form 1099-MISC,
Form 1099-K,
Form 1099-B, or
Form 1099-DA.

These forms are also sent to the IRS, so it’s crucial that your reported figures match those on the form.

Evolving landscape

Digital asset tax rules can be complex and are evolving quickly. If you engage in digital asset transactions, maintain all related records — transaction dates, FMV data and cost basis. Contact us with questions. This will help ensure accurate and compliant reporting, minimizing your risk of IRS penalties.

The IRS recently announced 2026 amounts for Health Savings Accounts

Details: Published: 28 May 2025 28 May 2025

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 only be established for the benefit of an “eligible individual” who is covered under a “high-deductible health plan” (HDHP). In addition, a participant can’t be enrolled in Medicare or have other health coverage (exceptions include dental, vision, long-term care, accident and specific disease insurance).

Within specified dollar limits, an above-the-line tax deduction is allowed for an individual’s contribution to an HSA. This annual contribution limitation and the annual deductible and out-of-pocket expenses under the tax code are adjusted annually for inflation.

Inflation adjustments for next year

In Revenue Procedure 2025-19, the IRS released the 2026 inflation-adjusted figures for contributions to HSAs. For calendar year 2026, the annual contribution limitation for an individual with self-only coverage under an HDHP will be $4,400. For an individual with family coverage, the amount will be $8,750. These are up from $4,300 and $8,550, respectively, in 2025.

There’s an additional $1,000 “catch-up” contribution amount for those age 55 or older in 2026 (and 2025).

An HDHP is generally a plan with an annual deductible that isn’t less than $1,700 for self-only coverage and $3,400 for family coverage in 2026 (up from $1,650 and $3,300, respectively, in 2025). In addition, in 2026, the sum of the annual deductible and other annual out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid under the plan for covered benefits (but not for premiums) can’t exceed $8,500 for self-only coverage and $17,000 for family coverage. In 2025, these amounts are $8,300 and $16,600, respectively.

Advantages of HSAs

There are a variety of benefits to HSAs. Contributions to the accounts are made on a pre-tax basis. The money can accumulate tax-free year after year and can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for a variety of medical expenses such as doctor visits, prescriptions, chiropractic care and premiums for long-term care insurance. In addition, an HSA is “portable” — it stays with an account holder if he or she changes employers or leaves the workforce. Contact us if you have questions about HSAs at your business.

The tax rules for legal awards and settlements: What recipients should know

Details: Published: 13 May 2025 13 May 2025

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 vs. nontaxable awards

Not all lawsuit settlements or awards are treated the same under federal tax law. Generally, the IRS breaks them into two categories:

Taxable. Awards for lost wages, lost profits, breach of contract and most punitive damages are taxable. For example, punitive damages and awards for unlawful discrimination or harassment are taxable. If you receive compensation for back pay or unpaid wages, the IRS treats it just like income you earn on the job. It’s subject to both income and employment taxes. Also taxable are damages for emotional distress without a physical injury.
Nontaxable. Settlements for personal physical injuries or physical sickness are typically excluded from income, meaning you don’t owe taxes on them. However, the injury must be physical (such as a broken bone or illness), not emotional.

Special considerations and reporting rules

It’s important to recognize that even when part of a settlement is nontaxable, other parts might not be. For example, a case involving both physical injury and lost wages will likely result in mixed tax treatment.

Attorneys’ fees are another area that can trip recipients up. Even if your lawyer is paid directly out of your settlement, you’re generally taxed on the full amount before fees are deducted. This means you may owe tax on money you never actually receive.

Settlements related to emotional distress or defamation are taxable unless they’re tied to physical harm. And punitive damages are almost always taxable, regardless of the type of case.

Why professional help matters

Navigating the tax consequences of a lawsuit award can be tricky. In many cases, the settlement agreement will play a key role in determining how the IRS classifies the payment. How damages are described in the settlement can have an impact on your tax bill. For example, it’s helpful to specify which portion of a split settlement is for physical injuries versus emotional distress or lost wages. In negotiating a settlement, it may be possible to stipulate that an award is for physical injuries, rather than emotional, and thus is nontaxable.

Without professional guidance, you could miss opportunities to minimize your tax liability or, worse, end up underreporting income. We can help you:

Review a settlement agreement for tax implications,
Determine how much of your award is taxable,
Understand when estimated tax payments might be necessary, and
Ensure you report everything accurately on your tax return.

Final thoughts

While winning or settling a lawsuit or legal claim can bring financial relief, it can also bring tax complexities. Don’t assume that all settlement money is tax-free or that the IRS won’t notice. You want to stay compliant, avoid surprises and make the most of your award. Contact us if you’ve recently received a settlement, award or judgment or you’re expecting one.

Can you turn business losses into tax relief?

Details: Published: 12 May 2025 12 May 2025

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 rises and falls. It lets businesses with fluctuating income to average their income and losses over the years and pay tax accordingly.

You may be eligible for the NOL deduction if your deductions for the tax year are greater than your income. The loss generally must be caused by deductions related to your:

Business (Schedules C and F losses, or Schedule K-1 losses from partnerships or S corporations),
Casualty and theft losses from a federally declared disaster, or
Rental property (Schedule E).

The following generally aren’t allowed when determining your NOL:

Capital losses that exceed capital gains,
The exclusion for gains from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock,
Nonbusiness deductions that exceed nonbusiness income,
The NOL deduction itself, and
The Section 199A qualified business income deduction.

Individuals and C corporations are eligible to claim the NOL deduction. Partnerships and S corporations generally aren’t eligible, but partners and shareholders can use their separate shares of the business’s income and deductions to calculate individual NOLs.

What are the changes and limits?

Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), NOLs could be carried back two years, forward 20 years, and offset up to 100% of taxable income. The TCJA changed the landscape:

Carrybacks are eliminated (except certain farm losses).
Carryforwards are allowed indefinitely.
The deduction is capped at 80% of taxable income for the year.

If an NOL carryforward exceeds your taxable income of the target year, the unused balance may become an NOL carryover. Multiple NOLs must be applied in the order they were incurred.

What’s the excess business loss limitation?

The TCJA established an “excess business loss” limitation, which took effect in 2021. For partnerships and S corporations, this limitation is applied at the partner or shareholder level, after the outside basis, at-risk and passive activity loss limitations have been applied.

Under the rule, noncorporate taxpayers’ business losses can offset only business-related income or gain, plus an inflation-adjusted threshold. For 2025, that threshold is $313,000 ($626,000 if married filing jointly). Remaining losses are treated as an NOL carryforward to the next tax year. In other words, you can’t fully deduct them because they become subject to the 80% income limitation on NOLs, reducing their tax value.

Important: Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the excess business loss limitation applies to tax years through 2028. Under the TCJA, it had been scheduled to expire after December 31, 2026.

Plan proactively

Navigating NOLs and the related restrictions is complex, especially when coordinating with other deductions and credits. Thoughtful planning can maximize the benefit of past losses. Please consult with us about how to proceed in your situation.

Discover if you qualify for “head of household” tax filing status

Details: Published: 01 April 2025 01 April 2025

When we prepare your tax return, we’ll check one of the following filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying widow(er). Only some people are eligible to file a return as a head of household. But if you’re one of them, it’s more favorable than filing as a single taxpayer.

To illustrate, the 2025 standard deduction for a single taxpayer is $15,000. However, it’s $22,500 for a head of household taxpayer. To be eligible, you must maintain a household that, for more than half the year, is the principal home of a “qualifying child” or other relative of yours whom you can claim as a dependent.

Tax law fundamentals

Who’s a qualifying child? This is one who:

Lives in your home for more than half the year,
Is your child, stepchild, adopted child, foster child, sibling, stepsibling (or a descendant of any of these),
Is under age 19 (or a student under 24), and
Doesn’t provide over half of his or her own support for the year.

If the parents are divorced, the child will qualify if he or she meets these tests for the custodial parent — even if that parent released his or her right to a dependency exemption for the child to the noncustodial parent.

Can both parents claim head of household status if they live together but aren’t married? According to the IRS, the answer is no. Only one parent can claim head of household status for a qualifying child. A person can’t be a “qualifying child” if he or she is married and can file a joint tax return with a spouse. Special “tie-breaker” rules apply if the individual can be a qualifying child of more than one taxpayer.

The IRS considers you to “maintain a household” if you live in the home for the tax year and pay over half the cost of running it. In measuring the cost, include house-related expenses incurred for the mutual benefit of household members, including property taxes, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, insurance on the property, repairs and upkeep, and food consumed in the home. Don’t include medical care, clothing, education, life insurance or transportation.

Providing your parent a home

Under a special rule, you can qualify as head of household if you maintain a home for your parent even if you don’t live with him or her. To qualify under this rule, you must be able to claim the parent as your dependent.

You can’t be married

You must be single to claim head of household status. Suppose you’re unmarried because you’re widowed. In that case, you can use the married filing jointly rates as a “surviving spouse” for two years after the year of your spouse’s death if your dependent child, stepchild, adopted child or foster child lives with you and you maintain the household. The joint rates are more favorable than the head of household rates.

If you’re married, you must file jointly or separately — not as head of household. However, if you’ve lived apart from your spouse for the last six months of the year and your dependent child, stepchild, adopted child, or foster child lives with you and you “maintain the household,” you’re treated as unmarried. If this is the case, you can qualify as head of household.

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