Author: Brian Perry

Although your business may seem big to you, you may wonder how the government classifies it for tax purposes. If your organization qualifies as a “small business,” you may enjoy several important tax advantages. But the rules for specific tax provisions vary. So, depending on your size, you might be eligible for some so-called small business breaks but not others. Here’s a closer look. No Universal Definition Under federal tax law, there’s no one definition of a small business. Instead, several definitions apply depending on the context, various criteria, and certain thresholds. Criteria may...

Some small business owners overlook Roth IRAs because they assume their income is too high for them to qualify to make Roth contributions. Others may think their current tax rate is higher than it will be in retirement, making current tax deductions more valuable than future tax-free distributions. However, if you don’t at least consider contributing to a Roth IRA, you may be missing a potentially valuable tax-saving opportunity. Rules and Restrictions Roth IRA contributions aren’t deductible, but they’re beneficial because you reap tax savings on the back end. (More on that later.) For 2026,...

If you give artwork to charity, the deduction you can claim depends on several factors, including the type of organization receiving the piece and how it will be used. Special substantiation and appraisal rules may apply as well. Relation to Charitable Function Your deduction for a donation of art will generally be reduced if the charity’s use of the work is unrelated to the purpose or function that’s the basis for its qualification as a tax-exempt organization. The reduction equals the amount of capital gain you would have realized had you sold the artwork instead of giving it to charity. For...

Tax identity theft isn’t limited to individual taxpayers — businesses are also targeted through their Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), payroll systems, and tax filings. The financial impact of these crimes can be significant. Businesses may face delayed or stolen tax refunds, unauthorized payroll filings, and the time and expense of resolving IRS issues. There may even be credit damage or, if employee or customer data is compromised, reputational harm. Here’s what you need to know to protect your business. How Tax Identity Theft Happens Business tax identity theft comes in many forms...

The passive activity loss (PAL) rules may limit your ability to deduct losses from a business structured as a limited liability partnership (LLP) or limited liability company (LLC). Depending on how your ownership interest is treated under these rules, you may have more or less flexibility to claim losses in the current year. Here’s a closer look. The Basics Under the PAL rules, you generally can use passive activity losses only to offset income from other passive activities. (Keep in mind that other limitations, such as basis and at-risk rules, may apply before the PAL rules.) There are two...

Whether you’re relocating for work, retirement, family, or lifestyle reasons, state taxes can have a significant financial impact. Taxes vary widely from state to state. And establishing residency for tax purposes may be more complicated than you expect. Before moving, be sure you understand how changing states could affect your overall tax situation. A Variety of Taxes to Consider It may seem like a tax-smart idea to simply move to a state with no personal income tax. But to make an informed decision, you must consider all taxes that can potentially apply to a state resident. In addition to...

Large stock market gains in recent years, coupled with some significant volatility in 2026, have left many investors with portfolios that are out of balance with their desired asset allocation. If you haven’t rebalanced recently, it may be time to do so. But you also must consider the tax implications. Careful planning can minimize the tax cost of rebalancing. What Does Rebalancing Mean? When you built your investment portfolio, you took several factors into account, such as your performance goals, risk tolerance and age, to arrive at an allocation across asset classes (such as money market...

Yes, the April 15 tax deadline is now behind us. But there are also deadlines during the rest of the year that are important to be aware of. To help you not miss any, here’s when some key tax-related forms, payments and other actions are due. Keep in mind that this list isn’t all-inclusive. There may be additional deadlines that apply to you. Please review the calendar and let us know if you have any questions about the deadlines or would like assistance in meeting them. June 15 File a 2025 individual income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) or file for a four-month extension (Form 4868)...

After you’ve filed your 2025 tax return, what’s next? It’s easy to move on to other things, but taking a little time to address some tax-related items now can help you stay organized and avoid issues later. Here are a few to-dos. Check Your Refund Status If you’re getting a tax refund and haven’t received it yet, the IRS offers a couple of ways to check the status. Begin by visiting irs.gov and going to “Where’s my refund?” If you’ve already set up an IRS account, you can sign in to check your refund. You also can request email notifications for status updates. Alternatively, you can use the...

Companies that engage in research and development activities may qualify for a federal tax credit for some of those expenses. The credit is complicated to calculate, and not all research activities are eligible, but the tax savings can be significant. Here are answers to questions you might have about this potentially lucrative tax break. What’s It Worth? The federal research credit — sometimes referred to as the research and development (R&D) credit — is for increasing research activities. Generally, it’s equal to 20% of the amount by which qualified research expenditures (QREs) in a tax...

If you don’t have everything ready to complete your 2025 federal individual income tax return by the April 15 deadline, you can request an automatic extension. Filing Form 4868, “Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,” by April 15 can give you breathing room to file accurately and protect you from the failure-to-file penalty (assuming you file by the extended October 15 deadline). However, an extension applies only to filing — not to paying any tax owed. So if you expect to owe taxes, you should project and pay the amount due by April 15 to minimize...