Author: Brian Perry

For 2025 through 2028, individuals age 65 or older generally can claim a new “senior” deduction of up to $6,000 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). But an income-based phaseout could reduce or eliminate your deduction. Fortunately, if your income is high enough that the phaseout is a risk, there are steps you can take before year end to help preserve the deduction. Senior Deduction Basics You don’t have to be receiving Social Security benefits to claim the senior deduction. If you’re age 65 or older on December 31 of the tax year, you’re potentially eligible. If both spouses of a...

Approximately 1.3 million Americans live in nursing homes, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. If you have a parent moving into one, taxes are probably not on your mind. But there may be tax implications. Here are five possible tax breaks. 1. Long-Term Medical Care The costs of qualified long-term care, including nursing home care, are deductible as medical expenses to the extent they, along with other medical expenses, exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI). Qualified long-term care services are necessary diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, curing, treating, mitigating...

Does your business receive large amounts of cash or cash equivalents? If so, you’re generally required to report these transactions to the IRS — and not just on your tax return. Here are some answers to questions you may have. What Are the requirements? Although many cash transactions are legitimate, the IRS explains that the information reported on Form 8300 “can help stop those who evade taxes, profit from the drug trade, engage in terrorist financing and conduct other criminal activities. The government can often trace money from these illegal activities through the payments reported on Form...

Running a successful business requires more than delivering great products or services. Behind the scenes, meticulous recordkeeping plays a crucial role in financial health, compliance and tax savings. Good records can mean the difference between successfully defending a deduction and losing valuable tax breaks. A recent U.S. Tax Court decision underscores just how important this is. Why It Matters The IRS requires all businesses — no matter how small — to maintain records that accurately reflect income, expenses, assets and liabilities. Without these records, it’s nearly impossible to: Substantiate...

Are you age 50 or older? You’ve earned the right to supercharge your retirement savings with extra “catch-up” contributions to your tax-favored retirement account(s). And these contributions are more valuable than you may think. IRA Contribution Amounts For 2025, eligible taxpayers can make contributions to a traditional or Roth IRA of up to the lesser of $7,000 or 100% of earned income. They can also make extra catch-up contributions of up to $1,000 annually to a traditional or Roth IRA. If you’ll be 50 or older as of December 31, 2025, you can make a catch-up contribution for the 2025 tax...