A practical 2026 guide to the IRC Section 121 home-sale capital gains exclusion. Covers the $250,000 single and $500,000 joint exclusion, the ownership and use test, partial exclusion, non-qualified use, depreciation recapture, how to report on Form 8949 and Schedule D, and the most common mistakes.
A practical 2026 breakdown of the federal Adoption Tax Credit — the per-child maximum, the new refundable portion under OBBBA, income phase-out ranges, qualified adoption expenses, special-needs rules, carryforward timing, Form 8839 mechanics, and how employer adoption assistance interacts with the credit.
Alternative Minimum Tax explained for 2026: how the parallel AMT calculation works, the add-backs and preference items that trigger it, the ISO exercise bargain-element trap, exemption and phaseout, and the AMT credit.
A practical 2026 guide to Income in Respect of a Decedent under IRC §691: why inherited IRAs, pensions, deferred comp, and accrued rent are taxed to the heir, why there is no step-up in basis, how the §691(c) estate tax deduction eases double taxation, and how to manage brackets.
A plain-English guide to U.S. self-employment tax in 2026: the 15.3% rate breakdown, Schedule SE math, quarterly estimates, the S-corp salary strategy, and the deductions that lower your bill.
How the SECURE Act 10-year rule works for inherited IRAs in 2026, including the IRS final regulations on annual RMDs, eligible designated beneficiary exceptions, Roth inherited accounts, and withdrawal sequencing to avoid a Year-10 tax bomb.
A practical 2026 guide to tax-loss harvesting for US investors: how realized losses offset capital gains and up to $3,000 of ordinary income, the short-term vs long-term netting order, the wash-sale rule and how to sidestep it, robo-advisor automation, and the mistakes that quietly erase the benefit.
A plain-English comparison of the donor-advised fund (DAF) versus the private foundation for structured philanthropy: control, cost, IRS charitable deduction limits by AGI, the 5% payout requirement, excise tax, Form 990-PF, privacy, appreciated-asset donations, estate-tax reduction, and when to combine both.
A plain-English guide to the Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT): how CRATs and CRUTs differ, why donating low-basis appreciated stock or real estate before a sale defers capital gains tax, the income tax charitable deduction, the 5%-50% payout rule, the 10% remainder rule, and how a CRT compares with a donor-advised fund.
Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) wraps hedge funds and alternative investments inside a variable universal life policy to deliver tax-deferred growth, an income-tax-free death benefit, and tax-free policy loans. This 2026 guide breaks down accredited investor and qualified purchaser rules, the investor control doctrine and IRC 817(h) diversification, high minimums and costs, liquidity trade-offs, and who it actually fits.
Key person life insurance protects your business when a founder, top executive, or essential employee dies. Learn how coverage works, how to size it, and the critical IRC §101(j) consent rules that determine whether proceeds stay tax-free.
2026 US estate tax exemption, gift tax annual exclusion, portability rules, and proven planning strategies to protect your wealth. Must-read for high-net-worth families.
How to do a Backdoor Roth IRA in 2026: 2026 income limits, pro-rata rule traps, step-by-step Vanguard/Fidelity walkthrough, and tax form 8606 reporting.