"2026 $500,000 Home-Sale Exclusion: Must You Be Married?" To get my complete, FREE articlewith all the details… You're selling your home this year, and you assume the $500,000 exclusion only works if you were married for the whole time you lived there. The tax code never asks how long you've been married. It asks something else entirely about your tax return, and the … [Read more...]
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When Your Spouse Dies: The Tax and Medicare Hits Arrive Later
When Your Spouse Dies: The Tax and Medicare Hits Arrive Later To get my complete article with all the details… When your spouse dies, the tax return is the last thing on your mind. But federal law gives you a joint-filing window that lasts a year or more after the death — and once it closes, your tax bill can jump for good. Your rate brackets and standard deduction … [Read more...]
The 3-test Check for Your Health Insurance Deduction
The 3-test Check for Your Health Insurance Deduction To get my complete article with all the details… You pay for your own health insurance as a sole proprietor, partner, or S corporation owner and assume the deduction is automatic. It isn't — three separate tests decide whether those premiums count for the self-employed health insurance deduction. One test alone … [Read more...]
2026 Paid Family Leave Credit: Does the Owner Now Qualify?
2026 Paid Family Leave Credit: Does the Owner Now Qualify? To get my complete article with all the details… The paid family and medical leave credit just became permanent, and the rules around it changed enough that it's worth a second look even if you dismissed it before. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act there’s an improved deal for some business owners: two … [Read more...]
Drive Time Increases Odds of Deducting Rental Property Losses
Drive Time Increases Odds of Deducting Rental Property Losses To get my complete article with all the details… You own rental property, log your hours, and still fall short of the 750-hour real estate professional test. Meanwhile the drive time to and from your rentals sits on the sideline, uncounted. The IRS's own guidance says drive time doesn't count toward … [Read more...]