Accounting and Accountability

2026 tax changes are here and some could cost you thousands if you're not prepared. Tammy sits down with Markland, CPA, Supervisor at Faw Casson, to break down the biggest tax updates for 2026 in plain English. In this episode of Accounting and Accountability, we cover everything from 529 plan contribution limits and proposed Roth IRA rollover changes to the adoption credit increase, Medicare Part B rebates, and new IRS rules on premium tax credits and ghost preparers. Whether you're a business owner, parent, retiree, or just someone who wants to keep more of your money, these updates affect you.

📋 WHAT'S COVERED:

• 529 Plan changes: $19,000 annual gift limit, superfunding up to $95,000, proposed elimination of the $35,000 Roth IRA rollover cap

• Adoption Tax Credit: Increased to $17,670 for 2026, with $5,120 refundable

• Medicare Part B Rebates: Are they taxable? (Spoiler: No)

• Premium Tax Credit (PTC): Major repayment rule change starting with 2026 returns

• Charitable Giving & QCDs: Qualified Charitable Distributions up to $111,000 for ages 70½+

• Social Security 2026: Wage base jumps to $192,300, 3.6% COLA increase

• IRS Compliance: Online payment options, lower credit card fees, and the crackdown on ghost tax preparers

October 15 Tax Extension Deadline:

What taxpayers should understand about the final individual income tax filing deadline and the important difference between an extension to file and an extension to pay.

Saver's Credit vs. Saver's Match: What's Changing in 2027?

The current retirement tax credit is being replaced by a new government retirement contribution program. Who could benefit, how the match differs from a tax credit, and what taxpayers should prepare for.

New Charitable Tax Deductions for 2026

You may be able to deduct charitable contributions even if you take the standard deduction. We discuss the new opportunity, qualifying donations, and why proper documentation is essential.

Is Overtime Pay Tax-Free in 2026?

Not exactly. We explore how the overtime deduction works, why not all overtime qualifies, and what employees should look for on their W-2.

Business Vehicle Deductions and IRS Audit Red Flags

Claiming significant vehicle expenses? A recent Tax Court case highlights the importance of mileage logs, business-use documentation, and maintaining reliable records.

New Tax Opportunities for Farmers Selling Farmland

A potential tax-planning advantage allows qualifying farmers to spread tax payments on certain farmland sales over multiple years.

Mortgage Debt Forgiveness: A Tax Break That Expired

Homeowners with forgiven mortgage debt may face unexpected tax consequences in 2026. We discuss why the expiration matters and the exceptions that may still apply.

Trump Accounts: New Savings Opportunities for Children

What parents should know about children's savings accounts, the government's initial contribution for eligible children, and steps families may need to take.

IRS Mobile App, ID.me & Online Tax Payments

The IRS is expanding digital access to taxpayer information. Learn how its mobile app and online account services can help taxpayers manage payments, review records, and stay organized.

• Self-employment tax & limited partners — The IRS is challenging the self-employment tax exemption for LLC limited partners, especially those in management roles, with courts siding with the IRS
• October 15th tax deadlines — Extended deadlines for personal 1040 returns, C corporation returns, SEP IRA funding, and excess IRA contribution withdrawals
• FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) — Filing requirements for foreign financial accounts exceeding $10,000 and the steep penalties for non-compliance
• Educator expense deduction — Increased to $350 per teacher (up to $700 for married couples) and expanded to include preschool teachers
• Student loan interest deductibility — Parents paying children's student loans can't deduct the interest unless they're legally liable on the debt
• IRS FAQs as legal authority — IRS frequently asked questions don't constitute binding legal precedent; reliance on them is limited
• Excessive refund claim penalty — A 20% penalty that may apply to excessive refund claims
• Employee Retention Credit (ERC) updates — ~14,900 claims still pending in various stages of IRS review
• Excess Social Security withholding — Employees who worked multiple employers and exceeded the 2026 wage base ($184,500) can claim the excess on their 1040
• Self-employed health insurance & Medicare premiums — Medicare premiums can be deducted as self-employed health insurance for S corp owners and LLC members if properly reported
• 1040 changes — New above-the-line charitable deduction for non-itemizers (up to $2,000 for joint filers) and Schedule A itemized deduction updates
• Proposed stimulus checks — Discussion of a proposed $5,000 stimulus contingent on Republican mid-term election results, with concerns about budget deficit impact
• 2026 tax brackets — Seven brackets unchanged since 2018, with the top bracket starting at $768,700 (joint) / $640,000 (single)
• Proposed new income tax brackets — Roosevelt Institute income-growth statistics and a proposal for up to seven new upper-income brackets reaching a top rate of 70%
• Tribal tax credit scam warning — Alert about a new scam involving fake tribal tax credits being sold to taxpayers

In this episode:

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:4ae858d5-4857-4657-9f63-f6eeba5d5454-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:4ae858d5-4857-4657-9f63-f6eeba5d5454-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant">

• Rehoboth Office News — Our upcoming open house and new location.
• Federal Estate Tax — Who may still be affected and where planning can help.
• Offers in Compromise — When the IRS may accept less than the full tax debt.
• Taxpayer Advocate Service — Help when an IRS issue stalls.
• Tax Fraud and Filing Deadlines — Why the usual statute of limitations may not apply.
• Net Investment Income Tax — The surtax that can catch investors and rental property owners.
• Late S Corporation Elections — What happens when the filing deadline is missed.
• IRS Online Accounts — Digital tools for payments, notices, transcripts, and more.
• IRS Audit Activity — What declining audit numbers mean for taxpayers.
• Maryland Tax Notices — Why some businesses are receiving questionable notices.

_:empty]:hidden">

In this episode:

• IRA Rollovers — Rolling over traditional 401(k)s and IRAs, converting traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs, required minimum distributions, and estate planning considerations.
• Natural Disaster Tax Relief — New federal legislation easing casualty loss write-offs for qualified disaster victims, including timing and eligibility details.
• Corporate Transparency Act Update — Final ruling on beneficial ownership reporting requirements and what it means for US companies.
• Cybersecurity & Scam Prevention — Ongoing threats from cyber thieves targeting taxpayer data, reminders to use secure portals, and general vigilance against phishing and fraud.
• Proposed Restrictions on Refundable Tax Credits — Proposed regulations that would deny certain refundable credits (EITC, child tax credit, etc.) to immigrants who are not qualified aliens, and the legal challenges ahead.

In this episode:

• IRS Oversight of Unenrolled Tax Preparers
• Overtime Pay Tax Deduction Update
• Congressional Tax Proposals to Watch
• Tax Court Case: Customer-Funded Improvements
• IRS.gov Business Tax Account Expansion
• Attorney's Fees and Settlement Tax Traps
• New Cryptocurrency Scam Warning
• Improper Refundable Credit Payments
• Delaware Department of Labor IT Fee

In this episode:

• Inflation-indexed IRS deductions, credits, and thresholds for 2026.
• Non-indexed thresholds that haven't changed in decades (e.g., home sale gain exclusion).
• New above-the-line charitable deduction for non-itemizers.
• Rules for deducting donated vehicles.
• Conservation easements and farmland preservation.
• Tax treatment of donated timeshares and vacation home rentals.
• Qualified opportunity zone capital gains deferment.
• Health insurance marketplace premium tax credit pitfalls.
• Upcoming tax filing deadlines.
• IRS interest vs. penalty abatement rules.

In this episode:

• Hobby loss rules – refresher on when the IRS may reclassify a business as a hobby.
• Trump accounts – contributing up to $5,000 for a minor without triggering a gift tax filing.
• Gift tax basics – $19,000 annual exclusion, filing requirements above that, and the $15M lifetime exemption.
• Gambling loss changes – losses now deductible only up to 90% of winnings (previously 100%), and only if itemizing.
• Online sports betting – winnings are taxable income regardless of platform.
• Standard mileage rate increase – 76 cents/mile for July–Dec 2025 vs. 72.5 cents for Jan–June.
• Foreign bank account disclosure – steep penalties for not reporting foreign accounts/access to funds.
• IRS penalty relief – automatic first-time penalty abatement for compliant taxpayers (no longer needs to be requested).
• IRS penalty statistics – $1.25 trillion assessed in 2025, 92% from unpaid payroll taxes, with most later abated.
• Maryland's new tax portal – launching September 1st, with a blackout period and no penalties during the transition.

In this episode:

• Premium tax credit changes affecting Marketplace health coverage enrollees.
• Long-term care insurance premium deductions and new retirement plan withdrawal rules.
• A proposed Newborn Tax Credit and updates to ABLE accounts.
• IRS partnership audit trends and lingering ERC (Employee Retention Credit) claim backlog.
• A rundown of current IRS-impersonation scam tactics targeting seniors.

In this episode:

• Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027) — Up to $1,700 non-refundable credit for K–12 scholarship donations; no income limits; requires state opt-in
• Cryptocurrency staking rewards — Tokens taxable as income upon receipt; deferral legislation proposed but not yet law
• 1099-DA reporting (2027) — Brokers must report digital asset sales; provide all 1099s to your preparer
• Charitable contribution rules — Cash must be documented; GoFundMe not deductible; large non-cash donations require appraisals
• $4.2M charitable deduction denied — Tax court disallowed due to inadequate documentation
• Hobby loss rules — Losses only deductible if activity is run with genuine profit motive
• Family limited partnership discounts — Court upheld IRS challenge; deemed tax-motivated with no business purpose
• Estate tax Form 706 & closing letters — Portability elections, new request fee, and 2–3 year processing delays
• 2027 Social Security wage base — Increases to $190,200; effectively a tax hike for higher earners
• Amended returns (Form 1040-X) — 3-year filing window; e-file for faster refunds
• IRS workforce decline — Staffing down 28%; enforcement agents down 33%; fewer audits and slower service

In this episode:

IRS call strategies – A tip for getting through when the IRS won't accept calls

• Tax identity theft – How fraudsters file returns using stolen Social Security numbers

• Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) – A little-known tax exclusion that could eliminate gains for eligible investors

• IRS First-Time Abatement – An automated penalty relief process coming soon for late filers

• Investment fee deductibility – Why individuals can no longer deduct these fees, but businesses still can

• IRS interest rate increases – Higher rates on underpayments and overpayments starting Q3 2026

• 2026 W-2 changes – New codes to identify deductible tips and overtime pay

• SALT cap – The $40,000 state and local tax deduction limit reaffirmed through 2029

• 2027 HSA limits – Contribution limits going up, with a reminder of the long-term savings benefits

In this episode:

• A recent court case that could allow some taxpayers to recover certain IRS penalties and interest assessed during the COVID-era, and what steps may be available to protect refund claims.
• The growing problem of erroneous IRS and state tax notices, including what taxpayers should do before reacting to unexpected letters.
• Valuable but often-overlooked tax credits, including significant updates to the adoption tax credit and how proper communication with your tax preparer can prevent missed opportunities.
• A refresher on the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) and additional Medicare taxes, including why more taxpayers are being affected than ever before.
• Important considerations for farmers, landowners, and others exploring conservation easements or land preservation programs, including common compliance pitfalls.
• Tax-saving opportunities that may be disappearing soon, including credits related to electric vehicle charging equipment.
• Current mileage reimbursement rates, the importance of maintaining accurate mileage logs, and why mid-year IRS changes could matter.
• New direct deposit requirements for federal tax refunds, common IRS notice issues related to those requirements, and how to avoid unnecessary refund delays.
• Delaware-specific tax notice concerns that are affecting taxpayers across the state.
• A look at potential tax and legislative developments on the horizon, including discussions surrounding a possible federal gas tax holiday and what it could mean for consumers.

In this episode:

• 2026 Tax Legislation Outlook — No major tax changes expected this year; budget reconciliation and new proposals remain largely on hold.
• Retirement Savings Updates — Expanded 401(k) investment options (real estate, private equity), new IRA access for those without workplace plans, and spousal IRA contribution rules.
• Roth IRA Benefits — Tax-free growth advantages and AGI threshold increases for contributions.
• Summer Tax Tips for Families — Tax withholding rules for dependent children working summer jobs, and how to hire your child if you're self-employed to reduce payroll taxes.
• Child and Dependent Care Credit — Enhanced credit limits for 2026, including eligibility for summer camps.
• Kids' Roth IRAs — Opening retirement accounts for children with earned summer income.
• Employee Fringe Benefits — IRS guidance on taxable vs. non-taxable benefits, including employer-paid tuition assistance (up to $5,250 annually, indexed for inflation starting 2027).
• Marijuana Tax Developments — Medical marijuana reclassified to Schedule III, removing the 280E deduction limitation for medical operators.
• Nonprofit Filing Deadline — May 15th deadline for calendar-year exempt organizations; upcoming Form 990 revisions for increased transparency.
• Tax Rates for High Earners — Breakdown of effective tax rates vs. tax brackets for top 1% earners, including capital gains and net investment income tax.

In this episode:

• What IRS funding cuts actually mean in the real world, fewer audits, but slower responses and more frustration when you do need answers
• Why "audit rates are down" doesn't mean you're off the hook, and how AI-driven red flags are quietly replacing old-school enforcement
• The growing role of automation in tax processing, and how it's leading to confusing notices, mismatched payments, and head-scratching letters
• Why you should never ignore a tax notice, even when it looks wrong, and how often they actually are
• New and finalized tax rules that could create real savings opportunities, especially for service-based businesses with tipped income
• A new 1% tax that could quietly affect personal cash transfers overseas starting in 2026
• Eye-opening tax data on who is actually paying the bulk of federal taxes, and what that means for business owners thinking about growth
• Hidden traps inside common entity structures, especially S corporations, that can trigger unexpected taxes if handled incorrectly
• Advanced planning strategies like micro captive insurance, where the upside is real, but so is the IRS scrutiny if you get it wrong
• What the lack of major tax law changes (for now) means for planning ahead, and why stability might actually be your biggest advantage going into the next couple of years

In this episode:

• Why most taxpayers don't itemize anymore, and when it still actually makes sense to do so
• The hidden fine print on mortgage interest deductions, including caps that quietly limit what high-balance homeowners can write off
• How home equity loans can either save you on taxes, or cost you the deduction entirely depending on how you use the money
• The real story behind points, refinancing, and why timing matters more than most people realize
• Why some common "write-offs" like mortgage insurance premiums rarely benefit higher earners
• A major shift in state and local tax deductions, and why some business owners may suddenly see bigger write-offs
• The growing cost pressure of employee health insurance, and the moment your business is legally required to offer it
• How benefits strategy isn't just an expense, it's a recruiting weapon if you play it right
• A surprising tax change around gambling income that quietly increases what people owe
• Why the IRS insists you pay taxes throughout the year, not just in April, and how that impacts cash flow
• The concept of "safe harbor" payments and how it can protect you even if your income swings wildly
• A lesser-known payroll strategy some business owners use to legally manage timing of tax payments
• Why tax planning isn't just a nice-to-have, it's the difference between scrambling in April and being in control year-round

In this episode:

• A practical look at proposed IRS reform and why better customer service, clearer appeals rights, and stronger taxpayer advocacy matter to everyday taxpayers and business owners.
• A timely reminder about April tax deadlines, including the difference between an extension to file and an extension to pay.
• What taxpayers should know about the IRS shift away from paper checks, and how that could affect refunds, estimates, and tax payments.
• A candid discussion about what happens when you owe the IRS, including payment plan options, costly mistakes, and why tax planning matters more than panic.
• Easy-to-follow insights on gift and estate planning strategies, including annual gifting rules and key filing requirements families often miss.
• A useful overview of charitable giving strategies through IRAs and how they may benefit certain taxpayers.
• Important filing issues that can come up after the death of a spouse, including deadlines and portability considerations.
• Common audit triggers, popular tax scams, and the kinds of "too good to be true" tax advice business owners should avoid.

In this episode:

•

A little-known tax opportunity involving long-term care costs that can significantly reduce taxable income if handled correctly

•

Why medical expense deductions aren't as straightforward as people think, and how thresholds and documentation come into play

•

The real story behind deducting vehicles for business use, including where people tend to overestimate what they can write off

•

How newer depreciation rules and limits impact big purchases, especially vehicles and equipment

•

Key deadlines and elections business owners often miss, and how those timing decisions can affect taxes

•

A candid look at how artificial intelligence is rapidly changing accounting, bookkeeping, and financial reporting

•

Practical ways firms are already using AI to save time, improve accuracy, and streamline client work

•

What business owners should expect as technology becomes more embedded in financial operations, whether they like it or not

•

A shift toward more modern, digital client experiences, including changes to billing and payment processes

In this episode:

•

Why tax season gets significantly more intense in March, and why accountants push for earlier deadlines to ensure returns are accurate and thoroughly reviewed.

•

How accounting firms stay engaged in their communities even during the busiest time of year, including charitable initiatives and local philanthropy.

•

A lesser-known tax rule affecting investments in physical gold and silver, and why these assets are taxed differently than many other investments.

•

Planning strategies involving IRAs, including how charitable distributions can reduce taxable income while supporting causes you care about.

•

What beneficiaries need to know about Required Minimum Distributions after inheriting an IRA, and the potential tax consequences of missing them.

•

A detail many business owners overlook about tip deductions for self-employed individuals and why proper reporting matters.

•

A recent change to the business interest deduction rules and how it may impact larger businesses starting in 2025.

•

Important filing deadlines for businesses and partnerships during tax season, and why extensions are often part of a smart filing strategy.

•

What really happens if taxes aren't paid on time, including how IRS interest works on both unpaid balances and delayed refunds.

In this episode:

•

What the expanded SALT deduction really means, and how income limits and payment timing can impact your 2025–2029 strategy.

•

New charitable contribution limits in 2026 and smart planning moves high earners should consider now.

•

How itemized deductions and education credits are shifting, including common (and costly) mistakes to avoid

•

Real IRS court cases entrepreneurs can learn from: innocent spouse relief, attorney fee limits, and conservation easement scrutiny.

•

Why setting up an IRS online account matters and what IRS budget cuts and new whistleblower rules signal for enforcement going forward.

In this episode:

•

Detailed insight into the new $6,000 Senior Deduction for taxpayers age 65+, including income phaseouts and confusion around Social Security taxability.

•

A look at the proposed depreciation of primary residences, a radical idea never seriously floated in prior administrations.

•

Update on student loan garnishments: 2025 refunds will not be seized for defaults, offering temporary relief to millions.

•

Confirmation that military housing dividend checks ($1,776) are non-taxable.

•

New installment option for taxes on the sale of qualified farmland to other farmers, under strict use restrictions and the new Section 1062.

•

Tax implications of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) income for college athletes, including federal taxability and potential self-employment tax.

•

Discussion on IRS readiness issues: 2M+ unprocessed returns, phone line service drops, and staffing shortfalls.

•

Urgent heads-up: IRS is now using processing date—not postmark date—for paper filings, emphasizing the importance of e-filing or certified mail.