Articles by Jess C.

Selling an investment at a loss can reduce taxable capital gains. Many investors use this approach during tax loss harvesting, especially near year end. The issue arises when the same or a very similar investment is purchased too close to the sale date. The IRS wash sale rule generally disallows a loss if you sell stock [...]

The Section 199A QBI deduction can reduce taxable income for many pass-through business owners. The catch is that “specified service trades or businesses,” or SSTBs, face extra limits once taxable income reaches certain levels. Many businesses do not fit neatly into one bucket. A firm might sell products or other services and also provide SSTB [...]

One line on Schedule K-1 can decide where the Section 199A deduction lands. For some trusts and estates, the qualified business income deduction may lower taxable income connected to pass-through business or rental activity.  Qualified REIT dividends and qualified publicly traded partnership income can also feed the calculation. The tricky part is not the name of [...]

Pass-through income can feel like a maze. Profit hits a Schedule C or Schedule K-1, and the tax bill still feels higher than expected. Some small business owners may qualify for a valuable tax break that reduces taxable income without changing how the business operates. The qualified business income deduction under IRC Section 199A is designed [...]

A side hustle can feel like extra spending money. Then tax season hits and the bill feels bigger than expected. That surprise is common, especially for high-income earners with business income on top of a salary. Side hustle income is usually subject to income tax and self-employment tax. The IRS may expect payments during the year, [...]

After a spouse passes away, a retirement account can come with decisions that feel overwhelming. One choice can affect taxes, access to cash, and when required withdrawals begin. A spousal rollover lets a surviving spouse move eligible inherited retirement funds into an account in their own name. After the rollover, the account is generally treated as [...]