Strategic Tax Articles
Welcome to the Philadelphia CPA insights blog, brought to you by Mark S. Fineberg CPA. Every time a new tax ruling, pronouncement, or tax change occurs, stop by this blog to learn more. Here you can find and explore the most advanced legal, ethical, and moral tax saving strategies allowed by the U.S. Tax Code. Enjoy.
Recent Insights
IRS Doing Away with Paper Check Refunds
Your tax refund will no longer arrive by paper check. The IRS recently announced that it will stop issuing refund checks, with limited exceptions, and will require taxpayers to receive refunds electronically. Why the Change? Paper checks cost more, create security risks, and take much longer ... (continued)
Filing Gift Tax Returns May Be Beneficial
The givers of gifts (donors), not the recipients (donees), file gift tax returns. If you give money or property, you may be legally required to file a gift tax return with the IRS—even if you owe no gift tax. In fact, most people who ... (continued)
Crypto Tax Reporting is Here- Must Read
After four years of work, the IRS has finalized its cryptocurrency regulations, and crypto tax reporting now begins. Starting with the 2025 tax year, custodial crypto platforms must report taxable crypto transactions directly to the IRS. “Digital asset brokers” must handle this reporting when they ... (continued)
Health Insurance Deduction Rules
We are writing to update you on the latest developments in health insurance for S corporation owners. As a more-than-2-percent S corporation owner, you are entitled to some good news when it comes to your health insurance. To ensure that your health insurance deductions are ... (continued)
Year-End Tax Planning for Existing Vehicles
Wow, how time flies! Yes, December 31 is just around the corner. That’s your last day to find tax deductions available from your existing business and personal (yes, personal) vehicles that you can use to cut your 2025 taxes. But don’t wait. Get on ... (continued)
Year-End Business Vehicle Strategies
Here’s an easy question: Do you need more 2025 tax deductions? If the answer is yes, continue reading. Next easy question: Do you need a replacement business vehicle? If so, you can simultaneously solve or mitigate the first problem (needing more deductions) and the ... (continued)
Tear-End Retirement Planning Strategies
The clock continues to tick. Your retirement is one year closer. You have time before December 31 to take steps that will help you fund the retirement you desire. Here are five things to consider. 1. Establish Your 2025 Retirement Plan First, a question: Do you have ... (continued)
Year-End Tax Planning Tax Reduction Strategies-2025
The purpose of this letter is to reveal how you can get the IRS to owe you money. Of course, the IRS will not likely cut you a check for this money (although in the right circumstances, that will happen), but you’ll realize the cash ... (continued)
Medical Reimbursement Plan Revisited
I’m excited to introduce you to a valuable strategy that could significantly reduce your taxable income by converting personal medical expenses into business deductions. This approach, known as the 105-Health Reimbursement Arrangement (105-HRA), is particularly advantageous for businesses with a single employee—often, the business ... (continued)
No Tax on Tips-Really?
Congress recently passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA, which introduces a new tax deduction for tips beginning in 2025. This provision, called “No Tax on Tips,” sounds broader than it really is. The deduction is both temporary and limited in scope, ... (continued)
Business Interest Deductions INCREASED under OBBBA!
Here’s good news beginning in 2025. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently eases the rules that limit the deduction for business interest expense. Background The deduction for business interest expense is generally limited to the sum of business interest income, 30 percent of adjusted ... (continued)
Here's What to do if You Have Not Paid In Your 2025 Estimated Tax Payments
Here’s an important tax planning strategy that can save you thousands in penalties if you’ve missed estimated tax payments for 2025. The Penalty Problem When you don’t make your 2025 estimated tax payments on time, the IRS charges a non-deductible 7 percent penalty that compounds daily. Because ... (continued)
OBBBA Increases Standard Deductions!!
Starting in 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) increases and makes permanent the larger standard deductions introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The new standard deductions for this year (2025) are $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married ... (continued)
Mortgage Interest Deduction Under OBBBA
If you deduct mortgage interest, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brings some important updates. First, it permanently caps the mortgage interest deduction for interest on up to $750,000 of acquisition debt ($375,000 if married filing separately). Interest on home equity loans remains deductible ... (continued)
One Beautiful Tax Bill!!
If the $10,000 cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions limits your write-offs, here’s good news: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) temporarily increases the cap starting in 2025. From 2025 through 2029, you may deduct up to $40,000 if married filing ... (continued)
No Cash Outlay Tax Deduction-Here's The Details!
Do you have a personal vehicle? Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), you may be eligible for a valuable “no new cash outlay” tax deduction beginning in 2025. Here’s how it works: If you convert a personal-use vehicle to business use, the law ... (continued)
Business Conventions & Seminars--Tax Considerations
You and your business likely benefit from attending business conventions and seminars. It’s essential to know which expenses you can deduct—and how to ensure they qualify. As a business owner, you might assume that if a seminar is “business related,” it’s automatically deductible. But that’s ... (continued)
Vacation or Rental Property Owners-Must Read!
If you own a vacation home or rent out a second property, there’s a tax case you should know about—one that could save you thousands of dollars in lost deductions. Charles M. Akers owned a mountain cabin in Alpine, California, which he rented out through ... (continued)
More on Estimated Tax Payments
Missing an estimated tax payment can result in non-deductible penalties. Make timely payments via IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS—secure and convenient methods to help you avoid the penalties. Key Points Due dates. For tax year 2024, payment deadlines are April ... (continued)
Attention Day Traders
Stock traders who seek to earn profits by frequently buying and selling stocks to capitalize on daily market movements can qualify as day traders for tax purposes. Day traders are in the business of buying and selling securities—in other words, they are businesspeople, not ... (continued)