Holly C. Roundtree CPA, PLLC

For 2026, the federal gift and estate tax exemption is $15 million — effectively $30 million for a married couple. “Portability” allows any unused portion of a deceased spouse’s exemption to be transferred to the surviving spouse. But it isn’t automatic. The executor must timely file a properly completed estate tax return. Even if no estate tax is due on the first spouse’s death and it doesn’t look like the surviving spouse’s estate will exceed the exemption, making the portability election is a good idea. Doing so can help protect the survivor’s estate from estate taxes if he or she enjoys an unexpected windfall or if tax law changes reduce the exemption. For more information, contact us.

The IRS has issued guidance (Notice 2026-33) on qualified long-term care (LTC) distributions from defined contribution retirement plans, such as 401(k)s. If a plan permits, distributions made after Dec. 29, 2025, to pay LTC insurance premiums are exempt from the 10% early withdrawal penalty but included in gross income. Distributions are limited to the lesser of the insurance premium paid, 10% of the employee’s vested plan benefit or $2,600 (adjusted for inflation after 2026). The guidance also extends the deadline for plan administrators to amend plans to permit LTC distributions to Dec. 31, 2027.

Scammers continue to target taxpayers through email, text messages, phone calls and regular mail. They often try to create urgency or fear to trick victims into sharing sensitive information or sending money.

Remember, the IRS will never contact you by email or text about a tax bill or refund. It also won’t demand immediate payment over the phone. Most IRS communications are sent through regular mail — though fraudsters may send fake IRS notices by mail, often including QR codes.

Don’t click on links, open attachments or scan QR codes from unknown senders that might direct you to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal or financial information. Contact us if you have questions.

Home renovations can improve a residence’s comfort, functionality, aesthetics and resale value. They might also provide tax benefits. You may be able to deduct mortgage interest on debt used to substantially improve your home. Certain improvements can also increase your tax basis, potentially reducing taxable gain when you sell. Medically necessary modifications may qualify as deductible medical expenses, subject to limits. And if you overlooked claiming now-expired credits for qualifying energy-efficient home improvements you made in 2025, an amended return may be worth considering. Contact us to talk taxes before or after a home renovation.

Small business owners: If you think your income is too high for you to qualify to make Roth IRA contributions, think again. Many owners are eligible without realizing it because of various deductions for the self-employed.

A Roth IRA offers potential advantages over tax-deferred accounts. Although Roth contributions aren’t deductible, qualified withdrawals won’t be taxed. And you aren’t required to take withdrawals from your Roth IRA, meaning the account can continue to grow tax-free. Your heirs can also take tax-free withdrawals.

For help evaluating your Roth IRA eligibility and developing a long-term retirement strategy that aligns with your personal and financial goals, contact us.

In 2024 and 2025, the IRS prevented $7 billion in fraudulent tax refunds and used identity theft filters to flag about 7.5 million tax returns for additional review, according to a May 13 audit report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Advanced filters and manual reviews help identify suspicious tax filings while minimizing disruptions to legitimate returns. TIGTA recommended moving up the March 31 filing deadline for certain information returns, such as many 1099 forms and Form W-2G, “Certain Gambling Winnings.” The IRS agreed, estimating that an earlier deadline could help protect an additional $944 million in revenue for fiscal years 2025 through 2034.

How you capitalize your C corporation isn’t just an accounting matter — it’s a tax-saving opportunity. You can set up funds supplied by shareholders as either capital contributions (equity) or loans (debt).

Future withdrawals by equity investors may result in double taxation. Conversely, repayments of shareholder loans are generally tax-free, while interest payments are taxable to the shareholder and deductible by the corporation. This setup provides a more tax-efficient way to get money out of your company. However, the IRS may reclassify shareholder loans as equity if not properly structured and documented. Contact us to evaluate your options and determine what’s right for your situation.

Final regulations released by the IRS stipulate that partnerships no longer need to provide detailed gain and loss information to selling partners by January 31. This deadline had become a contentious issue. The tax code requires that any portion of a partnership’s sale proceeds attributable to the partner’s share of unrealized receivables and inventory items be reported as ordinary income. Other sale proceeds are generally taxed as capital gains. But partnerships complained that the reporting deadline was hard to meet. Now, partnerships can provide such information to partners according to their natural end-of-year tax compliance cycle, on or with Schedule K-1.

If you need to speak to an IRS representative by phone, know that you’ll be required to verify your identity. You’ll be asked for your Social Security number, birth date and filing status. Also have handy your previous year’s tax return, the tax return you’re calling about and any correspondence received from the IRS. If you’re calling for another taxpayer, you’ll need verbal or written authorization (IRS Form 8821 or Form 2848). And if the taxpayer is deceased, you’ll need a death certificate and either a court approval letter or IRS Form 56. Only provide this information if you make the call, not if someone calls you claiming to be from the IRS — that could be an identity theft scam.

Growing small businesses may trigger the ACA’s play-or-pay provisions. These rules apply to applicable large employers (ALEs), which are those with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalents (FTEs).

ALEs must offer full-time employees and their dependents minimum essential coverage that’s affordable and provides certain minimum value. For 2026, the penalties for noncompliance generally are 1) $3,340 per full-time employee, excluding the first 30, for not offering coverage, and 2) $5,010 per full-time employee who receives a premium tax credit, for offering coverage that doesn’t meet the affordability and minimum value requirements.

Contact us to discuss your obligations.