Lindsey, Parker & Martin PA

The IRS issued interim guidance on the new special depreciation allowance for qualified production property under tax legislation signed into law in July of 2025. The guidance defines qualified production property and activities (such as certain manufacturing, chemical production and agricultural production), explains how to determine the allowance, and outlines how and when to elect it. It also addresses depreciation recapture if the property no longer meets the requirements. Eligible taxpayers can deduct up to 100% of the unadjusted basis of qualified production property placed in service after July 4, 2025, and before Jan. 1, 2031. Contact us at (601) 871-2064 if you have questions.

If the IRS audits your income tax return, you may need to produce documentation. In general, the IRS has three years to assess additional tax, starting from the date the return was filed or due, whichever is later. For example, if you filed your 2022 return by the April 18 deadline in 2023, the IRS generally has until April 18, 2026, to assess a tax deficiency. So you potentially can discard records related to that return after April 2026. But records should be held longer in certain situations. And you should keep copies of your returns forever. Call us at (601) 871-2064 with questions.

Credits provide powerful tax savings potential because they reduce taxes dollar for dollar. (By contrast, deductions only reduce the amount of income subject to tax.) A wide variety of credits are available to businesses. You may be eligible to claim some on your 2025 tax return. And you can take steps this year to increase your eligibility for credits when you file your 2026 return next year. We can help identify the credits you’re entitled to for 2025 and plan your business’s tax strategy for 2026. Call us at (601) 871-2064 to set up an appointment.

When you file your 2025 income tax return, you can deduct your charitable donations only if you itemize deductions. But beginning with donations made in 2026, people who take the standard deduction instead of itemizing can claim a charitable deduction of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly). Only “cash” donations qualify, but the definition may be broader than you think. It includes gifts made by debit or credit card, check, ACH, online payment platform and payroll deduction. Call us at (601) 871-2064 to discuss what you can deduct on your 2025 return and your donation strategy for 2026.

Choosing the head of household (HOH) tax filing status may reduce your 2025 tax bill. HOH status offers a higher standard deduction, and in some cases, more favorable tax brackets than if you were to file as single. To qualify, you must have been unmarried (or considered unmarried) on Dec. 31, 2025; have paid more than half the cost of maintaining your home; and have had a qualifying dependent living with you for more than half the year. If you’re living with the other parent of your child but not married, only one of you can claim HOH status. The rules for HOH status can be complex, especially for divorced or separated parents. We can help you determine if you qualify. Contact us at (601) 871-2064.

In a divorce, a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) allows retirement plan assets to be transferred to a spouse without dire tax consequences. A court issues a QDRO, which states a dollar amount or a percentage of assets that belongs to the spouse. It also specifies the number of payments to be made (or the length of time for the terms to apply). Contact us at (601) 871-2064 for details.

You may have heard you need at least $1 million (or $750,000 or $3 million or another number) saved before you retire. The truth is, “your number” is specific to you. How much you need for a secure and fulfilling post-work life depends on factors such as your current income, your desired retirement lifestyle and whether you hope to leave a legacy to heirs. Contact us (601) 871-2064. We’ll review your situation together and come up with a retirement savings plan — including a number.

When you’re running a business, it’s easy for the books to fall behind. But timely, accurate financial records are essential for a healthy operation. Reporting delays can lead to cash-flow surprises, cost overruns and missed opportunities. Contact us at (601) 871-2064 to get caught up and gain real-time insights that can help your business thrive.

If you’re thinking about starting a business, make sure you understand your federal tax responsibilities before opening your doors. IRS Publication 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records, covers the basics. Your business structure (such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company or corporation) determines which forms you must file and which taxes apply, including income, self-employment, employment and excise taxes. You may also need an Employer Identification Number for tax purposes, and you should be aware of your recordkeeping requirements. Starting a business is exciting, and getting the tax details right is important. We’re here to help. Call us at (601) 871-2064.

Gifts that consist of hard-to-value assets, such as interests in a closely held business, can be risky. A defined-value gift may help you avoid unexpected tax liabilities. A defined-value gift is a gift of assets that are valued at a specific dollar amount rather than a certain number of stock shares or a specified percentage of a business entity. Structured properly, a defined-value gift won’t trigger gift taxes down the road. The key to this strategy is that the defined-value language in the transfer document is drafted as a “formula” clause rather than an invalid “savings” clause. Call us at (601) 871-2064 to learn more.

If you itemize deductions, you may be able to claim the medical expense deduction to the extent your eligible expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. This floor can be difficult to exceed, but “bunching” expenses into a single year instead of spreading them over two years can help. Of course, health comes first, so don’t delay essential care just to save taxes. Contact us at (601) 871-2064 to discuss whether a bunching strategy could make sense for you.

For 2026, you generally can contribute up to $7,500 pretax to an employer-sponsored child and dependent care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). This $2,500 increase over the 2025 limit was part of the major tax legislation that was signed into law in 2025. An FSA pays or reimburses you for qualified child or dependent care expenses. (Your contributions will, however, reduce your qualified expenses for purposes of the child and dependent care tax credit.) Contact us at (601) 871-2064 to learn more about tax breaks for families.