International Wealth Tax Advisors, LLC

Wealthy buyers are heading south, as Miami tops New York with the most $1 million homes on the market.

Miami's tropical climate keeps luxury listing activity steady year-round, thanks to an influx of wealthy cash buyers—including foreign investors, retirees, and second-home purchasers.

https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/miami-million-dollar-homes-luxury-housing-market-report-december-2025/?cid=psc_wsj_syndicationhp_trends_miami-million-dollar-homes-luxury-housing-market-report-december-2025&dsp__10291144_31140741_401117112_219819343&dclid=COjtp9n0qZIDFQUwaAgdMzEGNg

Today marks the start of the 2025 U.S. tax filing season, and the new head of the IRS announced leadership and operational changes to "deliver a successful tax filing season for the American public."

https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/irs-announces-shakeup-days-before-tax-season/91290604

2026 is shaping up to be a meaningful year for the IPO market, with anticipated listings from SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic helping reopen the window for late-stage private companies. After several years of delayed offerings and muted activity, investor appetite for growth and AI exposure could accelerate deal flow across sectors.



https://www.interactivebrokers.com/campus/traders-insight/securities/stocks/opening-day-ten-ipos-to-watch-in-2026/ #:~:text=The%20Fly,Anthropic

The Department of Labor has submitted a proposed rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs outlining fiduciary considerations for including alternative investments within defined contribution plans. While details of the proposal have not yet been released, this is a notable regulatory step for the retirement marketplace.

The action follows President Trump’s August 2025 executive order directing regulators to provide a clearer framework for how fiduciaries can thoughtfully incorporate alternatives in plan menus. Although alternatives have been permitted for years, adoption has been limited due to litigation risk and lack of guidance. A finalized rule could provide the structure—and legal clarity—needed for broader access.
This development will be important to watch for retirement providers, asset managers, and plan sponsors as the guidance moves through review.

Stay tuned for updates.

https://www.plansponsor.com/dol-submits-alternative-investments-rule-to-white-house-department/

Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Day.

The OECD Global Minimum Tax will proceed—signed by 150 countries, but not the United States. Large US-based multinational corporations will be excluded from the 15% global minimum tax following negotiations between the Trump administration and other G7 members.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/06/us-exemption-oecd-global-tax-deal-multinational-companies

California's potential billionaire tax could be on the state's November ballot. While the proposal includes some billionaires fleeing, others are seeking ways around it.

https://fortune.com/2026/01/13/california-wealth-tax-billionaires-tech-investors-founders-buy-borrow-die-loophole/

A broad tax probe by French authorities into activity from 2014 - 2019 has led to a $312 million settlement with the banking giant HSBC. The probe was linked to so-called "cum-ex" dividend stripping, a trading scheme in which banks and investors swiftly trade shares around a company's dividend payout day.

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/hsbc-to-pay-312-mln-to-settle-dividend-tax-payments-fraud-case-french-prosecutor-says-ce7e59ddda81f023

The OECD announced today a landmark deal that will allow US-parented groups to be carved out from key aspects of Pillar Two.

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2025/12/international-community-agrees-way-forward-on-global-minimum-tax-package.html

Late last year, the Treasury clarified the rules around BEAT and securities lending. The result? Less relief for securities-lending structures involving foreign related parties and more certainty (and less flexibility) in how QDPs are defined and applied.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/18/2025-23292/base-erosion-and-anti-abuse-tax-rules-for-qualified-derivative-payments-on-s

Happy New Year from IWTA🎉

Is the standard 60/40 asset allocation model too aggressive? A major US investment company is recommending that the traditional model may not be the best course of action for the medium term.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vanguard-flips-the-script-on-6040-investment-strategy-110026190.html