Herbert Kraus, CPA

Does your business provide relocation benefits for employees? Under current tax law, employers can deduct payments to employees for relocation costs, such as moving services, storage expenses and transportation. But these amounts are generally taxable to employees, except for active-duty military personnel. That means employers are required to include relocation benefits in the employee’s gross income and withhold and pay applicable payroll taxes on the payments. 2025 legislation made this tax law provision permanent, but it added another exception for “intelligence community members” that starts in 2026. Contact us if you have questions.

With the standard deduction permanently doubled, far fewer taxpayers itemize deductions. That means many people won’t be able to deduct their 2025 charitable gifts. But starting with cash donations made in 2026, nonitemizers can claim a deduction up to the applicable limit. However, itemizers will face a new adjusted gross income floor on their charitable deductions. If your giving typically exceeds these limits but not your standard deduction, bunching donations into alternating years may offer tax savings. Contact us at (210) 255-1403 to learn more. A proactive review now can help you plan wisely.

Wage garnishment can be tough. It allows creditors to collect a debt by legally withholding a portion of an employee’s paycheck, but it comes with limits and employee protections. Garnishments are often triggered by government debts such as child support, student loans, tax levies, or court judgments. Before withholding can begin, you must be notified of the order to withhold. Some portion of your wages must be exempt per state law. If you’re hit with a garnishment order you believe is incorrect or unfair, you have the right to challenge it. Contact us for help with this matter at (210) 255-1403.

Your business can claim a tax credit for qualified expenses paid or incurred when providing child care for employees. Beginning in 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the percentage of qualified expenses that can be taken into account for purposes of claiming the employer-provided child care credit. It also increases the maximum credit. Contact us at (210) 255-1403 with questions.

The new tax law introduced deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation. Specifically, for 2025 through 2028, it creates a deduction of up to $25,000 for tips income in certain industries. It also creates a deduction of up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) for qualified overtime pay. Because employers and payors may not yet have adequate procedures to comply with the new rules, the IRS has designated 2025 as a transition period and is providing penalty relief. Notice 2025-62 offers relief to employers and payors for not filing correct information returns and not providing correct payee statements to employees and other payees. For more information, call us at (210) 255-1403.

Sure, 401(k) plans can help you save for a secure retirement. But they may offer another important benefit — hardship withdrawals. If you need emergency cash for medical bills, tuition or funeral costs (among other eligible expenses), you may be able to withdraw funds from your 401(k) account. Unlike loans, hardship withdrawals don’t have to be repaid. But you'll need to pay income tax and possibly a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Contact us (210) 255-1403 for details.

If you're in a dispute with the IRS, mediation — also called “alternative dispute resolution” — may be a helpful option. It's a voluntary, nonbinding process that may offer a faster, less stressful way to avoid lengthy appeals or costly court battles. Both parties to mediation can walk away at any time. Mediation is especially useful for taxpayers with limited issues or those seeking quicker resolution during the early stages of an audit. However, it doesn’t replace the audit or collection process and doesn’t allow new evidence. We’re here to discuss this and other options with you at (210) 255-1403.

You may want to offer employees a retirement savings plan, but they can be expensive and complex. What’s a small business owner to do? Consider a simplified employee pension (SEP). They’re easy to set up and administer. Requirements are minimal: All workers must be eligible to participate, and your contributions can’t discriminate in favor of highly compensated employees. In 2025, you can contribute up to $70,000 (or up to 25% of compensation) to a worker’s SEP account and deduct the contributions. Contact us at (210) 255-1403 for details about this and other retirement plan options.

The Social Security Administration said that Social Security benefits for 2026, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, will increase 2.8%. These changes reflect cost-of-living adjustments based on inflation. Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January. Increased payments to SSI recipients will begin on Dec. 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI.) The maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax (the so-called “wage base”) will increase $8,400, from $176,100 to $184,500. Have questions about the Social Security tax? Call us at (210) 255-1403.

Severe weather and other threats to a business’s ability to operate can occur at any time. Although you can’t foresee every disaster, you can put together a comprehensive business continuity plan that addresses most potential threats. If you don’t have a plan in place, implement basic protections immediately, such as an evacuation strategy and insurance. But, from there, take your time to get it right. Contact us at (210) 255-1403 for help identifying and managing the costs associated with a business continuity plan.

Tax penalties can feel like dragging a ball and chain. They may happen even when you’ve done your best to comply with tax law. Don’t panic. Penalty relief may be available. For example, if you suffered a serious illness, were a victim of a natural disaster, or relied on bad advice from the IRS, you may qualify for penalty abatement. A penalty may arise from actions such as filing late, making a late tax payment or missing a deposit. If you receive an IRS notice that you think is incorrect or unjust, you don’t have to tackle it alone. Contact us at (210) 255-1403 for help with this matter.

A revocable trust (sometimes known as a “living trust”) can provide significant benefits. They include the ability to avoid probate for the assets the trust holds and to facilitate the management of your assets in the event you become incapacitated. To obtain these benefits, you must fund the trust by transferring the title of assets to it. Assets not held by your revocable trust may be subject to probate and will be beyond the trustee’s control in the event you become incapacitated. Contact us at (210) 255-1403 with questions about the financial and tax aspects of your estate plan.