Consider your potential charitable deduction before donating artwork
May 19, 2026
If you give artwork to charity, the deduction you can claim depends on several factors, including the type of organization receiving the piece and how it will be used. Special substantiation and appraisal rules may apply as well.
Relation to charitable function
Your deduction for a donation of art will generally be reduced if the charity’s use of the work is unrelated to the purpose or function that’s the basis for its qualification as a tax-exempt organization. The reduction equals the amount of capital gain you would have realized had you sold the artwork instead of giving it to charity.
For example, let’s say you bought a painting a decade or so ago for $6,000 and now it’s worth $10,000. You contribute it to a dog and cat rescue organization to auction off at its annual fundraiser. Your deduction is limited to $6,000 because the organization’s use of the painting is unrelated to its charitable function and you would have had a $4,000 long-term capital gain had you sold it.
But what if you donate the painting to an art museum for its collection? In this case, your deduction could potentially be the full $10,000.
Other limitations
Your current-year deduction generally will be limited to 20%, 30% or 50% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). The percentage varies depending on the type of organization and whether the deduction had to be reduced because of the unrelated-use rule explained above. The amount not deductible because of a ceiling may be deductible in a later year under carryover rules.
Beginning in 2026, another limitation applies to charitable contribution deductions. Under the new rule, individuals generally may deduct charitable contributions only to the extent their total donations for the year exceed 0.5% of AGI. The rule can reduce the tax benefit of charitable gifts for taxpayers at all income levels, though the dollar impact will be larger for higher-income taxpayers.
Documentation and appraisals
There are substantiation rules when you donate a work of art. First, if you claim a deduction of less than $250, you must get and keep a receipt from the charity or, if impractical to get a receipt, keep a reliable written record for each item you contributed.
If you claim a deduction of at least $250, but not more than $500, you must get and keep an acknowledgment of your contribution from the charity. The acknowledgment must state whether the organization gave you any goods or services in return for your contribution and include a description and good-faith estimate of the value.
If you claim a deduction of more than $500, but not over $5,000, in addition to getting an acknowledgment, you must maintain written records that include information about how and when you obtained the artwork and its cost basis. You must also complete IRS Form 8283, “Noncash Charitable Contributions,” and attach it to your tax return.
If the claimed value of the artwork exceeds $5,000, in addition to an acknowledgment and completing Form 8283, you must have an appraisal of the piece. This appraisal must be done by a qualified appraiser no more than 60 days before the contribution date and meet other requirements. You then include this information on Form 8283.
If your total deduction is $20,000 or more, you must also attach a copy of the signed appraisal. The IRS may request that you provide a photograph. If an item has been appraised at $50,000 or more, you can ask the IRS to issue a “Statement of Value,” which can be used to substantiate the value.
Avoid the unexpected
If you’re considering donating artwork or other valuable property, contact us before making the gift. We can help you calculate your deduction, document the donation properly and avoid unexpected tax issues.
© 2026
Although your business may seem big to you, you may wonder how the government classifies it for tax purposes. If your organization qualifies as a “small business,” you may enjoy several important tax advantages. But the rules for specific tax provisions vary. So, depending on your size, you might be eligible for some so-called small business breaks but not others. Here’s a closer look. No universal definition Under federal tax law, there’s no one definition of a small business. Instead, several definitions apply depending on the context, various criteria and certain thresholds. Criteria may include a business’s: Gross assets, Gross receipts, and Number of shareholders and employees. Even if a criterion such as gross receipts is the same across definitions, different thresholds may apply. Also, for some purposes, the tax code might define a small business in more than one way. Depending on how your performance and operations change over time, you might meet the government’s definition of a small business one year but not the next year. 5 special breaks for certain small businesses The Section 448(c) gross receipts test serves as a common eligibility standard for several tax provisions available to qualifying small businesses. Under this test, your business may qualify for five potential tax breaks if it had average annual gross receipts of $25 million or less for the prior three-year period. This threshold is adjusted for inflation — for 2026, businesses that had average gross receipts up to $32 million are eligible for: 1. Cash accounting. You’re generally permitted to use the cash method of accounting for tax purposes even if you have inventories or use the accrual method for financial reporting. With certain exceptions, larger businesses — particularly those that carry inventory — must use accrual accounting. Using the cash method will likely allow you to defer more taxable income than you could under the accrual method. 2. Inventory simplification. You’re generally exempt from complex inventory accounting rules and may account for inventories by: Treating them as nonincidental materials and supplies, or Conforming to the inventory method you use in your financial statements or books and records. Treating inventories as nonincidental materials or supplies allows you to deduct their cost when they’re “used or consumed.” Final IRS regulations clarify that materials aren’t used and consumed until the inventory is sold. So businesses can’t treat raw materials as used and consumed when converted into work-in-progress or finished goods. 3. Relief from UNICAP rules. You’re exempt from the uniform capitalization (UNICAP) rules, which require taxpayers to capitalize certain direct and indirect production costs to inventory, rather than deduct them when incurred. Not only can these rules increase your tax liability, but they also make tax reporting more complex. 4. Exemption from the business interest deduction limitation. You’re not subject to the cap on business interest write-offs, which generally limits deductions of net business interest expense to 30% of adjusted taxable income. 5. The completed contract method. If your business is in construction, manufacturing or another industry where long-term contracts are common, you may use the completed contract method rather than the percentage-of-completion method to account for long-term contracts expected to be completed within two years. The completed contract method allows you to defer tax until the contract is substantially complete, while the percentage-of-completion method can accelerate the tax. When determining your business’s gross receipts, you may need to include those earned by certain related entities, such as those with common control. Special rules apply to organizations in existence for less than three years. Also, tax shelters, including syndicates, don’t qualify for small business status, even if their gross receipts are below the threshold. Sizing up your business Of course, these five relief measures aren’t the only tax-saving opportunities for small business owners at the federal and state levels. And determining eligibility can be more complicated than it appears. We can help evaluate your eligibility for these breaks and others — and develop a long-term plan that’s tailored to your situation. Contact us to explore the potential tax benefits of small business status. © 2026
One of the greatest risks to your estate plan is the chance of incurring substantial long-term care (LTC) costs. These costs, for services such as nursing home stays or home health aides, can quickly erode the savings you want to pass on to your family after your death. One solution is to purchase an LTC insurance policy. Understanding the terms An LTC policy’s terms dictate the amount of benefits you’ll receive each day or month, up to a defined lifetime maximum or number of years. These limits depend on the type of care provided, such as in-home care or a nursing facility. LTC policyholders are typically subject to a waiting period of 30 to 180 days before being eligible for benefits (90 days is generally the norm). Important: The shorter the waiting period, the more expensive the policy. Similarly, you can expect to pay more for a policy with higher maximum benefits. LTC policies generally provide benefits when you can’t perform multiple basic activities of daily living — including bathing, dressing, eating, transferring and managing incontinence — or if you experience cognitive impairment. Generally, once benefits start, premium payments stop. But if you stop paying on the policy first, you usually forfeit any future benefits. Be aware that coverage may be affected by several factors. For example, you may not qualify for coverage because of a pre-existing condition. What to consider before buying insurance Factors to consider before purchasing an LTC insurance policy include your: Financial situation. Do you have the funds to pay for long-term care assistance without jeopardizing your overall financial situation? Take an objective look at your entire financial picture. Estate planning objectives. An LTC policy may make sense if preserving wealth to pass on to your family is a primary estate planning objective. Age and health. As you grow older, LTC insurance premiums may rise. Additionally, if you have a pre-existing condition, you may pay higher rates or even be denied coverage. Applying early may increase the likelihood that you won’t be denied coverage and that you’ll pay lower rates. But you’ll probably be paying premiums for more years. There might be ways to obtain coverage without buying a policy privately. For instance, you may be able to participate in a group policy offered by your employer or another affiliation. This can be especially helpful if health conditions would otherwise cause insurers to charge you high premiums or deny you coverage. Planning for your (and your family’s) future An LTC insurance policy offers financial protection and peace of mind. With the escalating costs of extended care, this coverage can also allow you to leave more to your family. As with any major financial decision, carefully compare policy options, costs and benefits to find the best fit for your needs and goals. We can help you evaluate what’s appropriate for your situation. © 2026
Given the many potential threats to your business’s assets, cash flow and human resources, which types of insurance products and how much coverage do you need? Some organizations pay for policies that don’t make sense based on their industry or operations. Others have inadequate coverage where risk may be significant. What about your business? It helps to first understand what’s available. The basics The most basic kind of business insurance is general liability. Essentially, it covers claims for bodily injury to third parties and property damage arising from business operations. For example, general liability typically protects your business if a customer slips and falls in your facility because someone failed to clean up a slippery floor. Or, in a more extreme example, it might cover the fallout if a piece of equipment explodes, injuring customers and employees and damaging the property you rent. Other coverage related to and often included in general liability policies includes: Product liability. This type of policy protects businesses against harm or injury caused by product defects. This coverage is especially important if you sell products that could potentially harm people, such as chemicals, electronics and automobiles. Professional liability or errors and omissions (E&O). Sometimes general liability and E&O can be rolled into a single policy, but you might not need E&O. It generally applies to negligence when providing a professional service, including legal, engineering, consulting, accounting and architectural services. Property. This is the business equivalent of homeowner’s insurance. It protects your organization against the cost of losses from factors beyond your control, such as fires and natural disasters. You might also need auto insurance if your business owns and operates vehicles. Business interrupted Even if you have general liability and property coverage, you may also need business interruption insurance. This coverage comes into play when a business must halt operations due to a manmade or natural disaster. So if, for instance, a fire forces you to suspend operations for weeks or months while making repairs to your facility, a business interruption policy could help you pay bills in the meantime. Your operations might also be disrupted by a cyberattack or data breach. Cyberinsurance can help your business respond to losses related to hacking, ransomware attacks and compromised customer or employee data. Depending on the policy, coverage may include costs associated with business interruptions, data recovery, legal claims and regulatory response. Key person insurance protects against another type of disaster: The sudden loss of a business partner or executive. If an owner dies unexpectedly, the policy can provide living owners with the cash to buy the deceased owner’s shares. Or it could help cover lost profits associated with a key person’s death or pay for the costs of replacing the key person. Employee risks Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) is valuable to any business with employees, regardless of industry. Typically, it protects against violations of Civil Rights Act. EPLI coverage areas include employment discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment and emotional distress. If such violations occur in your organization and you fail to take necessary remedial action, an EPLI policy can cover your defense fees and settlement costs. EPLI may also cover wage and hour violations. These generally relate to a business’s failure to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, including on minimum wage and overtime rules. Make informed choices To make smarter insurance decisions for your business, you’ll need to determine which types of coverage fit your risks and how much protection is appropriate for your operations. An independent insurance broker who isn’t employed by a specific insurance provider can help you evaluate the options. Make sure your broker is familiar with any insurance requirements in your industry. Also talk to us. We can help you evaluate potential coverage gaps and manage business risk cost-effectively. © 2026
Whether you’re relocating for work, retirement, family or lifestyle reasons, state taxes can have a significant financial impact. Taxes vary widely from state to state. And establishing residency for tax purposes may be more complicated than you expect. Before moving, be sure you understand how changing states could affect your overall tax situation. A variety of taxes to consider It may seem like a tax-smart idea to simply move to a state with no personal income tax. But to make an informed decision, you must consider all taxes that can potentially apply to a state resident. In addition to income taxes, these may include property taxes, sales taxes and estate taxes. If the state you’re considering has an income tax, look at the types of income it taxes. For example, some states offer tax breaks for pension payments, retirement plan distributions and Social Security payments. Some states with low or no income tax have higher-than-average property tax rates or sales tax rates that could offset income tax savings. Even if you’re moving from one no-income-tax state to another, it’s important to look at how your potential property and sales tax expenses in each state compare. When it comes to estate taxes, the federal estate tax doesn’t apply to many people these days. For 2026, the federal gift and estate tax exemption is $15 million per individual, or $30 million for a married couple (with proper planning). But some states that have an estate tax provide a much lower exemption. And some states have an inheritance tax in addition to (or in lieu of) an estate tax. Effectively establishing domicile If you make a permanent move to a new state and want to ensure you’re not taxed in the state you came from, be careful to establish legal domicile in the new location and terminate it in your old one. The definition of legal domicile varies from state to state. In general, domicile is your fixed and permanent home and the place where you plan to return, even after periods of residing elsewhere. The more time that passes after you change states and the more steps you take to establish domicile in the new state, the harder it will be for your old state to claim that you’re still domiciled there for tax purposes. Five ways to help establish domicile in a new state are to: Change your mailing address at the post office, Change your address on insurance policies, will or living trust documents, and other important documents, Buy or lease a home in the new state and sell your home in the old state (or rent it out at the market rate to an unrelated party), Open and use bank accounts in the new state and close accounts in the old one, and Register to vote, get a driver’s license and register your vehicle in the new state. If you’re required to file an income tax return in the new state, file a resident return. And file a nonresident return or no return (whichever is appropriate) in the old state. We can help you make these decisions and file these returns. Plan before you relocate Moving to another state can affect your taxes in ways that aren’t always obvious. Before you relocate, contact us to review the potential income, property, sales and estate tax implications. We can help you minimize potential negative tax consequences and make the most of any tax advantages offered by the new state. © 2026
Tax identity theft isn’t limited to individual taxpayers — businesses are also targeted through their Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), payroll systems and tax filings. The financial impact of these crimes can be significant. Businesses may face delayed or stolen tax refunds, unauthorized payroll filings, and the time and expense of resolving IRS issues. There may even be credit damage or, if employee or customer data is compromised, reputational harm. Here’s what you need to know to protect your business. How tax identity theft happens Business tax identity theft comes in many forms and can affect sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. For example, criminals may file fraudulent returns using a company’s EIN, impersonate executives to steal employee W-2 data, or use forged IRS documents to pose as a business for financial or tax-related activity. In more advanced cases, hackers combine stolen data from breaches with synthetic identities to create entirely fake businesses capable of filing returns and securing credit. These schemes often go undetected until the IRS rejects a legitimate tax filing or flags duplicate activity. Other warning signs may include rejected extension requests, unexpected IRS transcripts or notices, or missing IRS correspondence. You also might receive a Letter 5263C or 6042C from the IRS. If your business receives one of these notices, don’t panic — it may stem from an IRS verification issue or a filing inconsistency, such as transposed numbers on your return. But it could signal something more serious. So contact your tax advisor to help answer all the questions in the letter within the timeframe specified in the notice (typically within 30 days). In some cases, the IRS may require you to file Form 14039-B, “Business Identity Theft Affidavit,” to report suspected identity theft. How to protect your business Tax identity theft can be costly, so prevention and early detection are critical. Consider the following seven security measures to help protect your business: 1. Prioritize cybersecurity. Your business should have a formal cybersecurity plan that provides a step-by-step approach for detecting identity theft. When breaches happen, your plan should trigger a prompt, thorough response. Review your plan regularly and update it to reflect changes in your business operations and emerging cyber risks. 2. Safeguard sensitive business data. Store employee and customer data, along with other proprietary records, such as financial statements and prior years’ tax returns, in a secure location. Keep your EIN information up to date with the IRS, including the responsible party and contact details. Shred nonessential documents before throwing them out, and limit access to your EIN to parties with whom you initiated the contact. Share sensitive information via the internet or email only if the recipient is trusted (such as your lender or tax preparer) and the site is secure or the email is encrypted. 3. Guard your logins and passwords. Some businesses store account logins and passwords in a single location, which can be convenient but risky. If a dishonest employee or hacker gains access, they could reach sensitive systems, including those tied to your EIN and tax filings. Use strong security controls to protect this information. 4. Use the latest cybersecurity technology. This includes firewalls, antivirus and antimalware software, spam filters, encryption and multi-factor authentication. Also exercise common sense: Don’t download files, click links or open attachments sent from unknown sources. It’s also prudent to back up sensitive data to a secure, external source not connected to your network. 5. Educate employees. Conduct periodic training sessions to remind employees about the latest scams, such as phishing emails that impersonate familiar businesses or colleagues to steal sensitive information. Employees should be aware of your cybersecurity plan and each person’s role if a breach occurs. Also remind them that the IRS doesn’t initiate contact by telephone, email, text or social media to request sensitive information. 6. Monitor business credit reports. It doesn’t take much effort to monitor your company’s profiles from the three major business credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Subscribe to their monitoring services and real-time alerts for suspicious activity, which may signal unauthorized accounts or broader identity theft affecting your business. 7. Secure your tax filings and accounts. Work with a trusted tax professional and use secure portals to share tax documents. Review IRS notices promptly and investigate any rejected filings, unexpected transcripts or unusual activity tied to your EIN. Be proactive, not reactive No preventive measure is 100% fail-safe, so identifying suspicious activity is also critical. Uncovering identity theft early makes it easier to address. Contact us if you have questions about protecting your business’s tax filings, employee tax data or IRS account information. We can help you review your risks, implement practical data security measures and determine the next steps if something looks suspicious. © 2026
Do you hold assets such as overseas real estate, foreign bank accounts or investments in international markets? Properly addressing foreign assets in your estate plan is essential to avoid unexpected tax consequences, legal complications and asset transfer delays for heirs. Double taxation If you’re a U.S. citizen, all your worldwide assets, regardless of where you live or where the assets are located, are potentially subject to federal gift and estate taxes to the extent they exceed your lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. So, if you own assets that are subject to estate, inheritance or other death taxes in those countries, there’s a risk of double taxation. You may be entitled to a foreign death tax credit against your U.S. gift or estate tax liability — particularly in countries that have tax treaties with the United States. But in some cases, those credits aren’t available. Even if you’re not a U.S. citizen, you may be subject to U.S. gift and estate taxes on your worldwide assets if you’re domiciled in the United States. Domicile is a somewhat subjective concept — essentially, it means you reside in a place with the intent to stay indefinitely and return to whenever you’re away. Once the United States becomes your domicile, its gift and estate taxes apply to your foreign assets, even if you leave the country, unless you take steps to change your domicile. You might not feel concerned about federal gift and estate taxes if your estate is well within the 2026 $15 million gift and estate tax exemption (annually indexed for inflation going forward). But keep in mind that lawmakers could reduce the exemption in the future. So, it can still be a good idea to plan for a potential estate tax bill down the road. Further, for married couples, the rules are different — and potentially much more complex — if one spouse is neither a U.S. citizen nor considered domiciled in the United States for gift and estate tax purposes. Consider drafting two wills If you own foreign assets, your will must be drafted and executed in a manner that will be accepted in the United States and in the country or countries where those assets are located. Otherwise, your foreign assets may not be distributed according to your wishes. Often, it’s possible to prepare a single will that meets the requirements of each jurisdiction. But it may be preferable to have separate wills for foreign assets. One advantage is that a separate will, written in the foreign country’s language (if not English), may help streamline the probate process. If you prepare two or more wills, work with local counsel in each foreign jurisdiction to ensure the will meets that country’s requirements. And it’s critical for your U.S. and foreign advisors to coordinate their efforts so that one will doesn’t nullify the other. Plan proactively If you own foreign assets, proactive planning can help preserve your wealth and reduce the burden on heirs. We can explain the steps to help ensure all your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes and in the most tax-efficient manner possible. © 2026
Most business owners would like to offer their employees a 401(k) retirement savings plan with all the bells and whistles. But for small businesses with lean budgets and small staffs, offering such benefits may be out of the question. Fortunately, SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs are less expensive and easier to administer. Might one of these tax-advantaged options work for your workforce? SEP: Flexible and zero setup fees Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRAs are individual retirement accounts you establish on behalf of each participant. (Self-employed individuals can also establish SEP IRAs.) Participants own their accounts, so they’re immediately 100% vested. If participants decide to leave your company, their account balances go with them. Most people roll their accounts over into a new employer’s qualified plan or traditional IRA account. SEP IRAs don’t require annual employer contributions. That means you can choose to contribute only when cash flow allows. In addition, there are typically no setup fees for SEP IRAs. But participants generally must pay trading commissions and fund expense ratios (a fee typically set as a percentage of the fund’s average net assets). In 2026, the SEP IRA annual contribution limit is 25% of a participant’s compensation, up to $72,000. That amount is higher than the standard 401(k) account contribution limit of $24,500 (in 2026). What’s more, employer contributions are tax-deductible. Meanwhile, participants won’t pay taxes on their SEP IRA funds until they’re withdrawn. However, there are a few downsides to consider. Although participants own their accounts, only employers can make SEP IRA contributions. And if you contribute sparsely or sporadically, participants may see little value in the accounts. Also, unlike many other qualified plans, SEP IRAs don’t permit participants age 50 or over to make additional “catch-up” contributions. SIMPLE: Easy and participant-friendly Another possibility is to offer a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRA. As with a SEP IRA, your business creates a SIMPLE IRA for each participant, who’s immediately 100% vested in the account. Unlike SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs allow participants to contribute to their accounts if they choose. Other advantages of SIMPLE IRAs include: They’re relatively easy for employers to set up and administer. They don’t require your business to file IRS Form 5500, “Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan.” You don’t need to submit the plan to nondiscrimination testing. Participants pay no setup fees and enjoy tax-deferred growth on their account funds. Participants can contribute up to $17,000 annually in 2026. Participants age 50 or over can make catch-up contributions of up to $4,000 in 2026 ($5,250 for those ages 60 to 63). Participants can contribute more to a SIMPLE IRA than to a self-owned traditional or Roth IRA. But SIMPLE IRA contribution limits are lower than limits for 401(k)s. Also, because contributions are made with pretax dollars, participants can’t deduct them. They also can’t take out plan loans. Then again, making pretax contributions does lower their taxable income. Perhaps most important is that employer contributions to SIMPLE IRAs are mandatory, regardless of your cash-flow situation. However, in general, you can deduct contributions as a business expense. SIMPLE Roth IRAs are available, too. Ask your financial and employee benefits advisors whether this might be a better option for your business. Lower-cost options If you’ve thought you can’t afford to offer workers a retirement plan, think again. In addition to SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, there are now some lower-cost 401(k) options available as well. We can review your budget, tax situation and benefit needs and suggest how best to proceed. Contact us. © 2026
Many taxpayers discover at filing time that their tax payments during the year didn’t align with their actual liability — either too much or too little was withheld from their paychecks. A small difference is to be expected, but withholding that’s significantly off target can have negative consequences. Overwithholding reduces the amount available to you throughout the year. Substantial underwithholding can lead to a large balance due, along with potential interest and penalties. If you received a large refund or owed a lot of tax when you filed your 2025 return, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at how much tax is being withheld from your income this year. Reviewing and fine-tuning your withholding now can help you better align your payments with your 2026 tax liability. Review your income and withholding If all or most of your income is from wages, whether from a salary or hourly pay, your employer withholds amounts from your paychecks intended to cover your annual income tax liability. However, these withholding amounts are estimates based on IRS withholding tables, which approximate a typical worker’s annual tax liability at your compensation level. Your situation may differ from that of a comparably compensated worker for various reasons. You might have larger deductions or credits than is typical, which could make standard withholding too high. Or you might have additional income from other sources, which could make standard withholding too low. Adjust your withholding if needed One way to minimize overpayments or underpayments is to estimate your tax liability for the year. Then, if necessary, adjust your withholding by completing a new Form W-4, “Employee’s Withholding Certificate.” The IRS’s Tax Withholding Estimator can help. It now reflects key provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including the elimination of taxes on qualified tips and qualified overtime (up to applicable limits), as well as new deductions for seniors and auto loan interest. It also more accurately accounts for OBBBA changes to tax breaks related to families, homeownership and charitable giving. Once you submit a new Form W-4 to your employer, changes typically will take a few weeks to go into effect. Keep that in mind when you determine your adjustments. Revisit withholding after life changes Changes during the year can affect the accuracy of your withholding. Review your Form W-4 and consider making adjustments if you: Experience a significant increase or decrease in income, Get married or divorced, Have a child or add a dependent, Buy a home, or Receive new sources of income not subject to withholding. Even if you’ve already adjusted your withholding, reviewing it again after a major life event can help you stay on track. Use withholding strategically If part of your income isn’t subject to withholding, estimated tax payments may also come into play. You can avoid penalties for missing or underpaying an estimated payment by increasing your withholding to make up the difference. Unlike estimated tax payments, withholding amounts are treated as paid evenly throughout the year — regardless of when they’re actually withheld. Using this strategy, you can increase withholding from your wages (or from your spouse’s, if you’re married). Alternatively, if you’re retired and don’t have wages from which to withhold taxes, increasing withholding from your IRA or other retirement plan distributions may be possible. Find the right balance Keeping your withholding aligned with your expected tax liability can help you enjoy better cash flow during the year and avoid surprises at filing time. We can review your current withholding (and estimated tax payments, if applicable), project your tax liability for the year and assist with deciding whether to make any withholding changes for 2026. © 2026
Businesses that own commercial real property may be sitting on an overlooked treasure chest of tax savings — and a cost segregation study can be the key to unlocking it. This is a strategic tool that combines accounting and engineering techniques to identify building costs that are properly allocable to tangible personal property rather than real property. A cost segregation study may allow you to accelerate depreciation deductions on certain items, thereby deferring taxes and boosting cash flow. Timing counts when depreciating assets Commercial rental properties and buildings used for business purposes are generally depreciated over 39 years under federal tax law. But such properties may include a wide range of components with much shorter depreciation recovery periods. These can include parts of various systems such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, alarm and security, as well as: Drywall, Doors, Fixtures, Data and communication ports, Flooring, and Cabinetry. These assets could have useful lives of five, seven or 15 years — all significantly less than 39 years. By segregating such assets, you can claim greater depreciation deductions sooner. You’ll claim the same total amount of depreciation on the assets over time but reduce your tax bill in the short term, providing greater cash flow. OBBBA changes add value Recent tax law changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enhanced these benefits by increasing first-year depreciation write-offs. The two most widely relevant provisions relate to: 1. Bonus depreciation. The OBBBA restored 100% first-year bonus depreciation deductions for eligible assets acquired and placed in service after January 19, 2025. While commercial real properties aren’t eligible for first-year bonus depreciation, segregated building components with shorter recovery periods may be eligible. There are no phaseout limits for bonus depreciation, which is helpful for larger companies. 2. Section 179 expensing. For tax years beginning in 2025, the OBBBA increased the maximum amount of eligible assets you can immediately deduct under the Sec. 179 expensing election to $2.5 million. A phaseout reduces the maximum Sec. 179 deduction if, during the year, you place in service eligible assets in excess of $4 million. Both figures are adjusted annually for inflation. For 2026, they’re $2.56 million and $4.09 million, respectively. Again, commercial real properties aren’t eligible for Sec. 179 expensing, but segregated building components with shorter recovery periods may be eligible. Additionally, if your business involves manufacturing or certain agricultural activities, you may be eligible for a new depreciation-related tax break. The OBBBA introduced a 100% deduction for the cost of qualified production property (QPP). To be eligible, among other requirements, a qualifying real property’s construction must begin after January 19, 2025, and before January 1, 2029, and it must be placed in service before 2031. This break allows eligible businesses to immediately deduct the cost of QPP that otherwise would be depreciable over 39 years. The QPP deduction makes cost segregation studies less relevant for qualifying property. But it’s subject to several specific requirements and exceptions that may prevent you from claiming it. Ready, set, save A cost segregation study can significantly lower your taxes, but it isn’t a do-it-yourself project. Although this strategy has been consistently upheld in the courts, the IRS closely monitors deductions based on cost segregation studies. And the rules can be confusing. So, it’s prudent to hire experienced professionals to help you identify various building components and break down write-off periods for them. Contact us to discuss whether a cost segregation study could potentially save you taxes. We can determine reasonable cost allocations to help withstand IRS scrutiny. © 2026
Estate planning can be overwhelming. One reason is that it has a language all its own. While you may be familiar with common terms such as “will” or “executor,” you may not be as certain about others. This uncertainty can make it difficult to make informed decisions about protecting your assets, providing for your family and ensuring your wishes are carried out. For quick reference, here’s a glossary of key terms you may come across when planning your estate: Administrator. An individual or fiduciary appointed by a court to manage an estate if no executor or personal representative has been appointed or the appointee is unable or unwilling to serve. Ascertainable standard. The legal standard, typically relating to an individual’s health, education, maintenance and support, which is used to determine what distributions are permitted from a trust. Attorney-in-fact. The individual named under a power of attorney (POA) as the agent to handle the financial and/or health affairs of another person. Codicil. A legally binding document that makes minor modifications to an existing will without requiring a complete rewrite of the will. Community property. A form of ownership in certain states in which property acquired during a marriage is presumed to be jointly owned regardless of who earned it or paid for it. (There are exceptions, such as inherited property, as long as it’s not commingled with community property.) Credit shelter trust. A trust established to bypass the surviving spouse’s estate to take full advantage of each spouse’s federal estate tax exemption. It’s also known as a bypass trust or A-B trust. Fiduciary. An individual or entity, such as an executor or trustee, designated to manage assets or funds for beneficiaries and legally required to exercise an established standard of care. Grantor trust. A trust in which the grantor retains certain control so that it’s disregarded for income tax purposes and the trust’s assets are included in the grantor’s taxable estate. Inter vivos. The legal phrase used to describe various actions (such as transfers to a trust) made by an individual during his or her lifetime. Intestacy. This occurs when a person dies without a legally valid will and the deceased’s estate is distributed through a court-supervised probate process in accordance with the applicable state’s intestacy laws. Joint tenancy. An ownership right in which two or more individuals (such as a married couple) own assets equally, often with rights of survivorship. Living trust. A trust that’s established during an individual’s lifetime to hold and manage assets for the benefit of that individual and, ultimately, for his or her beneficiaries. Also commonly referred to as a “revocable trust” or “inter vivos” trust. The individual creating the trust often serves as the trustee, retaining control over the assets while alive. One of the primary advantages of a living trust is that it allows assets to pass to beneficiaries without going through probate, helping to save time, reduce costs and maintain privacy. No-contest clause. A provision in a will or trust stating that an individual who pursues a legal challenge to assets will forfeit his or her inheritance or interest. Pour-over will. A will used upon death to pass to a living trust the ownership of assets that weren’t transferred to the trust during life. Power of appointment. The power granted to an individual under a trust that authorizes him or her to distribute assets on the termination of his or her interest in the trust or in certain other circumstances. Power of attorney. A legal document authorizing someone to act as attorney-in-fact for another person, relating to financial and/or health matters. A “durable” POA continues if the person is incapacitated. Probate. The legal process of settling an estate in which the validity of the will is proven, the deceased’s assets and debts are identified, all debts and taxes are paid, and the remaining assets are distributed. Qualified disclaimer. The formal refusal by a beneficiary to accept an inheritance or gift, which allows the inheritance or gift to pass to the successor beneficiary. Spendthrift clause. A clause in a will or trust restricting the ability of a beneficiary (such as a child under a specified age) to transfer or distribute assets. Tenancy by the entirety. An ownership right between two spouses in which property automatically passes to the surviving spouse on the death of the first spouse. Tenancy in common. An ownership right in which each person possesses rights and ownership of an undivided interest in the property. If you have questions about the meanings of these terms, contact us. We’d be pleased to provide context for any estate planning term you’re unfamiliar with. © 2026