The law accelerates or expands deductions for corporate research, interest payments and equipment purchases. Those retroactive changes are boosting cash flow, companies said in securities filings and analyst calls since President Trump signed the legislation July 4. That means more money for investments and stock buybacks and a bigger cushion against higher tariffs.

While the federal estate tax hits only the wealthiest Americans, the thresholds for state estate and inheritance taxes are generally much lower. These taxes can cost heirs tens of thousands of dollars they aren’t expecting to pay, along with the grief of figuring out how to pay the bill when the bulk of an estate’s value is tied up in a house or business. The problem is especially acute now because of the recent meteoric rise in real-estate values.

Donations of property are thorny because they’re often hard to value, unlike gifts of cash or traded securities. This category includes contributions of art, real estate, collectibles and nontraded stock, among others.

For years, I dreaded the possibility that a tax identity theft would complicate my life and delay my tax refund. Now I’ve finally taken steps to avoid it, and you may want to as well. 

In many countries, including the United States, one of the incentives for people to donate to charitable organizations is the potential for a tax deduction. However, not all charitable contributions are created equal in the eyes of the tax authorities. This blog post will explore what makes a charitable contribution tax-deductible.

Two terms that often come up in discussions about financial planning are "tax-free" and "tax-deferred." While these terms may sound similar, they refer to distinct investment strategies that can significantly impact your long-term financial goals.