Category: Taxes & the IRS
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Midyear Tax Moves That Cut Next April’s Bill
Six months of 2026 paychecks remain. A withholding checkup, the September 15 estimated payment, and this year’s higher 401(k), IRA and HSA limits can still change your April bill.
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The Home Office Deduction: Who Actually Qualifies
Remote W-2 employees cannot claim the home office deduction. Who can, how the $5-per-square-foot shortcut works, and the exclusive-use rule that trips people up.
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RMDs at 73: What You Must Withdraw and How It’s Taxed
Required minimum distributions now start at 73. How the IRS calculates the amount, how it’s taxed, and the 25% penalty that drops to 10% if you fix it fast.
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Medical Expenses You Can Actually Deduct
The IRS lets you deduct medical costs above 7.5% of your income, but only if you itemize. What qualifies, what doesn’t, and how the math works in 2026.
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Quarterly Estimated Taxes: What Happens If You Miss June 15
The second estimated tax payment of 2026 is due June 15. Missing it starts an interest meter, currently 6 percent, not a fine. Here is the math and the fixes.
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State Taxes on Retirement Income: Where Retirees Keep the Most
Where you retire can change your tax bill by thousands. The states that skip retirement income entirely in 2026, and two new changes worth knowing.
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Inherited an IRA? The 10-Year Rule, Explained
Most people who inherit an IRA now must empty it within 10 years, and many owe annual withdrawals along the way. The rules, penalties, and exceptions.
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What Actually Gets People Audited, According to IRS Data
IRS and GAO data show audits are rare, mostly by mail, and concentrated at the bottom and top of the income scale. What actually raises your odds.
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Free Tax Help Exists: VITA, TCE, and IRS Direct File
Direct File is gone this year, but free tax help is not. VITA, TCE, Free File up to $89,000 AGI, and MilTax still work, including for extension filers.
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How the Earned Income Tax Credit Works in 2026
The EITC is worth up to $8,231 for tax year 2026 and it is refundable. Here is who qualifies, the income limits, and the mistakes that cost workers the credit.