Home values have risen significantly in many areas of the country over the last several years, leaving some homeowners with substantial gains when they sell. Of course a large profit is generally a good thing. But, depending on the amount of your gain, how long you’ve owned and resided in the home, and your income level, a sale may trigger capital gains tax and, in some cases, the net investment income tax (NIIT).

Save tax with the gain exclusion

If you’re selling your principal residence and meet certain requirements, you can exclude from tax up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly).

To qualify for the exclusion, you must:

1. Have owned the property for at least two years during the five-year period ending on the sale date.
2. Have used the property as a principal residence for at least two years during the five-year period. (Periods of ownership and use don’t need to overlap.)

In addition, you can’t use the exclusion more than once every two years.

Be aware of ineligible gain

What if you have more profit than your gain exclusion? Any gain in excess of the exclusion generally will be taxed at your long-term capital gains rate (typically 15% or 20%), as long as you owned the home for more than one year. If you didn’t, the gain will be considered short-term and subject to your marginal ordinary-income rate (usually 22% to 37%).

If you’re selling a second home (such as a vacation home), it isn’t eligible for the gain exclusion and the entire gain generally will be subject to capital gains tax. But if the home qualifies as a rental property, it can be considered a business asset. In that case, you may be able to defer tax through an installment sale or a Section 1031 like-kind exchange.

Watch out for the NIIT

When does the NIIT apply to a home sale? If you sell your principal residence and qualify for the gain exclusion, the excluded gain isn’t subject to the 3.8% NIIT.

However, gain that exceeds the exclusion is subject to the NIIT if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is over a certain amount. Gain from the sale of a vacation home or other second residence, which doesn’t qualify for the exclusion, may also be subject to the NIIT.

The NIIT applies only if your MAGI exceeds $200,000 ($250,000 for joint filers or $125,000 for married taxpayers filing separately). If your MAGI is above the applicable threshold, additional factors will affect your NIIT liability. Be aware that the NIIT kicks in before the top long-term and ordinary-income rates apply.

Keep track of your basis

Gain on your home is calculated by subtracting your tax basis in the home from the sale price. Your basis generally includes what you paid for the home plus major improvements you made to it.

To support an accurate basis, be sure to maintain complete records, including information about your original cost and subsequent improvements (such as a kitchen remodel or a new roof). But basis-increasing improvements don’t include maintenance and repairs (such as painting your kitchen or fixing a leak in your roof). Also, you must reduce your basis by any casualty losses or depreciation claimed for business use (such as if a portion of your home was rented out or you claimed the home office deduction).

If your basis is more than what you sell your home for, your loss generally won’t be deductible. But if a portion of your home was rented out or used exclusively for business, the loss attributable to that part may be deductible.

Plan for the tax impact

A home sale can be tax-free or create a sizable tax liability — or result in a tax bill between those extremes. If you’re thinking about selling your home, it’s important to know the potential tax impact. Contact us before putting your home on the market so we can help you estimate the tax impact and discuss possible planning opportunities.

The post When the Sale of an Appreciated Home Triggers Taxes — and When It Doesn’t first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

Do you operate a side gig in addition to your regular day job? Whether you’ve turned a love for crafting into an online store or you play the guitar at a local venue, you’ll need to report the income from your sideline activity on your tax return. But can you deduct the related expenses? The answer depends on whether the IRS classifies your activity as a business or a hobby. Let’s take a closer look.

Why the distinction matters

If your activity incurs significant expenses — or even losses in some years — how the IRS classifies it can have a major impact on your taxes. For-profit businesses can deduct “ordinary and necessary” business expenses.

So, if you operate an unincorporated for-profit business activity that generates a net tax loss for the year (deductible expenses in excess of revenue), you can use the loss to offset income from other sources, such as salary and self-employment income, subject to annual limits. In 2026, the limit is $256,000 ($512,000 for married couples filing jointly). You can carry any excess losses forward to later tax years.

Conversely, hobbies receive less favorable treatment. Before 2018, hobby expenses could be claimed as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income floor. Recent tax law changes permanently repealed itemized deductions for miscellaneous business expenses. So you generally can’t deduct hobby-related expenses for federal income tax purposes — even though you’re still required to report 100% of hobby-related income.

Potential safe harbors for profitable ventures

If you can show a profit motive for your sideline activity, the IRS will classify it as a for-profit business, and you can generally write off related expenses as the cost of doing business. Two safe harbors create a presumption that an activity is engaged in for profit:

1. Your activity produces positive taxable income (revenues in excess of deductions) for at least three out of every five years.
2. You’re engaged in a horse racing, breeding, training or showing activity, and your activity produces positive taxable income in at least two out of every seven years.

Proactive tax planning can help you qualify for these safe harbors — and earn the right to deduct your losses in unprofitable years.

Factors that demonstrate a profit motive

If you aren’t eligible for one of the safe harbors but can demonstrate an honest intent to make a profit, you may still be able to treat your side gig as a for-profit business. After all, many start-ups take years to become profitable. Questions the IRS considers when determining whether your activity is a business or a hobby include:

• Do you carry on the activity in a business-like manner?
• Does the time and effort put into the activity indicate an intention to make a profit?
• Do you depend on income from the activity?
• If there are losses, did they occur due to circumstances beyond your control or in the start-up phase of the business?
• Have you changed methods of operation to improve profitability?
• Do you (or your advisors) have the knowledge needed to carry on the activity as a successful business?
• Have you made a profit in similar activities in the past?
• Does the activity make a profit in some years?
• Do you expect to make a profit in the future from the appreciation of assets used in the activity?

The degree of personal pleasure you derive from the activity is also a factor. For example, most people would say that woodworking is more fun than working in a high-stress executive position — so the IRS is far more likely to classify the former is a hobby if you start claiming recurring losses on your tax returns.

Year-by-year determination

The IRS tests each year separately when determining whether an activity is a for-profit business or a hobby. So what once was considered a hobby can become a business — and vice versa. However, you generally bear the burden of proving your profit motive each year.

For example, you might be able to persuade the IRS that you’ve established a profit motive by keeping more detailed records, advertising and devoting more time to your side gig. It also helps to report profits for a few years, rather than just recurring losses. In fact, a pattern of losses over multiple years can sometimes trigger IRS scrutiny of whether an existing business is operating with a profit motive.

Start planning now

If you have a side business that isn’t yet profitable, we can evaluate your situation and offer suggestions to help improve your odds of business tax treatment. But don’t wait until year end — many factors the IRS considers when evaluating your profit motive require proactive planning throughout the year. We can help strengthen your position in case the IRS questions your deductions. Contact us to learn more.

The post Don’t Let the IRS Treat Your Sideline as a Hobby first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

If you’re a real estate developer or a small business owner who owns commercial real estate, you might be thinking about selling a property. If it has appreciated significantly, a Section 1031 like-kind exchange may allow you to defer tax on some or all of the gain. With this transaction, you exchange one property for another qualifying property rather than sell the property outright. You generally don’t pay tax on the gain on the relinquished property until you sell the replacement property.

You may be familiar with the basics of a Sec. 1031 exchange, but you might not understand all the rules and restrictions. Here are four common myths to be aware of so you can avoid missing planning opportunities or facing unexpected taxes.

Myth 1: The replacement property must be identical to the property you give up

The definition of like-kind property is surprisingly broad. To qualify for Sec. 1031 exchange treatment, you may exchange any real property held for investment or productive use in your trade or business (relinquished property) for like-kind investment, trade or business real property (replacement property).

For these purposes, most real property is considered like-kind with other real property. However, neither the relinquished property nor the replacement property can be real property held primarily for sale.

Myth 2: You never have to pay current-year tax in a like-kind exchange

A properly structured Sec. 1031 exchange can defer gain. But that doesn’t mean every exchange is completely tax-free.

If it’s a straight property-for-property exchange, you generally won’t have to recognize any gain from the exchange. You’ll take the same basis (your cost for tax purposes) in the replacement property that you had in the relinquished property. Even if you don’t have to recognize any gain on the exchange, you must report it on Form 8824, “Like-Kind Exchanges.”

However, the properties aren’t always equal in value. In these situations, some cash may be added to the deal. This cash is known as “boot.” If you receive boot, you’ll have to recognize gain up to the amount of boot received.

For example, let’s say you exchange a building with a basis of $100,000 for a building valued at $125,000, plus $10,000 in cash. Your realized gain on the exchange is $35,000 because you received $135,000 in value for an asset with a basis of $100,000. However, because it’s a Sec. 1031 exchange, you have to currently recognize (and pay tax on) only $10,000 of your gain — the amount of cash (boot) you received.

It’s also important to remember that no matter how much boot you receive, you’ll never recognize more than your actual realized gain on the exchange. In addition, your basis in the like-kind replacement property you receive equals the basis you had in the relinquished property reduced by the amount of boot you received but increased by the amount of any gain recognized.

Myth 3: Cash is the only type of boot

Boot can take forms other than cash. If the property you’re exchanging is subject to debt from which you’re being relieved, the amount of the debt is generally treated as boot. The reason is that if someone takes over your debt, it’s equivalent to that person giving you cash.

Of course, if the replacement property is also subject to debt, then you’re treated as receiving boot only to the extent of your net debt relief — the amount by which the debt you become free of exceeds the debt you pick up.

Myth 4: You must have the replacement property lined up immediately

It’s possible — but rare — to find someone who wants to simultaneously swap like-kind properties with you. Fortunately, you don’t have to acquire the replacement property from the same party you relinquish your property to. And you don’t have to acquire the replacement property on the same day you transfer the relinquished property.

In most Sec. 1031 exchanges, the relinquished property is sold first, and the taxpayer uses the exchange proceeds to acquire a replacement property. However, a qualified intermediary must hold the proceeds from the relinquished property until they’re transferred to acquire the replacement property. And deadlines apply: Generally, you must 1) identify a potential replacement property within 45 days after transferring the relinquished property, and 2) complete the acquisition of the replacement property within 180 days.

These deadlines are strictly enforced. Missing either one can cause the entire transaction to lose tax-deferred treatment. While you don’t need to have the replacement property lined up immediately, you do need a plan. Begin evaluating replacement property options as early as possible and work closely with your professional advisors throughout the process.

Don’t let misconceptions derail your Sec. 1031 exchange

Like-kind exchanges can be a tax-savvy way to dispose of investment or business real property — and retain working capital for your business or investment activities. But you’ll need to meet all the requirements. If you’re considering selling investment or business real estate, contact us to discuss this strategy further.

The post Demystifying Like-Kind Exchanges first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

Many parents don’t know that the so-called “kiddie tax” exists. Others assume it affects only minor children. But it also can apply to full-time students through age 23 and 18-year-olds even if they aren’t full-time students. When it applies, most of the child’s unearned income may be taxed at the parent’s higher tax rate.

The purpose of the kiddie tax is to minimize the ability of parents to significantly reduce their family’s taxes by transferring income-producing assets to their children in lower tax brackets. If your child has investment income from custodial accounts or other assets, understanding these rules can help you avoid unexpected tax consequences.

Who it affects

The kiddie tax generally applies to most unearned income of individuals who, at the end of the tax year, are:

• Under age 18,
• Age 18 (unless they provide more than half of their own support from earned income), or
• At least age 19 but under age 24 and full-time students (unless they provide more than half of their own support from earned income).

So, for a student, the kiddie tax can be an issue until the year that he or she turns age 24. For that year and future years, even full-time students who are still supported by their parents are kiddie-tax-exempt.

How it works

Earned income from a job or self-employment is never subject to the kiddie tax. And the tax is assessed on a child’s (or young adult’s) unearned income only to the extent that it exceeds the applicable threshold, which is $2,700 for 2026.

Unearned income usually means interest, dividends and capital gains. These types of income often come from custodial accounts that parents and grandparents set up and fund for younger children.

For 2026, the first $1,350 of unearned income is taxed at 0%. The second $1,350 is taxed at the child’s (or young adult’s) rate. This might also be 0% for some or all of the second $1,350, depending on 1) how much of the unearned income is made up of long-term capital gains and qualified dividends, and 2) whether the child’s (or young adult’s) taxable income is low enough for him or her to qualify for the 0% rate.

Then the excess is taxed at the parent’s rate. This could be up to 20% on long-term capital gains and qualified dividends and as much as 37% on interest, short-term capital gains and nonqualified dividends — depending on the parent’s taxable income.

When it applies

For 2026, Form 8615, “Tax for Certain Children Who Have Unearned Income,” must be filed and kiddie tax paid for any child (or young adult) who:

• Has more than $2,700 of unearned income,
• Is required to file Form 1040,
• As of December 31, 2026, is under age 18, is age 18 and didn’t have earned income in excess of half of his or her support, or is age 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23 and a full-time student and didn’t have earned income in excess of half of his or her support,
• Has at least one living parent, and
• Isn’t married and filing a joint return for the year.

The kiddie tax threshold is annually adjusted for inflation, but generally only in increments of at least $100. So it doesn’t necessarily go up every year. It didn’t increase for 2026, so it may be more likely to increase for 2027.

Planning opportunities

The kiddie tax can increase a family’s overall tax liability if investment income is generated in a child’s name. In some situations, it may make sense to review the types of investments owned in custodial accounts and the timing of investment sales. For example, growth-oriented investments that generate little current income may help reduce exposure to the kiddie tax until your child is old enough that this tax no longer applies. At that time, appreciated investments can begin to be sold, with the gains taxed at your child’s own, potentially lower, rate.

If you’d like help evaluating your family’s situation, contact us. We can assess potential kiddie tax exposure and suggest tax-efficient investment strategies.

The post The “Kiddie Tax” Can Apply Long After Childhood first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

Burkett Burkett & Burkett CPAs is proud to partner with The Blood Connection to host a community blood drive on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Every blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives, making this a simple yet powerful way to support patients in need throughout our community. As a thank you for donating, all eligible donors will receive $70 in Donor Rewards.

The Blood Connection Bloodmobile will be on-site throughout the event, and community members are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance. While walk-ins are welcome, scheduled appointments will receive priority.

Blood Drive Details

• Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
• Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Location: 3101 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169
• Donor Reward: $70 in Donor Rewards

Who Can Donate?

To be eligible to donate, participants must:

• Be at least 16 years old (16-year-olds must have a signed permission slip, available at the blood drive)
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Present a valid ID
• Be in general good health

To reserve your donation time, schedule an appointment here:

https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/308244 

We hope you’ll join us in making a difference. One donation can help save up to three lives.

The post Burkett Burkett & Burkett CPAs to Host Community Blood Drive on June 10 first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

Tax scammers continue to target taxpayers through email, text messages, phone calls and regular mail. They often try to create urgency or fear to trick victims into sharing sensitive information or sending money. The IRS warns taxpayers to remain cautious because scammers continually change tactics to steal personal and financial information.

IRS impersonation scams

First and foremost, know that the IRS will never contact you by email, text or social media channels about a tax bill or refund. Most IRS initial communications are sent through regular mail. So if you get a call or message saying it’s the IRS and asking for your Social Security number, it’s someone trying to steal your identity and defraud you. Remember that the IRS already has your Social Security number.

Here are some common impersonation-related schemes to be aware of:

Phone calls. AI-generated voices and spoofed caller IDs to impersonate IRS agents are becoming more common. Scammers may leave urgent messages threatening arrest, penalties or legal action unless immediate payment is made. The IRS stresses that it won’t demand immediate payment over the phone.

Text messages and emails. Scammers use text messages and emails containing fake IRS links or QR codes to direct taxpayers to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal or financial information. These messages often claim there’s a problem with a refund, tax return or IRS account to try to create panic and pressure taxpayers into responding quickly.

Fake IRS notices. One current scheme takes advantage of growing confusion about the IRS CP53E notice. This is a notice related to tax refunds and bank account information. As the IRS shifts from paper checks to direct deposit, it’s mailing these notices to taxpayers who may need to add or update their banking details. Unfortunately, the IRS is sometimes mistakenly sending the notices when a taxpayer has already provided this information, creating confusion. Now fraudsters are sending fake versions of the notice in an attempt to steal taxpayers’ sensitive information. If you receive an IRS CP53E notice, verify its authenticity before acting. Don’t click links or scan QR codes.

Malware. In scams to infect computers and phones with malicious software, a phony email claims to come from the IRS. The subject line often states that the message is a notice of underreported income or a refund. There may be an attachment or a link to a bogus web page with your “tax statement.” When you open the attachment or click on the link, malware is downloaded to your device. This malware can give criminals remote access to your device and allow them to search for passwords, banking information and other sensitive data to help them steal your assets or your identity.

Other tax scams

The IRS recommends that taxpayers create an account to securely access their tax information. The account lets you view your refund status, make payments, check your balance and more. But be cautious. Scammers may offer account setup “help” so they can collect your sensitive data. Or they may use stolen personal information to access your account without authorization. Once inside an account, they may attempt to redirect refunds, obtain tax records or use the information to commit additional identity theft. Create and always access your account directly through IRS.gov, don’t share your information with unsolicited third parties, and check your account regularly.

Also watch out for fake online tax deduction calculators. These digital tools are intended to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting users. They’re often accompanied by false promises about new or expanded tax credits and deductions. The IRS says you should use calculators only on sites that end in .gov (such as irs.gov) or of well-known tax software companies. Also, be wary of any calculator that guarantees its result. Legitimate calculators can only produce estimates. And, as always, be suspicious of claims that seem “too good to be true,” such as unusually large tax savings.

The IRS also warns taxpayers to avoid other schemes involving questionable refund claims or credits promoted online or through social media. Promoters may encourage taxpayers to file inaccurate forms or claim credits they don’t qualify for. Improper claims can lead to refund delays, audits, penalties and other enforcement actions.

Reporting fraud

The IRS has launched a “Report fraud” webpage to simplify confidential reporting of suspected tax fraud or scams. It consolidates multiple IRS fraud-reporting options into a single location, allowing taxpayers to report suspected scams, tax evasion or other tax-related misconduct in one place: irs.gov/help/report-fraud.

If you’ve been a victim of identity theft, consider obtaining an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN). Issued by the IRS, this unique six-digit number helps prevent criminals from filing a fraudulent tax return using your Social Security number. It’s valid for one year and is automatically replaced after expiration. You can expect to receive a new one each year in mid-December to early January. You can apply online or get one at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. Once you receive your IP PIN, be sure to safeguard it. Use it only on Forms 1040.

Stay alert

Tax-related scams continue to evolve, so it’s important to be cautious when receiving unexpected phone calls, messages or even letters involving taxes, refunds or financial information. If you receive a questionable communication related to a tax return we prepared, contact us before responding. We can also answer other questions you have about protecting yourself from tax-related fraud.

The post Protect Yourself From Fraudsters Impersonating the IRS and Other Tax Scams first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

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.

The post What’s a “Small Business,” and Why Does It Matter? first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

Many taxpayers are receiving unexpected IRS Notice CP53E letters recently, creating confusion about whether the communication is legitimate and why the IRS is requesting bank account information.

The notice is being sent to some taxpayers who owed money on their 2025 tax returns, as well as some who were already expecting refunds but did not include direct deposit information when filing. In many cases, tax professionals believe the refunds are connected to IRS recalculations of underpayment penalties, particularly those impacted by disaster relief provisions.

The purpose of Notice CP53E is to allow the IRS to issue refunds electronically through direct deposit. This effort aligns with the federal government’s broader push toward electronic payments under Executive Order 14247.

Taxpayers who receive the notice should respond carefully and only through official IRS channels. The IRS recommends using your Individual Online Account to securely provide banking information within 30 days of the notice date. If no action is taken, the IRS will typically mail a paper check approximately six weeks after the notice date.

Because scammers are already circulating fake versions of CP53E notices, taxpayers should remain cautious. Never provide personal or banking information through links in emails, text messages, or unofficial websites. Always navigate directly to the official IRS website to verify notices and update account information.

If you receive Notice CP53E and are unsure whether it is legitimate or how to respond, working with a qualified tax professional can help you avoid delays, fraud risks, or processing issues. Contact us with any questions.

The post IRS Notice CP53E: What Taxpayers Need to Know first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

Large stock market gains in recent years, coupled with some significant volatility in 2026, have left many investors with portfolios that are out of balance with their desired asset allocation. If you haven’t rebalanced recently, it may be time to do so. But you also must consider the tax implications. Careful planning can minimize the tax cost of rebalancing.

What does rebalancing mean?

When you built your investment portfolio, you took several factors into account, such as your performance goals, risk tolerance and age, to arrive at an allocation across asset classes (such as money market funds, stocks and bonds) and subcategories (such as small-cap vs. mid-cap vs. large-cap U.S stocks and U.S. Treasury vs. municipal bonds). When one asset class (or subcategory) outperforms, it will become a larger portion of your portfolio than your original asset allocation. This situation can potentially increase your risk and cause your portfolio to no longer align with your goals.

To keep your asset allocation in alignment, monitor your portfolio regularly and rebalance it as needed. Rebalancing involves selling some investments in classes that have become overweighted, usually appreciated stocks and mutual fund shares. You then reinvest the proceeds in other asset classes to help achieve your desired allocation. But the gain you recognize from selling appreciated investments will be currently taxable — unless the investments are held in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs.

Taxable brokerage accounts

When you file your tax return, your recognized capital gains for the year are netted against your recognized capital losses. If your gains in your taxable accounts exceed your losses, you have a net capital gain.

If a net capital gain is from investments held for more than a year, it will be taxed at the federal long-term gains rate. Most individuals will pay 15%, but, depending on your income, the rate could be 0% or 20%. Also depending on your income, you may owe the 3.8% net investment income tax (NIIT) on all or part of your net long-term gain. Depending on your state, you might owe state income tax, too.

If you have a net capital gain from investments held for one year or less, it will be taxed at the short-term gains rate. This is your ordinary federal income tax rate, which may be as high as 37%. You may also owe the NIIT on all or part of your net short-term gain. And, again, you might owe state income tax.

If losses in your taxable accounts for the year exceed your gains, you have a net capital loss. You can deduct the loss against up to $3,000 of ordinary income ($1,500 if you’re married and file separately). Any remaining net capital loss is carried over to next year.

Tax-advantaged retirement accounts

If you sell assets held in a tax-advantaged retirement account, the resulting gains and losses affect your account balance. But they have no tax impact until you start taking withdrawals.

If it’s a non-Roth account, the taxable portion of withdrawals (generally any amount attributable to appreciation or to contributions that were pretax or deductible) will be taxed at your ordinary federal income tax rate. Depending on your state, you may also owe state income tax.

If it’s a Roth account, qualified withdrawals will generally be income-tax-free for federal purposes. This includes withdrawals attributable to appreciation.

Tax-smart strategies

If you have both taxable and tax-advantaged accounts, consider them together when rebalancing your portfolio. For example, let’s say your overall portfolio across brokerage and retirement accounts has become overweighted in large-cap U.S. stocks. You can save taxes for the current year if you sell some of this appreciated stock from a retirement account because the gain won’t be taxed.

Sometimes selling appreciated assets in a taxable brokerage account will be necessary to achieve rebalancing goals. In this case, look to see if there are also assets in that account (or another taxable account) that you can sell at a loss. The recognized loss can offset some or all of your capital gains on the appreciated assets you sell. Remember that selling assets at a loss in your tax-advantaged retirement account won’t provide a current-year tax loss.

If you need to sell appreciated assets in a brokerage account and you won’t be able to recognize enough losses to offset your gains, try to sell assets you’ve held more than one year. That way, the gain will be taxed at your lower long-term gains rate.

Rebalancing involves not only selling assets in classes that have become overweighted but also using the proceeds to buy assets in classes that have become underweighted. As you invest in new assets, consider which assets make more sense to hold in taxable vs. tax-advantaged accounts.

It generally makes sense to hold the investments you think will generate the highest long-term returns in a Roth account, because you can eventually take the resulting income and gains out free of federal income taxes. And if you do a lot of short-term trading that would generate high-taxed short-term gains in a taxable brokerage firm account, it makes sense to do the trading in a tax-advantaged retirement account.

Look beyond current tax consequences

Despite the significant impact taxes can have, don’t make investment decisions — including those related to rebalancing your portfolio — based primarily on current-year tax consequences. You should also consider investment goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, investment-specific factors, fees and the long-term tax consequences. If you have questions or would like more information about investment portfolio rebalancing, contact us.

The post Tax Mitigation Strategies When Rebalancing Your Investment Portfolio first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..

A new tax-advantaged way to help children build up savings for the future was created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): Trump Accounts (TAs). Under a pilot program, you can make an election to set up a TA for your U.S. citizen child born in 2025 through 2028 and the federal government will fund the account with $1,000 of free money. But older children also are eligible for TAs as long as they have a Social Security number and are under 18 at the end of the tax year; they just aren’t eligible for the $1,000 government contribution.

Getting started

One way to set up a TA is to file Form 4547, “Trump Account Election(s),” along with your 2025 federal income tax return. But the form doesn’t have to be filed with a tax return; it can be filed anytime through an online portal that is expected to be available this summer.

After July 3, 2026, you and any other individual, such as a grandparent, can begin making annual TA contributions of up to a combined limit of $5,000 (adjusted for inflation starting in 2028) until the year your child turns 18.

The $1,000 government contribution doesn’t count against the annual limit. So, if your child is born this year, up to $5,000 could be contributed to his or her TA in 2026 on top of the $1,000 from the government.

Other contributions

Employers can set up a TA contribution program. After July 3, 2026, employers can contribute and deduct up to $2,500 annually (adjusted for inflation starting in 2028) to a TA for an eligible under-age-18 employee or an employee’s eligible under-age-18 dependent. (Employers can’t contribute more than $2,500 per employee, even if an employee has multiple eligible dependents.) These contributions count against the $5,000 annual contribution limit. Employer contributions are excluded from the employee’s taxable income.

State, local or tribal governments and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations can also make tax-free contributions to TAs under rules to be established by the IRS. These qualified general contributions aren’t subject to the $5,000 annual contribution limit and must be provided to all children within a qualified group, as defined.

Tax treatment and other requirements

Contributions aren’t deductible for individual contributors, but the account earnings can grow tax-deferred as long as they’re in the account. Generally, no distributions can be taken from the TA before the year your child turns 18.

Until the year your child turns 18, the account can invest only in certain eligible investments. These are mutual funds or exchange traded funds that 1) track a qualified index, 2) don’t use leverage, 3) don’t charge fees of more than 0.1% of the invested balance, and 4) meet other criteria that may be set by the IRS.

After age 18

In the year your child turns 18, the TA will transition into a traditional IRA. It will become subject to the familiar federal income tax rules governing traditional IRA contributions and distributions.

So, your child will have to have earned income to make any further contributions to the account. But those contributions will be deductible if he or she is eligible, and the higher IRA annual contribution limit will apply.

Also starting with the year your child turns 18, distributions can be taken. But the distributions will generally be at least partially taxable, and IRA early withdrawal penalties could also apply. So it’s best to leave the account untouched so that it can continue to grow tax-deferred.

Weighing your options

If your child is eligible for the $1,000 government contribution, you’ll want to set up a TA to at least get this free money and take advantage of the tax-deferred growth on it. And it can be an even more powerful savings tool if you also make contributions.

Say you put $5,000 a year into your child’s TA for the first 17 years of his or her life after collecting the $1,000 of free money from the government in Year 1. If the account earns 5% annually, it will be worth about $138,000 by the time your child turns 18. Say your child leaves the money invested in what’s now a traditional IRA until age 65. If the account continues to earn 5%, it will grow to almost $1.44 million. Once your child starts having earned income, he or she can make additional contributions to what is now a traditional IRA and have an even bigger account balance at retirement.

However, before making TA contributions, consider whether other tax-advantaged savings options might better achieve your goals. For example, if you want to build up funds for your child’s education, contributing to a Section 529 savings plan may be a better fit. Distributions used to pay qualified education expenses will be tax-free, and some or all of any remaining balance after your child graduates can eventually be converted to a Roth IRA, with tax-free distributions.

Learn more

TAs are worth considering, especially if you can afford to make significant annual contributions. If you have questions about TAs or want more information about other tax-advantaged savings options to benefit your children — or grandchildren — contact us.

The post How the New Trump Accounts for Children Will Work first appeared on Burkett Burkett & Burkett Certified Public Accountants, P.A..