Taxes & Tax Planning

Estate tax and inheritance tax are not the same tax. Estate tax is generally imposed on the estate before assets reach heirs. Inheritance tax is imposed on certain beneficiaries after they inherit. The federal government has an estate tax, but no federal inheritance tax. Quick Answer: Who Actually Pays? Estate tax...

The ink on the purchase agreement is barely dry, and that champagne-popping high is already fading. In its place, one terrifying question takes root: "What's the IRS's capital gains tax on real estate cut?" Earlier this year, I sat with a couple, "the Jacksons," who were selling their starter home...

That brief euphoria from selling a winning stock? It gets crushed quickly by a single, nagging question: "What's the IRS's tax cut?" Yes, as an investor, understanding the 2026 short-term and long-term capital gains tax rates is vital. But here is the reality most advisors won't tell you: The 15%...

Receiving an unexpected refund check from the Internal Revenue Service triggers a strange mix of excitement and suspicion. Is this a surprise windfall or a sophisticated trap? Here's the deal: Treat every unexpected check from the government as a question, not a deposit. In my nearly 30 years as a...