Author name: yen@bascexpertise.com

If you own a vacation home or rent out a second property, there’s a tax case you should know about one that could save you thousands of dollars in lost deductions. Let’s look at the case of Charles M. Akers, who owned a mountain cabin in Alpine, California. Like many second-home owners, he decided to […]

If you’re a self-employed professional or small business owner earning a high, consistent income, you’ve likely maxed out traditional retirement options like a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k). But what if you could contribute far more  while dramatically cutting your current tax bill? Enter the Defined Benefit Plan, a lesser-known but incredibly powerful retirement and

If you’re age 70½ or older, there’s a smart, tax-efficient way to support the causes you care about  and it just got even better under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The IRS allows certain retirement savers to make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) directly from their IRAs to approved organizations such as churches, educational

When financial pressures rise or priorities change, many people start to wonder if they can cash out or sell their term life insurance policy. Maybe you no longer need the coverage, or maybe you’d like to recover some of the money you’ve paid in premiums. Unfortunately, for most policyholders, selling a term life insurance policy

If you’ve ever faced the financial and emotional blow of property damage, theft, or disaster, your first question after recovery might be: Can I claim this loss on my taxes? Unfortunately, the answer is complicated  and for most individuals, not as generous as it once was. The rules surrounding personal casualty and theft loss deductions

Since its introduction in 2018, the Qualified Opportunity Fund (QOF) program has been one of the most powerful tools for taxpayers looking to reinvest capital gains while reducing  and in some cases eliminating,  their tax liabilities. Through these funds, billions of dollars have flowed into Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs)  economically distressed areas designated by the

Are you involved in a dog breeding business or thinking about starting one? Whether you’re passionate about champion bloodlines, show-quality breeds, or simply love dogs and want to turn that love into income, there’s one thing you need to know upfront: 👉 The IRS is watching closely. Dog breeding has long been on the IRS’s

When Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in late 2024, headlines celebrated one particular provision: “No Tax on Tips Begins in 2025!” It sounded like a huge win for millions of service workers from bartenders to baristas who rely on tips to make a living. But like most things in the tax

If you’re self-employed or running a small business, you already know how unpredictable cash flow can be. Some months you’re up, others you’re juggling expenses, client payments, and taxes all at once. But there’s one silent cash flow killer that catches even experienced entrepreneurs off guard every year: IRS estimated tax penalties. You might think

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) delivers a major overhaul to the educator expense deduction, reshaping how teachers and school professionals can claim their out-of-pocket costs. If you’re a teacher, coach, counselor, or administrator, this update could directly affect your take-home pay and how much of your hard-earned dollars stay in your pocket. The