Tax Documents Checklist

The Affordable Care Act and Your Taxes: What to Know in 2026

ACA tax rules changed for 2026 after enhanced premium tax credits expired, affecting subsidy eligibility, repayments, and Marketplace coverage costs. This guide explains how the premium tax credit works, which forms you need, and what to know before filing.

... Read More

Trump Accounts: Tax Benefits and What Families Should Know

Trump Account tax benefits include tax-free investment growth until withdrawal and a one-time $1,000 federal deposit for eligible children. This guide explains who qualifies, how contributions work, and how Trump Accounts compare with 529 plans and Roth IRAs.

... Read More

How to File an Amended Tax Return: 2026 Update

How to Go About Filing an Amended Tax Return

You may need to file an amended tax return if your original return had a substantive error involving income, deductions, credits, filing status, or dependents. This guide explains when to use Form 1040-X, how long you have to amend, and what to expect after filing.

... Read More

The 2018 Tax Reform Bill (Known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”), Updated for 2026

The 2018 tax reform bill (known as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act")

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reshaped individual deductions, business income rules, estate taxes, and other major parts of the tax code. This updated 2026 guide explains where those provisions stand now after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

... Read More

How to File a Tax Extension: 2026 Guide

A tax extension gives you until October 15 to file your return, but it does not give you more time to pay taxes owed. This guide explains how to request an extension, avoid penalties, and understand the difference between personal and business deadlines.

... Read More

5 Red Flags That May Trigger an IRS Audit

laptop with earnings reports

Most taxpayers will never face an IRS audit, but certain filing mistakes can increase scrutiny. Learn five common red flags, from unreported income to questionable deductions, and how to avoid them.

... Read More

What You Need to Know About Electronic Tax Payments Since the IRS Is Phasing Out Paper Checks

The way the IRS handles tax refunds and payments is changing significantly. The federal government will stop sending paper checks for most federal payments, including tax refunds, by September 30, 2025. This change will affect millions of taxpayers who get their refund checks in the mail. Understanding this can help you prevent delays and make sure you get your refund as soon as possible. Why the IRS is Getting Rid of Paper Checks Under Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments to and From America’s Bank Account,” the federal government is making this modification. The executive order says that federal agencies, like

... Read More

IRS Direct File software: What happened to it & what should you do if you used this last year?

During the two tax years it operated, 2024 and 2025, approximately 425,000 taxpayers used the IRS Direct File program. This program has now been discontinued. If you used Direct File, you would need to find an alternative option for filing your future tax returns. What Was IRS Direct File Direct File was a government funded tax preparation program. The program was first available to residents in 12 states for 2023 tax returns. The following year it became more widely available. The software was available for users with basic tax returns, that included things like W-2 wage income, Social Security benefits, unemployment

... Read More

States Where the IRS Has Extended the Tax Deadline

For most of the United States the 2023 tax filing deadline is April 15th, 2024. There are, however, a few areas of the country where the IRS is providing more time to due sever weather felt those areas. The following is a list of the states/areas where the IRS has extended the filing deadline

... Read More

Health Savings Plan Distributions & 1099-SA

If you have made a regular contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA), an Archer MSA or a Medicare Advantage MSA Plan, for yourself or on behalf of another (as a trustee or custodian) and have distributions to report, you must file a 1099-SA. In fact, if you have more than one plan, a separate return must be filed for each plan type. There are general instructions from the IRS for “Certain Information Returns” (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099gi.pdf) posted on the IRS website. These instructions include who must file, when and where to file, electronic reporting, corrected and void returns as well as

... Read More