“All parents, as we watch our children grow and learn, want to set them up for the best lives possible―and we all know that includes the best education we can give them.”

But how to fund that education? When and where do you start? How do you choose the smartest, most tax-savvy strategies?

To help you start planning, Rigby Financial Group is delighted to offer you a free copy of our latest whitepaper – Tax-Savvy Ways to Handle Your Children’s Education Costs!

Find out more – click here to get your free copy!

We’re excited to offer this opportunity to our loyal subscribers!

If you would like to speak with one of our financial and tax planning specialists, please click here to email us and schedule an appointment.

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric

For other recent RFG whitepapers, please see:

5 Tips to Make the Most of Your Post-Retirement Income
Succession Planning for Business Owners – Part II
Succession Planning For Business Owners – Part I
Business Owners: Often Overlooked Business Tax Deductions

In December of 2024, Governor Jeff Landy signed into law a legislative package comprising numerous bills and making sweeping changes to the Louisiana tax code and its applications to both individuals and corporations.

Some of the more significant highlights include:

Individual Income Taxes

The three-tier calculation (1.85%, 3.5%, and 4.25% for tax years 2022 through 2024) of personal income tax has been replaced with a flat rate of 3% for all brackets.

While this represents a significant increase for the lowest prior tax bracket, with reductions for the middle and upper tiers, that is not the only factor to consider.

The standard deduction was increased from $4,500 for single filers and $9,000 for married joint filers to $12,500 and $25,000, respectively, to be adjusted for inflation on an annual basis beginning in 2026.
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In addition, the tax exemption for retirement income has doubled, from $6.000 to $12,000, which, again starting in 2026, will also be adjusted for inflation annually.

Corporate Taxes

On the corporate front, the flat tax rate drops from 7.5% to 5.5%―a significant savings for business.

In another piece of good news for Louisiana’s larger corporations, the corporate franchise tax on those businesses with over $500 million in annual revenue was eliminated.

Further, the new legislation establishes a bonus depreciation deduction of up to 100%, or full expensing, of the cost of business property and related expenses during the year the costs were incurred, rather than depreciating them over the officially estimated course of its useful life.

But there’s always an offset.

Sales & Use Taxes

Louisiana’s sales and use tax (when combined with local sales taxes, we rank very high on sales taxes among the 50 states) rises from 4.45% to 5%, effective for tax years 2025 through 2029. Beginning in 2030, the sales tax will drop to 4.75%.

The vendor’s compensation cap, which represents the limitation on the 1.05% of sales and use tax revenues collected by a given vendor which are allowed to be retained by that vendor, has been cut in half, dropping from $1,500 to $750 each calendar month. The cap applies to each vendor, whether that vendor has one or numerous locations at which sales and use taxes are collected.

Further, the new legislation provides that the vendor’s compensation is now only to be calculated on certain of the sales and use taxes, which effectively reduces the 1.05% compensation rate to 0.84%.

Other Notable Tax Changes

The legislation includes caps on some existing tax credits, and the repeal or sunsetting of other tax credits and initiatives.

New tax credit caps include those pertaining to:

• Motion Picture Production Tax Credit―Issuance of final certification of applications for this credit received by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (DED) on or after July 1, 2025, will be limited to $125 million annually, down from $150 million. Also reduced to $125 million (from $180 million) is the annual cap on claiming or transferring such credits. No unused portion of an annual permissible amount may be carried over into later years.
• Research & Development Tax Credit―This credit has been capped at $12 million for claims on tax returns due on or after July 1, 2025. Unused portions of the capped amount may not be carried over into subsequent years.
• Rehabilitation of Historic Structures Tax Credit―For Part II applications received by the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism on or after January 1, 2025, the annual cap on this tax credit decreases to $85 million from $125 million. Again, no unused capped amounts may be carried over into later years.

 
The list of tax credits and initiatives being eliminated or allowed to sunset is a long one―but quite a good portion of these are already technically expired or underutilized.

Let Rigby Financial Group’s tax experts help you make the most of the new tax reductions and mitigate the impact of the accompanying limitations and caps.

Please click here to email us directly helping you is our mission and our passion!

Until next time —

Peace,

Eric

On Monday, June 16, 2025, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee (Committee) released its preferred vision of proposed tax changes for the budget reconciliation bill Congress hopes to pass by July 4, 2025.

The Senate is considering preparing its own version of the reconciliation bill, in compliance with rules and criteria which would exempt the bill from a super-majority approval requirement.

While the Senate version has many similarities to the U.S. House of Representatives’ (House) One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBB Act) provisions, there are changes, and the Committee’s tax proposals remain incomplete at this time, despite being 160 pages longer than the entire House tax portion of the OBBB Act (549 v 389).

One section on tax treatment of some international businesses is marked only as “Reserved,” and the released document notes, “further refinements to the text included in the House-passed H.R. 1 with respect to the Trump accounts program continue to be developed and finalized in coordination with the Trump Administration.”

Among the highlights of the Senate’s tax provisions, as distinct from the House OBBB Act, are:

Individual Tax Provisions

The OBBB Act proposed an increased standard deduction for tax years 2025 through 2028 of $13,000 for individual filers and $26,000 for married joint filers, up from $12,000 and $24,000, respectively.

The Senate proposal would increase the deduction to $16,000 for individual filers and $32,000 for married joint filers..

The state and local tax (SALT) cap differs significantly. The OBBB Act proposed to increase the cap from its current $10,000 to $20,000 for single filers and $40,000 for married joint filers, phasing down to $30,000 depending on income.

The Senate proposes:

• Retaining the $10,000 cap (although this is one of the provisions subject to ongoing discussion).
• Providing a specific list of taxes subject to the cap, and another of taxes not subject.
• Implementing changes which would prevent taxpayers’ avoidance of the SALT cap.
• Specifying certain payments which substitute for specified SALT cap-subject taxes be considered subject as well.
• Granting the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) authority to issue regulations intended to prevent avoidance of the SALT cap.

 

The OBBBA proposed increasing the child tax credit from $2,000 to $2,500 per child, for tax years 2025 through 2028, decreasing to an inflation-adjusted $2,200 after that. The Senate proposes the credit be increased to $2,200, adjusted for inflation, permanently.

Business Tax Provisions

The Senate proposal would, unlike the House’s version, make 100% bonus depreciation permanent. This would represent an enormous benefit to businesses.

The OBBB Act proposed tightening limitations to state and local tax (SALT) cap workarounds used by some businesses.

The Senate has suggested some specific limitations to such workarounds.

For certain provisions which may impact businesses and/or individuals, see the below:

Section 199A

Section 199A of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) allows domestic pass-through business owners to deduct up to 20% of qualified business income (QBI) from their individual income tax returns, subject to certain income limitations.

The OBBB Act proposed upping the ante to a 23% deduction and making the deduction permanent.

Like the TCJA, the OBBB Act would keep owners of SSTBs ineligible for deduction of QBI.

The Senate, too, would make the QBI deduction permanent, but keep it limited to 20% of QBI.

They do not propose, however, excluding SSTB owners any longer, but would phase in applicability for these and other entities subject to the limitation on wages and investments of an increased deduction of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married joint-filers (currently $50,000 and $100,000, respectively).

The Senate bill would also institute a $400-minimum deduction for individuals from active trades or businesses in which they “materially” participate.

These represent only a few highlights and are by no means exhaustive. At this point, we cannot know what any final resolution bill might look like, after the horse-trading between the two Chambers, and with the Administration, concludes.

However, it never hurts to think and plan ahead―and the initial Senate proposals shed at least a little more light on likely tax changes coming.

We invite you to consult Rigby Financial Group’s tax planning experts. We would love to help you assess potential personal and / or business scenarios based on various assumptions and aid your navigation through them.

Please click here to email us directly―our team is always at your service―the reason we’re here at all is to be here for you!

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric

For previous posts on the House OBBB Act, see:

Revised House Reconciliation Bill = Tax Benefits!

Real Estate Investors Benefit via New House Reconciliation Bill’s Tax Changes

Many have noted the downtick in attendance at this year’s Jazz Fest―especially the first Thursday and Friday. Overall attendance was about 460,000, down from last year’s total of around 500,000. But last year offered The Rolling Stones’ first-ever appearance at the festival. It was also lower than 2022’s 475,000 tally, but that followed two years of the Festival’s being cancelled.

We can ascribe potential reasons for this downturn―inflationary pressure on household budgets means less travel and leisure spending. Quite possibly the horrific New Year’s terrorist attack had a cautionary impact. And maybe, too, as we mark the fourth annual Festival following two years (2020 and 2021) when COVID played havoc with us all, and cancelled our beloved Jazz Fest, people are lulled, thinking it will always be there next year, and the year after, and so on. I hope it will―but each Jazz Fest is both sister to its predecessors and unique in itself.

So if that last possibility describes your feelings, I urge you to seize your opportunities. Jazz Fest will almost certainly still be with us, but none of us knows whether we will be.

Carpe diem! Carpe musica!

And 460,000 is still plenty of music lovers; the music always raises―and nourishes―our hearts, minds, and souls. It also seems to bring out the best in so many of us, and that’s one of the things I love most about the experience, year after year. I can never get tired of it all.

For the first time in many years, business took me out of town for JazzFest’s first weekend. I hope that won’t happen again any time soon. Normally, I have attended six of the seven or eight (depending on the year’s schedule) days of Jazz Fest, showing up for Fridays through Sundays. This year, I could only make three, the second weekend.

I was thereby spared the dilemma of choosing whether to close the first Friday with Kacey Musgraves, Gladys Knight, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., or another band, or to hop around. Or, on the first Saturday, choosing among Lil Wayne & The Roots, Diana Krall―if you don’t know how good she is (Elvis Costello does: they’ve been married for quite some years), I urge you to find out―she’s great, the legendary Taj Mahal, and our own Harry Connick, Jr. (who did so much good service for those who weren’t able to get out of the city during the days following Hurricane Katrina―can it really be 20 years ago? It hardly seems possible!).

But those are the dilemmas we New Orleans music aficionados love to have!

I missed out on the great Miss Irma Thomas’ first two appearances, including her main show the first Saturday, on the Shell Gentilly Stage, and what must have been an amazing interview on the Alison Miner Music Heritage Stage the following day. Those were the first two of four appearances the now 84-year-old legendary Queen of Jazz Fest graced the event with. How on earth does she do it? I have no idea, I’m just glad she can and does honor us, year after year. I hope she’ll still be singing for us when she turns 100.

But her second two appearances the following weekend, with The Gospel Soul of Irma Thomas (which was the subject of the interview) my first day there (Friday, May 2) in the Gospel Tent, of course, and as special (so special!) guest for Galactic’s set on the Festival Stage the closing Sunday, were available to this grateful fan.

And if I wanted dilemmas as to closing acts, I sure got them! Sadly, I missed Santana closing the Festival Stage on Thursday, May 1. But the next day one had a choice of Luke Combs, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Wailers, featuring Julian Marley (one of Bob Marley’s musical sons), and, of course, more. Pearl Jam, Laufey, Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Bobby Rush, and others closed the final Saturday, and on that Sunday, competing closing acts included Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Patti LaBelle, and our beloved Kermit Ruffins―with a tribute to Louis Armstrong (New Orleans music, squared!).

Even three days of Jazz Fest is a cornucopia of musical choices―everyone can pick their favorites, and there’s something tempting for every taste.

One young couple showed their JazzFest love by getting married in the Gospel Tent―what a memory they have created for themselves and their loved ones! And for festival goers―the wedding was open to all of us.

Then, there’s always the food―crawfish bread and crawfish Monica, oysters and gumbo in variety, and so much more. Great food is as much a part of New Orleans’ heritage as great music, and, while for me the music is more vital, I would never deny I love the food, too.

But I think possibly the thing I most love about Jazz Fest is the way it brings people together―from all over the world, men, women and children, all races, all ethnicities, with all the variety of tastes music lovers can boast. What we who attend Jazz Fest, even one year of it (let alone the number I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy), share during those hours and days, is the love of music, the spirit of unity no matter how different we may be, and again, the best that the camaraderie brings out in so very many.

That, along with the music, inspires me, year after year.

And will, I trust, continue doing so for many years to come!

We went a three year span, from the Festival of 2019 until that of 2022, with no Jazz Fest, and I felt starved for its return. But now my soul feasts again each new year, and what that means to me is immeasurable.

So, this is another of my love letters to Jazz Fest, New Orleans, music lovers, music makers generally, and Miss Irma Thomas in particular―long may they―and we―all flourish!

What did you enjoy most at this year’s Jazz Fest? Or any Jazz Fest which resonated especially with you?

Please click here to email me directly―I’d love to hear your stories―please share them. Or comment here on the website!

Until next time―

Peace,

Eric

 

 

 

 

 

As we discussed last week, early on the morning of Thursday, May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives (House) narrowly passed, by a vote of 215-214, a revised reconciliation bill, which will now go to the U.S. Senate.

To get the revised bill passed, the House waived a clause in its rules which requires 60% of House votes approving any increase to Federal income tax rates. While many of the revised bill’s provisions result in tax breaks, new or pertaining to provisions enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) there are also some increases, as well as cuts, which were not included in the initial legislative package. A motion opposing the waiver was defeated in an 8-4 vote by the House Rules Committee.

Last week’s post focused on provisions of particular import to the real estate investment industry, namely, changes to Sections 179, 168, and 199A, but the changes to those Sections, as well as many others, are of more general interest as well.

Read our post from last week here.

Again, a significant portion of the changes relate to extending or making permanent, or adjusting, some of the provisions of the TCJA, which will be good news to many of us, if enacted.

Among the highlights of the revised tax provisions we didn’t include in last week’s post are:

Making TCJA Tax Rates & Brackets Permanent

The revised language would permanently codify the TCJA’s adjusted income thresholds (as adjusted annually for inflation), preventing currently scheduled rate increases after 2025.

The revised bill maintains the seven-tier structure (10% to 37%) established under the TCJA.

Other TCJA-Related Individual Tax Provisions

The revised bill would also provide for making permanent:

• The standard deduction level, currently $15,000 for individual filers and $30,000 for married joint filers, which would also get a temporary boost for tax years 2025 through 2028 of $1,000 and $2,000, respectively.
• The personal exemption elimination.
• The $750,000 purchase price limit on deductibility of home mortgage interest.
• The exclusion of interest paid on home equity loans from deductibility.
• The state and local tax (SALT) cap, though the cap would rise from its current $10,000 to $20,000 for single filers and $40,000 for married joint filers, phasing down to $30,000 for those with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of over $500,000 for married joint filers and $250,000 for single filers. For tax years between 2026 and 2033, the income threshold for the $40,000 deduction and the income at which taxpayers would be eligible only for the $30,000 deduction would increase by 1% annually, remaining at the 2033 level for future tax years.
• The child tax credit of $2,000 per child, which would increase to $2,500 for tax years 2025 through 2028, and adjust for inflation for tax years from 2029 onward.

 

Proposed temporary changes, effective for tax years 2025 through 2028. include:

• Tip income would be excluded from taxable income for those in industries which have traditionally afforded such income. For highly paid employees, however, this deductibility would not apply.
• Overtime pay, or the portion representing wages over and above the usual hourly wage, would also be excluded from taxable income. Again, the highly compensated (those among them who actually receive overtime pay) would be ineligible for the deduction.
• An increased standard deduction bump for those over age 65 (currently $2,000) by $4,000 for the four tax years noted.

 

The revised bill also rescinds the Section 68 limitation on itemized deductions, but new limitations replace it, based on the taxpayer’s income for the applicable year.

Further, it repeals the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit for new vehicles purchased after December 31, 2026, and the $4,000 credit for used vehicles purchased after December 31, 2025.

Business Tax Provisions

Again, we discussed changes to Sections 179, 168, and 199A in last week’s post.

The changes proposed to these sections of the tax code can offer significant opportunities for businesses to which they apply.

Most of the other tax news pertaining to the revised bill is not as good for businesses.

Net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards for non-corporate filers would require treatment of “excess” business losses precisely as―business losses, rather than as net operating loss, as previously allowed.

Some provisions tighten existing limitations rules, including those pertaining to:

• SALT limitation workarounds. If your business is eligible for Section 199A treatment, breathe easy―these won’t affect you.
• Non-corporate loss limitations.
• The Section 162(m) limitation concerning executive compensation.

There would also be repeal of a number of energy-related incentives, although the clean fuel production credit established under the previous Administration and newly in force for the current tax year 2025, would be expanded, rather than eliminated.

Temporary business tax provisions include:

• Restoration of the 100% bonus depreciation for short-lived investments, effective for tax years 2025 through 2029.
• Increase of the deduction limitation for qualified depreciable property (Section 179) to $2.5 million (from $1 million), with the phase-out threshold raised to $4 million.
• Restoration of immediate expensing for research and development conducted in the U.S. for the same period.
• Allowing expensing of 100% of qualifying structures in the manufacturing, extraction, and agricultural fields, providing construction begins prior to December 31, 2028, and the structure is placed in service before December 31, 2032.

Of course, these are only highlights, and by no means exhaustive. And how a final resolution bill might look, after any Senate changes (the Senate has indeed indicated it will make changes) and the inevitable horse-trading between the two Chambers, thereafter, is certainly up in the air for now.

However, it never hurts to think ahead, and plan contingencies.

We invite you to consult our experts on tax planning. We would be delighted to help you determine potential personal and / or business scenarios based on various assumptions and assist your navigation through them.

Please click here to email us directly–Rigby Financial Group’s trusted, expert team are always at your service–that’s what we are here for! And serving your needs, wants, and goals is our passion―the reason we’re here at all is to be here for you!

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric

Early Thursday morning, May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives (House) passed, by a vote of 215-214 (quite the squeaker!), a revised 2025 reconciliation bill, incorporating changes to the tax code from the House Ways and Means Committee, Budget Committee, etc.

The House bill will now proceed to the U.S. Senate.

Most of the changes relate to extending or making permanent, or adjusting, some of the provisions of the Tax Cust and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA).

Some of the new proposed changes may be highly effective for real estate investors― if this bill is enacted, there’s a lot of opportunity for you!

Rigby Financial Group is proud to specialize in providing tax and financial services and advice to professional real estate investors! Read on, then reach out! We would love to help you make the most of the opportunities afforded you by these changes!

Some highlights of the revised tax provisions of particular relevance to real estate investors include:

Section 179: Increased Expense Limits

Section 179 allows businesses to deduct, up to a specified dollar amount, the full cost of certain types of property in the year of purchase, rather than having to depreciate those costs over time.

While Section 179 usually excludes the costs of buildings and land, it does cover many related expenses―so long as the property is acquired and used as a commercial asset.

Section 179-deductible expenses relevant to real estate investors include:

• HVAC systems
• Roofs
• Fire protection
• Security systems
• Other building improvements

 

Section 179 applies to these expenses for both your assets held for rental or sale and the (owned) premises on which your business operates!

Other business purchases to which Section 179 applies include:

• Office equipment―e.g., computers, printers, copiers
• Smartphones and tables used exclusively for business purposes
• Office furniture
• Software
• Vehicles used exclusively in your business (for weights between 6,000 and 14,000 lbs.)

 

Thanks to the TCJA, these items no longer need to be purchased new to be eligible for Section 179 tax treatment, and used purchases have qualified since tax year 2017.

The new provisions would double the dollar limit on Section 179 deductible expenses from its current $1,250,000 to $2,500,000 for 2025.

They would also increase the expense phase-out threshold from $3,130,000 to $4,000,000.

The only caveat is that the purchased business asset(s) must be placed in full use during the year purchased―but that’s been true since Section 179’s inception.

Section 168: Return of the 100% Bonus Depreciation

Before the TCJA’s enactment in 2017 (though Section 168’s history dates back in one form or another to at least 1954), Section 168’s bonus depreciation for the year of purchase was limited in recent decades to 50% of the cost. This limit held through tax year 2017.

But the TCJA increased that 50% to 100% for tax years 2018 through 2022. The downside was that the bonus phased not only down, but out, by 20% annually thereafter.

From 2017 until now (fingers crossed!), Section 179 bonus depreciation was scheduled to drop, beginning in tax year 2022, and has dropped through tax year 2024, as follows:

• 2022 = 100%
• 2023 = 80%
• 2024 = 60%
• 2025 = 40%
• 2026 = 20%
• 2027 = 0%

 

But the House bill, as revised, restores the 100% bonus depreciation, retroactive to eligible property purchased from January 19, 2025 through the rest of the current tax year, and extends its applicability to purchases made before January 1, 2030. Certain aircraft and long-production-period property would be eligible for 100% bonus depreciation through December 31, 2030.

We do expect that following tax years 2029/2030, phase-out will take place as it has under the 2017 law. So be prepared to take advantage while you can.

Section 199A: Increased Qualified Business Income Deduction

Under the TCJA’s Section 199A, owners of domestic pass-through businesses (e.g., sole proprietorships, S Corporations, partnerships) were empowered to deduct up to 20% of their qualifying business income (QBI) on their individual income tax returns.

QBI includes business income (including such income reported on K-1s), business losses, and deductions for qualifying businesses.

The new bill’s changes push that 20% QBI deduction to 23%.

Certain income limitations are involved in determining eligibility for the full QBI deduction, although partial eligibility may still be available.

Section 199A was one of the TCJA’s provisions which, absent legislative action, would sunset at midnight, December 31, 2025. The new proposed bill would make this Section permanent.

There is, of course, a lot more in the full reconciliation bill, and we will get into some of those provisions in a later post (stay tuned!), but we wanted this post to highlight those provisions of the greatest benefit to real estate investors in particular, though they also apply, obviously, to numerous other businesses and business owners.

We should point out that the Senate has indicated it will want its own fingers in the pie, and we can’t know what a final bill will look like at this point.

You can trust us, though, to keep you abreast of significant developments.

We invite you to consult our experts on tax and financial services to real estate investors. Let us help you save every tax dollar the law allows, and proposes!

Because we understand that your business and your plans for it are, as they should be, all about you. And being all about you is what we are all about!

Please click here to email us directly – Rigby Financial Group’s trusted, expert team is at your service – that’s what we are here for! And serving you is also our passion.

Until next time –

 Peace,

 Eric

As promised, here is Part II of our tips for Schedule C filers and other small business owners on avoiding triggers that make an IRS audit likelier.

Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that the IRS will not audit you, as a business, even if you’ve been scrupulous.

However, there are some things small business owners can and should do to minimize the risk of an audit.

These include watching out for “red flags: which are likelier to trigger an IRS audit.

To avoid them, we strongly urge you to consult with your virtual/fractional CFO or other trusted business and tax advisor.

Additional common red flags are:

Recurring Business Losses

Any business can have a bad year, or more than one, and show a loss. You can be as savvy as the best of them, but there are always human factors, luck, market conditions, and other considerations in play.

But repeated business losses, year after year, may cause the IRS to question whether you’re running a real business or a hobby, by the IRS’ definitions, of course.

If you have repeated business losses for readily explained reasons – expansion undertaken over a few years, purchases of necessary new equipment, capital improvements, etc., document them in a narrative, highlighting the temporary nature of the losses. Include any new clients/customers who may have entered into agreements with you that have not yet ripened into cash receipts.

Do your best to mitigate and minimize your losses. A business that fails to show profitability after years may signal it’s time to cut those losses, but it also may not, depending on the facts and circumstances of your unique business.

But, again, detailed, supported, and well-maintained documentation is the best defense against an IRS audit offense.

As I often say, “proper prior planning prevents poor performance.” It’s also the best way to 1) avoid a tax audit, or 2) be prepared for one if the IRS insists.

“Excessive” Income

It seems horribly unfair, but while the IRS may raise an eyebrow — or an audit — in response to what they consider “excessive” business losses, they may also find “excessive” income or profit questionable.

As your business income rises, so too does your chance of an IRS audit. From their viewpoint, we can understand it — the profits are low-hanging fruit, and they have money to pay.

The IRS is, in fact, targeting the more profitable, whether businesses or individuals, having come under scrutiny for disproportionately targeting the less well-off.

So now they target the better-off to a greater degree.

Once again, detailed records, documentation, and written narratives outlining why your business has picked up so much are your friends.

It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with industry norms relating to business income and profitability. These provide helpful benchmarks and can clue you in to what might need more explanation than just the numbers.

Business Use of Vehicles

If you use a vehicle for business purposes, even your personal car, you are entitled to deduct certain expenses relating to the vehicle on your tax return.

But if you have only one car, do not make the mistake of saying its use is 100% business-related. The IRS will see this as a red flag.

We recommend you use the mileage rate for deductions — currently at $0.70 per mile — and keep records showing where and when you drove for each business trip. Parking fees and tolls are also perfectly proper tax deductions.

But keep the records handy in case the IRS asks. Any IRS “ask” is a demand.

If you have two vehicles, one dedicated to business purposes and one for personal use — congratulations, by the way — then you can deduct precise expenses for your business vehicle, including repairs and maintenance.

These and last week’s red flags are only examples — they are not a comprehensive list of things that might trigger IRS scrutiny or even an audit.

We invite you to consult with Rigby Financial Group’s expert virtual fractional CFOs. We can guide you through the best ways to protect yourself, so far as possible, against the threat of an IRS audit. The best solutions for you and your business should be custom-tailored, not off-the-rack.

Because one size never fits all, and at RFG, we celebrate your uniqueness! We are never looking to offer cookie-cutter solutions—every service we offer is custom-designed to meet the needs of your business, your goals, and your desires.

So, come to us to custom-tailor your business and tax planning. We offer more than that, of course – and adhere to the same philosophy in everything we do.

Rigby Financial Group is not about us – we are about you!

Please click here to email us directly. Let us know how we can help — that‘s what we are dedicated to and passionate about.

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric

Many entrepreneurs file their tax returns as self-employed individuals, reporting their business income and deductions on Schedule C within their personal tax returns.

While we generally recommend against this practice, most entrepreneurs are, in our opinion, better protected by establishing S Corporations, LLCs, or partnerships for their businesses; there may be good reasons in individual cases for Schedule C filing.

Be aware, however, that Schedule C filters and other small business owners may be targeted disproportionately for audit by the IRS.

No one wants an IRS tax audit!

So, how much can you reduce the audit risk for your small business?

Well, the short-and-not-so-sweet answer is, there’s a limit. There are no guarantees, ever, that the IRS will not audit you, as a business, whether you report on Schedule C, or file a business tax return, even if you’ve been absolutely scrupulous, dotted every “i” and crossed every “t.”

But there are some things business owners can and should do to minimize the risk of an audit. These include watching out for “red flags:” which are likelier to trigger an IRS audit.

We strongly recommend consulting your fractional CFO, or other trusted business and tax advisor to be sure you’re staying on track.

Some of the most common red flags are:

Irregularities in Reported Income

The IRS has multiple avenues through which an individual’s or business’ income is reported to them – they don’t rely solely on the taxpayer’s word (or reporting).

So, ensure you are reporting the income included on every 1099 – keep close track of these, not only as you receive them, but as you anticipate receiving them. If you know the income came in, whether you receive a 1099 or not, report it on your books and your tax return.

In other words, maintain meticulous records, which track every single deposit, and report all your business income – every single penny.

If your business income happens to fluctuate significantly from one year to the next, prepare a narrative which explains the reasons behind the fluctuation – notable increases or decreases in supplier costs under a new contract, loss or gain of a major customer, etc.

Detailed, supported, and well-maintained documentation is the best defense to an IRS audit offense.

“Excessive” or “Disproportionate” Deductions and Expenses

Of course you are entitled, as a business owner, to deduct a good many expenses against your business income – including for business travel, office supplies, office equipment (provided it’s used solely for business purposes), and home office expenses.

That’s in addition to deductible business expenses, including any payroll costs and other costs of goods sold, depreciation & amortization, legal and accounting fees, business equipment, office supplies, etc.

But keep an eye on them – if the IRS considers them “excessive: or “disproportionate” relative to your business income, you could wind up being closely scrutinized, and even, yes, audited.

So, do keep track of your legitimate business expenses, and document any large and/or unusual items. Prepare a narrative to explain the outliers, and why they are unlikely to be repeated in the near future.

It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with IRS guidance on deductions, both generally and in terms of your specific industry. Take note, as well, of industry norms relating to business deductions.

Home Office

If you have a home office, as a small business owner, take a tax deduction, but make sure you use that room only for business purposes – the IRS cares, deeply.

Measure the office – the square footage, as a percent of your home’s, may give you a baseline to deduct a portion of your utilities. You can include internet costs and some electric usage as well – but only for the percentage of internet and electricity used during the time you use them to conduct your business.

Again, maintaining thorough, consistent, well-documented and supported records is your friend here.

Large Cash Transactions

If your business is cash-based, or if you have a significant number of cash transactions in large amounts, that, too, can trigger heightened IRS scrutiny. Further, if you have more such cash transactions than the IRS considers the norm for your industry, that can trigger an audit.

All cash transactions, whether income or expense outlay, should be meticulously documented and matched with the appropriate invoice, whether it’s your invoice or a payable.

Any cash receipts of over $10,000 must be reported to the IRS on Form 8300, and it’s important to keep up with this. However, numerous cash deposits of slightly under $10,000 can also trigger scrutiny, on the theory that such deposits may be structured to avoid the Form 8300 reporting requirements.

We advise avoiding taking payment in cash so far as you can – ACH payments, credit cards, or checks protect you much better.

Check back here next week for more red flags that self-employed and other small business owners should avoid – we haven’t finished!

We invite you to consult with Rigby Financial Group’s expert virtual / fractional CFOs – we can guide you through the best ways to protect yourself – so far as possible – against the threat of an IRS audit. What will protect you and your business best isn’t necessarily the best way for anyone else.

Because one size never fits all – and at RFG, we celebrate your uniqueness! We are never looking to offer cookie-cutter solutions – every service we offer is tailored to your business, your needs and desires.

So, come to us for bespoke tailoring – of your business and tax planning, and any other needs you have.

Please click here to email us directly – let us know how we can help – that‘s what we are dedicated to and passionate about.

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric

Regular readers know how important we at Rigby Financial Group consider your wills and powers of attorney (POAs), both durable, to cover your financial affairs, and medical, to cover healthcare decisions. And that powers of attorney are, in the normal course of events, given to a spouse, if the individual in question is married.

This is a fairly safe option, as it may be assumed that you and your spouse have the same interests, trust each other, have discussed any individual wishes and directions, and are willing and able to assume this responsibility for one another.

But what if you and your spouse are getting on in years, or have uncertain health? What if you’ve divorced (if any powers of attorney are involved, revoke them immediately!), or your spouse has predeceased you?

Or what if you simply want another person to have your power, or powers, of attorney?

Many people in this position consider passing those powers of attorney to an adult child. But that may not always be a wise decision.
When choosing a recipient other than your spouse for the responsibility of holding your powers of attorney–acting as your agent, below are some considerations to take into account:

Your Agent Needs to Be

• Trustworthy–in general, and particularly for you. You need someone you can trust to carry out your wishes and handle sensitive financial information, as well as make the most personal medical decisions.
• Competent and Experienced–in handling financial matters. Think about it–you wouldn’t want your financial concerns handled by a novice when you aren’t able to provide input.
• Willing and Available–this is crucial. You need an agent who will undertake significant and potentially time-consuming responsibilities on your behalf. You need someone who is 100% committed to handling such responsibilities.

Not necessary, but desirable, is an agent located close to you. It will be helpful in discussions and signing documents (some may require in-person signatures, particularly when notarization is required).

However, there is one last essential: your agent needs to maintain a calm, clear head when dealing with highly charged situations, such as life-threatening illnesses, and the decisions they make in such situations should come from reason, not emotion.

Your adult children may fulfill the first three requirements admirably, and live close by–but can you expect them to remain unemotional when confronted with the possibility of a parent’s death or incapacity? The medical and financial decisions they make under such strain may not be the most rational of choices–and who can blame them for caring?

But that isn’t the only question you need to ask yourself–and potentially your family, too–if you are considering making an adult child your agent.

Ask Yourself

• Does my son/daughter have the requisite legal and financial experience? If s/he has, great–but don’t set your child up to fail his/her family by asking them to handle responsibilities they aren’t prepared or equipped to fulfill effectively. That’s not the legacy you want to leave them.
• Will giving one child your POAs create family conflict? You may choose one of your adult children as best suited for the responsibilities acting as your agent entails, and you may indeed choose the best qualified child, but emotions don’t operate on a rational level, and some children may feel slighted, leading to conflict.
• Do they have the time and resources? Adult children may have significant demands on their time, focus, and energy. They have a job, possibly a family, and potentially other factors that impact the amount of time and effort they can devote to acting as your agent, regardless of their willingness.
• Can they stay calm in the face of medical choices impacting your life? This is the most challenging question. Is it fair to enlist a child to give the directive to “pull the plug,” even when that’s what you want? Your knowledge of your family may provide an answer. Or it may leave you in doubt.

If Not My Child, Who?

Although there will be a cost, it may be wise to assign your POAs to an experienced professional. Such professionals are usually found among:

• Attorneys–see what your estate attorney will charge.
• CPAs–check with your virtual CFO or other trusted financial advisor.
• Trust companies.
• Licensed fiduciaries.

 

These professionals will have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to give you confidence in the handling of your affairs, and that your wishes will be honored.

Also, under the law, they are all required to act in your best interests.

If you don’t want a professional, you can choose a close friend or relative who you think is fully qualified and emotionally equipped to handle the responsibilities of acting as your agent when you cannot.

There’s no single “right” answer on who to choose to hold your powers of attorney. It depends on so many factors, and not the least of these is your wishes.

Because one size never fits all, and at RFG, we never offer cookie-cutter solutions, every service we provide is tailored to the individual client’s goals, needs and desires.

So, come to us for bespoke tailoring–for all the decisions you face as you reach toward your golden years–and before that, to set yourself up for those years to be a fitting reward for the hard work you’ve contributed to your family, your community, your country.

Because you’re in this life for the long haul, and we are right there with you.

Please click here to email us directly – let us know how we can help. That’s what we’re dedicated to and passionate about.

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric

So, your eldest child has graduated from college – congratulations to your family!

However, you have two more children – one will be applying for college next year, and the youngest will be two years after that.

Happily, you began saving for their educations with contributions to a 529 Plan account for each of them.

And your eldest had the grades to get a significant scholarship, leaving an untouched balance in their 529 Plan account.

But your younger two may not have grades quite high enough to qualify for scholarships at the same level. Therefore, they will need more of their college expenses to be covered by their 529 Plan accounts.

How do you access the balance of your eldest child’s 529 Plan account to help their younger siblings get their college education? Or for another necessity or desirable purpose?

There are various ways, partly due to changes made to the rules governing 529 Plans under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 and SECURE 2.0, enacted in 2022.

Some of these include:

Rollover Funds to Another 529 Plan Account

You can roll a portion or all of the untapped balance in your eldest child’s 529 Plan account to that of your next eldest child, or your youngest’s account.

Only one rollover from a single beneficiary’s account (each of your children should be the beneficiary on the 529 Plan account you opened for them; only one beneficiary per 529 Plan account is permitted) per 12-month period is allowed.

Therefore, you may want to roll half of the balance in your eldest’s 529 Plan account to that of your next child this year, and the remaining balance to the 529 Plan account of your youngest next year.

You can make one transfer per beneficiary within a 12-month period without incurring tax consequences.

But any additional transfers (again, per beneficiary) within that 12-month period will be considered a non-qualified distribution, and taxes will be imposed on the portion of the distribution that comes from investment growth, plus a 10% penalty on that same portion.

Help Pay For K-12 and Secondary Tuition

The SECURE Act included a new provision allowing parents to use 529 Plan account funds to pay for the beneficiary’s private elementary, middle school, and high school tuition, up to a limit of $10,000 per year per account and beneficiary.

So, once you transfer unused 529 funds to your younger children, that money is available for K-12 and high school tuition.

Help Fund Postgraduate Education

If your eldest wants further education in their field, and you’re willing, the excess funds in their 529 Plan account can be used to help pay for their postgraduate studies, housing, meals, books, and all other eligible expenses – just as with their 4-year college program.

This is an easy option to exercise, as no changes are required to the existing 529 account.

Fund a Roth IRA for the Account Beneficiary

SECURE 2.0 created the option of transferring your child’s unused 529 Plan funds to a Roth IRA in that child’s name, provided the account has been open for 15 years or more.

The amount that can be transferred to a Roth IRA is limited to $35,000 in total and must be made in increments amounting to no more than the year’s Roth IRA contribution limit ($7,000 for 2025).

Additionally, any transfer of 529 account funds to a Roth IRA must not exceed the amount the beneficiary earns during the transfer year. So, it may be best to wait until the beneficiary has obtained a job.

 

There’s one option we don’t usually recommend – but it may be the right choice for your family:

Change the 529 Account’s Beneficiary

While you can always change the 529 Plan account’s beneficiary, provided the new beneficiary is an eligible family member. The eligible family member list is pretty comprehensive; siblings certainly qualify.

However, this may not be a good idea if you have a specific idea that you’d like to make a single contribution to a Roth IRA for the original account beneficiary.

While the IRS has not issued clarifying guidance on whether a 529 account open for 15 years or more needs to retain the same beneficiary between the opening of the account and the Roth IRA transfer, it’s often wise to err on the side of caution – and when dealing with the IRS, this goes double!

So, there are a lot of options to choose from when you are fortunate enough to have excess 529 funds once your child’s postsecondary education is complete.

But which is the best for your family?

If you have questions, we invite you to consult with us. Rigby Financial Group has helped clients with decisions affecting 529 Plan accounts for many years. And our specialty is helping you devise a strategy that’s right for you and your family. You are unique, your family is unique, and we celebrate that by devising custom-tailored strategies and solutions that fit your needs, goals, and dreams for your family’s future.

Please click here to email us directly – let us help you chart your family’s course with confidence and joy. That’s what we’re here for!

Until next time –

Peace,

Eric