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Tax Planning

Strategic tax planning to minimize liability and maximize savings

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9 min read

QDOT Rules, Rewritten: What Treasury Decision 10050 Means for Business Owners with Non-Citizen Spouses

Treasury Decision 10050, effective July 10, 2026, delivers the first substantial update to Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) regulations in three decades. Here is why the unlimited marital deduction excludes non-citizen spouses, what a QDOT requires — a U.S. trustee, an affirmative Form 706 election, and security for trusts over $2 million — and which four procedural fixes the new rules make for business owners' estates.

Mike Thrift

taxtax-planningtax-compliance
7 min read

How to Get the IRS to Answer You in Writing: Private Letter Rulings and Determination Letters for Small Businesses

Oral advice from the IRS is not binding — a private letter ruling is. Under Revenue Procedure 2026-1, 9100 relief for a missed tax election generally costs about $14,500, with reduced tiers near $3,450 and $9,775 for smaller organizations, and the IRS must make contact within 21 days of a complete request. Here's when a ruling is worth the fee, what the request must contain, and the no-fee alternatives — Form SS-8, Form 3115, and Rev. Proc. 2013-30 — that cover most common cases.

Mike Thrift

taxtax-complianceirs-requirements
8 min read

Safe Harbor 401(k) Plans in 2026: How Small Businesses Skip Nondiscrimination Testing

A safe harbor 401(k) automatically passes IRS ADP/ACP nondiscrimination testing in exchange for a fixed employer contribution — a 3% nonelective or a match of up to 4%. Here's how the three formulas compare in cost, the December 1 retroactive adoption deadline, and the 2026 limits ($24,500 deferral, $72,000 total additions, mandatory Roth catch-ups for high earners).

Mike Thrift

small-businessretirement-plansemployee-benefits
8 min read

Depreciation Recapture Explained: The Tax Bill Waiting When You Sell Depreciated Equipment or Real Estate

Depreciation recapture taxes the deductions you already took when you sell a business asset at a gain — Section 1245 equipment gains are recaptured as ordinary income at rates up to 37%, while Section 1250 real estate depreciation is capped at 25%. With 100% bonus depreciation restored and the Section 179 limit at $2,560,000 for 2026, a fully expensed asset has a $0 basis from day one, so nearly the entire sale price becomes taxable. Here's how the rules split, a worked example, and five strategies owners use to manage the bill.

Mike Thrift

depreciationfixed-assetstax-planning
8 min read

The Netherlands Is Cutting the Zelfstandigenaftrek Again: What ZZP Freelancers Should Budget for in 2026 and 2027

The Dutch zelfstandigenaftrek drops from €2,470 in 2025 to €1,200 in 2026 and €900 in 2027 — an 88% reduction since 2020's €7,280. For a ZZP freelancer with €50,000 profit, the 2026 cut alone adds roughly €400–€480 in tax, compounded by the MKB-winstvrijstelling falling to 12.70%. Here's the full phase-down schedule and five concrete budgeting steps.

Mike Thrift

taxtax-deductionstax-planning
6 min read

The Roth Catch-Up Mandate Arrives: 2026 401(k) Rules for High Earners and Business Owners

Starting January 1, 2026, SECURE 2.0's Section 603 requires workers 50 and older with over $150,000 in prior-year FICA wages from the same employer to make 401(k) catch-up contributions — $8,000 standard, $11,250 for ages 60–63 — as after-tax Roth. Plans without a Roth option must amend by December 31, 2026 or bar catch-ups entirely; W-2 S-corp owners are in scope while K-1 partners are not.

Mike Thrift

401kretirement-planstax-planning
9 min read

Autónomo Taxes in Spain: Cuotas by Real Income, IRPF Withholding, and the €80 Flat Rate Explained for 2026

Spain's autónomo cuota is income-based across 15 tiers (roughly €205 to €1,606/month at a 31.5% rate), reconciled after your annual tax return via regularización. New freelancers can pay a flat €80/month for 12 months and withhold IRPF at a reduced 7% instead of 15% — but choosing 15% once forfeits the reduced rate. Here's how the 2026 rules fit together.

Mike Thrift

taxself-employmentfreelance
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