Tax Blog - Page 5

How to Estimate Your Tax Refund from Your Last Pay Stub

Use YTD gross pay and withholding from your pay stub to estimate your refund.

EITC and CTC Refund Timing: The PATH Act Hold

The PATH Act requires the IRS to hold EITC/CTC refunds until mid-February.

How Do People Get $10,000 Tax Refunds?

Multiple children (CTC), EITC, overwithholding, and OBBBA deductions.

How to Check Your IRS Refund Status

Step-by-step guide to the Where's My Refund tool at IRS.gov/refunds.

Does Everyone Get a $3,000 Tax Refund?

No. Your refund depends on withholding vs liability. Some people owe money.

What Is the Average Tax Refund in 2026?

What drives refund size and how OBBBA deductions may change the average.

Why Is My Refund Different from What I Expected?

Math errors, missing 1099s, CTC changes, offsets, and IRS adjustments.

Tax Refund Direct Deposit: How Long Does It Take?

E-file + direct deposit is the fastest: 21 days per IRS guidance.

Tax Refund for Head of Household Filers in 2026

HoH gets wider brackets and a higher standard deduction vs single filers.

How to Calculate MAGI for the SALT Phase-Down

The SALT phase-down starts at $505,000 MAGI. Step-by-step calculation.

SALT Deduction for MFS: The Halving Rules

MFS gets half the cap ($20,200), half the threshold ($252,500), and half the floor.

What Counts as SALT? Property Tax, Income Tax, and Sales Tax

SALT = state/local income tax OR sales tax + property tax. The $40,400 cap covers the total.

Can Renters Claim the SALT Deduction?

Renters can claim income/sales tax SALT but not property tax.

SALT Deduction for Single Filers in 2026

Single filers get the same $40,400 cap and $505,000 threshold as MFJ.

Who Gets the $40,000 SALT Deduction?

Itemize, pay enough SALT, and have MAGI below $505,000 for the full cap.

Why Is My SALT Deduction Limited to $10,000?

TCJA set the $10K cap in 2017. OBBBA raised it but the $10K floor remains for high earners.

SALT Deduction Explained Simply for 2026

State And Local Taxes: what counts, the cap, and when itemizing makes sense.

Overtime Deduction with Union CBA Rates in 2026

How collective bargaining agreement overtime rates affect the premium calculation and deduction amount.

Overtime Deduction for Police Officers and Firefighters in 2026

How the FLSA 7(k) work period affects overtime deduction calculations for public safety workers.

FLSA-Exempt Workers Cannot Claim the Overtime Deduction

Truck drivers, railroad workers, and salaried-exempt employees are excluded from the overtime deduction.

Tips Deduction for Delivery Drivers: DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Pizza in 2026

W-2 pizza drivers qualify; 1099 DoorDash and Uber Eats drivers do not. The employment classification divide.

Overtime Deduction for Construction and Trades Workers in 2026

Construction and trades workers are classic FLSA non-exempt employees with strong deduction claims.

Tips Deduction for Hairstylists and Salon Workers in 2026

Salon stylists on W-2 qualify, but booth renters on 1099 do not. The critical employment-status distinction.

Do Nurses Qualify for the Tips Deduction in 2026?

Nursing is not traditionally a customarily tipped occupation. Why most nurses likely do not qualify.