Normally, certain inflation-adjusted numbers affect taxpayers’ estate plans every year. One is the federal gift and estate tax exemption. But for 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently increases the exemption amount to $15 million (up from $13.99 million for 2025). That amount will be adjusted annually for inflation for 2027 and beyond. Without the OBBBA, the exemption would have returned to an inflation-adjusted $5 million for 2026. The generation-skipping transfer tax...

If you own a business, the Sec. 179 expensing election allows you to deduct the cost of purchasing eligible assets rather than depreciating them over multiple years. An annual expensing limit applies, which begins to phase out dollar-for-dollar when acquisitions for the year exceed the phaseout threshold. For qualifying property placed in service in 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) doubles the expensing limit to $2.5 million. The 2025 phaseout threshold is $4 million, up from...

Teachers and other educators should be glad to know that the above-the-line tax deduction they can claim for unreimbursed educator expenses will soon rise. Currently $300 per year, in 2026 the maximum deduction will increase to $350. It will be adjusted for inflation in the future. Married educators who file a joint return can each take the credit. Examples of qualified expenses include books, classroom supplies, computer equipment and professional development tuition. To qualify for the...