How a $24.99 Financial Check-Up Can Save You Thousands in Taxes and Missed Deductions

Financial advisor reviewing tax documents with client to uncover missed deductions.

By Anil Grandhi | CEO of AG FinTax | Forbes Finance Council Member  Most people think tax season is the only time to look at their finances. But here’s the truth: if you’re only thinking about taxes in March or April, you’re already losing money. A strategic financial check-up—especially one priced at just $25—can uncover […]

Using Section 179 deduction for Commercial rental properties

Commercial office building illustration with tax forms and Section 179 deduction details, representing tax savings opportunities for property owners.

With bonus depreciation declining to 40 percent this year, Section 179 expensing is a powerful alternative. It allows you to deduct up to the full cost of personal property and eligible improvements in the year you place them in service. For 2025, the maximum deduction is $1.25 million, with phaseouts beginning at $3.13 million. Eligible […]

Greed or Goodwill: Your Makes a Scam Loss Deductible

Person reviewing financial documents highlighting tax deductions for scam losses.

Scams are incredibly common. According to recent Federal Trade Commission data, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. They reported losing more money to **investment scams—$5.7 billion—**than any other category. Older people are particularly prone to being scammed. If you’re the victim of a scam, can you deduct your losses as […]

Avoid Unwanted Partnership Tax Status: Elect Out

Guide to electing out of unwanted partnership tax status to avoid extra tax filings and penalties.

If you’re involved in a real estate or investment venture with one or more other parties—perhaps co-owning property or collaborating on a business project—you might think you’re simply sharing ownership.  But the IRS may see it differently. Without proper precautions, your arrangement could be classified as a partnership for federal tax purposes, triggering filing requirements […]

Protect Yourself: Digitize Tax Receipts

When it comes to IRS audits, one of the most common reasons taxpayers lose deductions is the lack of proper documentation. While your credit card or bank statements prove you spent money, they don’t show what you purchased. Without supporting receipts or invoices, these records are considered “naked”—and during an audit, that’s a problem. To […]

Beat the Taxman: Use the Tax Code–Created QCD to Kill Your RMD

Retired couple meeting with financial advisor to plan qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and reduce required minimum distributions (RMDs) for tax savings

If you have one or more traditional IRAs and are age 73 or older, you’re probably familiar with three of the most dreaded letters in the tax world: RMD, short for required minimum distribution.  Starting the year you turn 73, the IRS requires you to withdraw a certain amount from your traditional IRAs annually. This […]

Solo Biz Owner? No Employees? Is the Mega Backdoor Roth for You?

Solo business owner researching Mega Backdoor Roth IRA strategy for retirement savings.

If you are a business owner with no employees and prefer Roth-style retirement savings, you may want to consider the mega backdoor Roth strategy. This powerful tool allows you to contribute significantly more to a Roth account than the standard Roth IRA or even the regular backdoor Roth route—up to $70,000, or $77,500 if you’re […]

 Backdoor Roth IRA Conversions: Smart Move or Hidden Tax Trap?

Concept image of Backdoor Roth IRA conversion with pros and cons list

If you’ve ever wondered how to get more money into a Roth IRA despite income limits, the backdoor Roth IRA conversion strategy may have caught your attention. It’s a smart planning tool for high-income earners—but only when used with care. First, a quick refresher: Roth IRAs offer two powerful benefits—tax-free withdrawals in retirement (if you […]

Beat the Estimated Tax Penalty with Strategic Withholding

Beat the Estimated Tax Penalty with Strategic Withholding ?

If you’re making quarterly estimated tax payments, missing a deadline can be costly. The IRS currently charges a 7 percent penalty for underpayments—and since penalties aren’t deductible, the real cost can feel closer to 11 percent. But here’s good news: strategic withholding can often help you avoid or erase those penalties—even late in the year. […]