QTax, LLC

10/28/2026

Tax Tip of the Week 4-49

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10/23/2026

Tax Tip of the Week 4-48

My local IRS Stakeholder Liaison asked me to share the following information about temporary federal penalty relief for the highway use of dyed diesel fuel.

Please pay close attention to the final paragraph: this relief applies only to federal taxes and penalties. New Hampshire continues to prohibit dyed diesel in highway vehicles, and I found no announced waiver in Maine. State fines can be substantial, so confirm your state’s requirements before using dyed diesel on public roads.

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that, in response to the President’s Oct. 5, 2026, Executive Order, Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel, it will not impose a penalty when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on highways nationwide. The relief is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2026, and will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2026.

Ordinarily, dyed diesel fuel is not subject to tax because it is destined for an exempt use, such as use on a farm for farming purposes; however, it would be taxed if sold for highway use or used to power a vehicle on the highway.

During the relief period, ordinary procedures for collection and enforcement will be suspended. Forthcoming IRS guidance will detail how this relief applies to Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return and any other relevant forms.

This relief only applies for federal tax purposes. It has no effect on state fuel taxes and penalties that a state may impose on the use of dyed diesel fuel on the highway. Many, but not all, states have provided similar state excise tax-related relief. Taxpayers are encouraged to refer to their applicable state agencies for the latest guidance on state-level relief.

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10/17/2026

Tax Tip of the Week 4-47

“And now the end is near…” Well, not quite that dramatic—but year-end is coming! Two things to think about:

1. A Social Security increase—and a withholding checkup.

Social Security benefits will increase 3.6% beginning in January 2027. That’s welcome news! Remember, depending on your income, up to 85% of your benefits may be included in federal taxable income.

Check with your Tax Pro early in 2027 to see whether you should adjust your withholding using Form W-4V. Whether you’re receiving benefits or still working, I also encourage you to set up your My Social Security account.

2. Marketplace health insurance? Watch your advance tax credit.

Beginning with the 2026 tax year, the repayment caps for excess advance Premium Tax Credits have been eliminated. If your advance credit exceeds what you actually qualify for, you must repay the full difference when you file. IRS explanation

If you receive help paying your Marketplace premiums, schedule a checkup with your Tax Pro—especially if your income or household has changed. Updating your Marketplace information now may help prevent a surprise tax bill.

Give us until October 23—we just finished a tax season and need a little recharge—then let’s talk!

We speak tax so you don’t have to.

Access your Social Security information and manage your benefits online with a personal my Social Security account. To create your account, verify your identity with one of our partner sites:

10/09/2026

Tax Tip of the Week 4-46.

You may have received—or may soon receive—a federal rebate payment: $500 for certain eligible HealthCare.gov enrollees or $90 for certain Medicare Part B enrollees.

First, these rebate programs are legitimate. If you receive an authentic payment, go ahead and cash or deposit it.

Second, keep the accompanying letter and all related documentation for tax time. The tax treatment may depend on your circumstances, including whether you deducted the related health insurance premiums. We’ll watch for guidance specific to these payments.

If you’re bored—or need help falling asleep—check out §213 and §162(l) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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10/03/2026

💡 Tax Tip of the Week 4-43
Caring for family? Know the tax rules.

🥪 Many people in the “Sandwich Generation” are caring for aging parents while also supporting their children. If you pay for care—or receive payment for providing it—special tax rules may apply.

🏠 Paying a caregiver?
You may be a household employer, depending on who controls the work and how it’s done. That can mean payroll responsibilities and Form W-2 reporting.

Certain wages are generally exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes when paid to:

• Your spouse
• Your child under age 21
• Your parent, with certain exceptions
• Someone under age 18 at any time during the year, unless household work is their principal occupation

These exceptions don’t automatically eliminate every tax or reporting obligation.

🤝 Getting paid to provide care?
Independent caregivers operating a business generally owe self-employment tax. Some family caregivers who aren’t employees may be exempt, depending on their circumstances.

Before you pay or accept compensation, talk with your friendly neighborhood tax professional. A little guidance can help you understand your responsibilities.

💬 We speak tax so you don’t have to.

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10/01/2026

09/24/2026

Tax Tip of the Week 4-43

🚨 DISASTERS HAPPEN — COULD YOU RECONSTRUCT YOUR RECORDS?

Having a disaster plan is important, but that plan should include more than protecting your property. Think about how you would reconstruct important financial and tax records if the originals were lost or destroyed.

📄 TAX RECORDS
W-2s, 1099s and other tax information may be available through your IRS Individual Online Account. Having your account established before you need it can make accessing tax information much easier.

🏦 BANK & FINANCIAL RECORDS
Bank statements, credit card statements and other financial records can generally be requested from your bank, credit card company or other financial institution.

🏠 PERSONAL PROPERTY RECORDS
Photos, videos, receipts and other documentation can help establish the existence and value of damaged or lost property. Consider periodically taking photos or video of your home and valuable possessions and storing copies somewhere safe.

🏡 REAL PROPERTY RECORDS
If records relating to your home or other real estate are lost, you may be able to reconstruct them by contacting the title or escrow company. Contractors may be able to help document renovations and additions. For inherited property, probate and estate records may also be useful.

💾 BACK UP YOUR DATA
One backup may not be enough. Keep multiple backups, with at least one offsite or securely in the cloud.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

✅ QUICK RECORDKEEPING CHECKLIST

Keep copies of your:

☐ 📑 Tax records — returns, W-2s & 1099s
☐ 🏦 Financial records — bank & credit card statements
☐ 🏡 Property records — closing documents & improvement receipts
☐ 📸 Personal property records — photos, videos & major receipts
☐ 🛡️ Insurance & estate records
☐ 💼 Important business records

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

💡 DON'T KEEP EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE!

A backup sitting next to your computer may not do much good if the same fire, flood or other disaster destroys both.

Think 3-2-1:

3️⃣ Keep 3 copies of important data
2️⃣ Use 2 different types of storage
1️⃣ Keep at least 1 copy offsite or in the cloud

📅 Review your records and backups periodically. Make sure they are current — and, just as importantly, make sure you can actually access them.

And remember, your Tax Pro can help you reconstruct the tax side of the puzzle.

Planning ahead today can make recovering from a disaster a little less overwhelming tomorrow.

We speak and read tax so you don't have to.

09/19/2026

🔐 Tax Tip of the Week 4-42

Identity Protection PINs Help Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft

One of the best ways taxpayers can protect themselves from tax-related identity theft is by obtaining an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN).

An IP PIN is a unique six-digit number known only to you and the IRS. It helps prevent someone else from filing a federal income tax return using your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

A few things to know about IP PINs:

• Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity can request a free IP PIN, including taxpayers living abroad.
• An IP PIN helps verify your identity when you file your federal tax return and can protect your account even if you aren't required to file a return.
• Tax professionals cannot request an IP PIN for a client. The taxpayer must obtain it and provide it to the tax professional when it is time to prepare and file the return.
• A new IP PIN is issued each year.
• If you obtain your IP PIN online, you'll need to retrieve the new number annually.
• Your current IP PIN must be used on federal income tax returns filed during that calendar year, including prior-year and amended returns.
• The IRS will never call, email, text or contact you through social media asking for your IP PIN.

How do you get one?

1️⃣ IRS Individual Online Account — Fastest and easiest

Sign in to your IRS Individual Online Account and select the IP PIN option under your profile.

2️⃣ Form 15227

If you cannot verify your identity online and the adjusted gross income on your last filed return was below $84,000 for an individual or $168,000 for Married Filing Jointly, you may be able to apply using Form 15227.

3️⃣ Visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center

If you cannot verify your identity online or are not eligible to use Form 15227, you can make an appointment at a nearby IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.

⚠️ Why do I recommend getting an IP PIN?

If you don't have an IP PIN and someone successfully files a fraudulent tax return using your SSN before you file, you may discover the problem when your electronically filed return is rejected.

Then you have an identity-theft mess to straighten out with the IRS.

How big a mess?

The National Taxpayer Advocate reported that the average time to close an Identity Theft Victim Assistance case was 600 days during fiscal year 2026.

That's about 20 months.

Getting an IP PIN takes a little time.

Correcting tax-related identity theft can take considerably longer.

👉 If you have an IP PIN, remember that you receive a new one each year. Please provide the current year's IP PIN to your Tax Professional when you provide your tax documents.

We speak & read tax so you don't have to.

If you can't solve your tax issues online, you can find your local IRS Tax Assistance Center (TAC), services offered, office hours and how to schedule an appointment.

08/27/2026

Tax Tip of the Week 4-41

Charitable Deductions — What Changes in 2026? 💵❤️

If you have made—or plan to make—charitable donations this year, keep good records. Organized documentation makes tax preparation easier and helps support your deduction if the IRS ever asks.

A BIG change for 2026:
In the past, you generally needed to itemize deductions on Schedule A to receive a federal tax benefit for charitable contributions.

Starting in 2026, even if you don't itemize, you may be able to deduct qualified CASH contributions of up to:

💵 $1,000 — Single filers
💵 $2,000 — Married Filing Jointly

A few things to remember:

Know what qualifies. Contributions generally must be made to a qualified charitable organization.
Keep proof of all cash donations. Bank records, credit card statements, receipts, or other appropriate documentation can be important.
Contributions of $250 or more generally require a written acknowledgment from the charity.
Non-cash donations have additional recordkeeping rules. Larger non-cash contributions may require a qualified appraisal and additional tax forms.

📁 When in doubt, document it. It's much easier to keep the records now than try to recreate them at tax time.

And, of course, contact your Tax Pro when you have questions.

We know things. 😎

Tax Tip of the Week is for general informational purposes and is not intended as individual tax advice.

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