Phyllis Jo Kubey, EA CFP ATA ATP

04/26/2026

Important news from taxgirl

A federal court ruling could reopen the window to recover or abate penalties and interest accrued during the COVID-19 disaster. Act fast—the deadline for claims is July 10, 2026.

02/06/2026

Super helpful chart from taxgirl!

With strict rules and limited tax benefits, Trump accounts aren’t right for every family—particularly if they’re not eligible for government or private seed contributions. They're likely best used alongside existing accounts.

I made a chart to compare how they stack up against other accounts. Here you go.

Link to article with more info here:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2026/01/30/is-a-trump-account-the-right-savings-plan-for-your-children/

12/24/2025

One of my favorite giving techniques for those past age 70 1/2. And you can start making QCDs before you need to take your RMDs.

Help others and avoid paying excess tax by donating it your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to your favorite organization. Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) can satisfy all or part of your RMD from your Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) and you can help a cause you're passionate about.

Learn more: at https://ow.ly/k26I50XKBCY.

12/18/2025

Does your have employees who receive tips or work overtime? For tax year 2025, the and Treasury are giving employers penalty relief on information reporting requirements for qualified overtime and cash tips. This transition period gives more time to employers so they can update their systems or put procedures in place.

Get the latest details on this change under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill at
https://ow.ly/3pSn50XAVry.

12/13/2025

Scary stuff here! Hopefully, this excellent article from taxgirl will help others avoid similar scams.

Larry and Barbara Cook thought they were helping government agents. In the end, they found themselves victims of tax and Medicare gotchas, as well as the scamsters.

12/11/2025

The IRS website got a refresh! (And after yesterday's hiccups, I was able to get into the TDS.)

Online accounts for individuals, businesses, and tax professionals are now featured prominently on the website.

Haven’t signed up for yours yet? With an online account, you can:

* View prior-year returns and other tax records, including your adjusted gross income, or AGI (which you’ll need for some tax software programs) and official IRS transcripts;
* Make payments, schedule future payments, enter into installment agreements, and review your payment history;
* Access or retrieve your Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN), a six-digit number that provides an extra layer of security against tax-related identity theft; and
* Authorize a tax professional, like a tax attorney, enrolled agent, or accountant, to view your tax records and talk to the IRS on your behalf without you having to sign Form 2848.

(And it's a lifesaver for tax pros.)

It's free, but you will have to verify your identity (which most commonly requires ID and a smartphone).

Head over to irs.gov for more details.

11/30/2025

11/22/2025

Will be a wild ride

The IRS won’t require employers to separately report tips and overtime in 2025, which may be confusing for employees. IRS guidance can help figure the deductions.

11/21/2025

What to expect from the IRS post shutdown.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history is now over. The backlog of work, however, remains. As the IRS scrambles to get back to business as usual, expect delays.

09/03/2025

The White House and Treasury posted the occupations eligible for “no tax on tips.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/09/02/whos-eligible-for-no-tax-on-tips-trumps-new-policy-set-to-include-influencers-uber-drivers-and-more/