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IRS issues guidance on tax treatment of energy efficiency rebates
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) established and expanded numerous incentives to encourage taxpayers to increase their use of renewable energy and adoption of a range of energy efficient improvements. In particular, the law includes funding for nearly $9 billion in home energy rebates. While the rebates aren’t yet available, many states are expected to launch their programs…
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Federal regulators expand overtime pay requirements, ban most noncompete agreements
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a new final rule regarding the salary threshold for determining whether employees are exempt from federal overtime pay requirements. The threshold is slated to jump 65% from its current level by 2025 and is expected to make four million additional workers eligible for overtime pay. On the same…
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IRS extends relief for inherited IRAs
For the third consecutive year, the IRS has published guidance that offers some relief to taxpayers covered by the “10-year rule” for required minimum distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs or other defined contribution plans. But the IRS also indicated in Notice 2024-35 that forthcoming final regulations for the rule will apply for the purposes of determining…
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IRS ramps up compliance enforcement against certain businesses
The Inflation Reduction Act provided the IRS with billions of dollars of additional funding to reduce the so-called “tax gap” between what taxpayers owe and what they actually pay. The tax agency has already launched numerous initiatives aimed at this goal, including several business-related compliance campaigns. Let’s take a closer look at three of the…
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IRS issues final regulations on inherited IRAs
The IRS has published new regulations relevant to taxpayers subject to the “10-year rule” for required minimum distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs or other defined contribution plans. The final regs, which take effect in 2025, require many beneficiaries to take annual RMDs in the 10 years following the deceased’s death. SECURE Act ended stretch IRAs…
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SECURE 2.0: Which provisions went into effect in 2024?
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act was signed into law in December 2022, bringing more than 90 changes to retirement plan and tax laws. Many of its provisions are little known and were written to roll out over several years rather than immediately taking effect. Here are several important changes that…
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Taxes take center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign
Early voting for the 2024 election has already kicked off in some states, but voters are still seeking additional information on the candidates’ platforms, including their tax proposals. The details can be hard to come by — and additional proposals continue to emerge from the candidates. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most notable…
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Federal court rejects FTC’s noncompete agreement ban
In April 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved a final rule prohibiting most noncompete agreements with employees. The ban was scheduled to take effect on September 4, 2024, but ran into multiple court challenges. Now the court in one of those cases has knocked down the rule, leaving its future uncertain. The FTC ban The FTC’s…
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Ease the financial pain of natural disasters with tax relief
Hurricane Milton has caused catastrophic damage to many parts of Florida. Less than two weeks earlier, Hurricane Helene victimized millions of people in multiple states across the southeastern portion of the country. The two devastating storms are among the many weather-related disasters this year. Indeed, natural disasters have led to significant losses for many taxpayers,…
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Working remotely is convenient, but it may have tax consequences
Many employees began working remotely during the pandemic and continue doing so today. Remote work has many advantages for employers and employees, and as a result, it’s here to stay in many industries. But it may also lead to some tax surprises, especially if workers cross state lines. Double taxation may occur It’s not unusual…