The Tax Lobby LLC

05/25/2026

Today we honor those that made the ultimate sacrifice protecting democracy for us and the world. Prayers for their families left behind and for our nation that we may never forget.

05/04/2026

BEWARE THE LATEST TAX SCAM. There are new letters being sent that look very official but are not from the IRS. If you receive a letter asking for bank information but were not expecting a refund or you know you already provided correct information, be aware. The telltale sign for these is the presence of a QR code. The IRS is not using QR codes for responses.

You can always check the status of your refund at https://www.irs.gov/. If you did respond to such a notice with the QR code, you should contact your bank to make sure your account is protected.

https://www.bdo.com/insights/tax/taxpayers-are-receiving-irs-notices-demanding-bank-account-information-be-alert-for-scams

Pay your taxes. Get your refund status. Find IRS forms and answers to tax questions. We help you understand and meet your federal tax responsibilities.

04/22/2026

🧹 Ready for a little spring cleaning? We’ve got you covered!

Join us for our FREE Community Shred Event at RE/MAX Real Estate Partners and safely get rid of those old personal documents—no hassle, no worry!

📍 2007 E Wheeling Ave., Cambridge
🗓 Saturday, April 25
⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

We’ll have a certified mobile shred truck onsite to securely destroy your documents right in front of you.
It’s quick, easy, and completely free to the public!

👉 Event Details:
• Limit of 3 banker boxes per vehicle
• Paper only (please remove from binders)
• Staples & paper clips are OK
• No CDs or DVDs

This is a great way to protect your identity and clear out the clutter—so load up those boxes and stop by!

We love serving our community and hope to see you there 💙

02/16/2026

Although the banks are closed today, Electronic payments are here! As of 2025, you'll want to include bank information to receive your refund via direct deposit. Payments are still ok via check, but this is likely the last year that will be an option. More in this article:

Understand the shift to electronic payments to and from the IRS and what it means for taxpayers during the 2025 filing season.

01/30/2026

The IRS released some new guidance on the new deductions for tips and overtime. Some highlights:

- Only “qualified” overtime is eligible for the deduction, meaning the overtime pay is required under federal labor laws (FLSA).
- Only the premium paid (e.g., the half of time and half rate) is used for the deduction
- Overtime paid for other reasons does not qualify.
- The overtime pay is still counted as part of taxable income. The benefit is claimed as an additional deduction.

Overtime will not be reported on your W2. Refer to your last paystub in December to best determine the amount to use.

https://ohiocpa.com/for-the-public/news/2026/01/29/did-you-work-overtime-or-earn-tips-during-tax-year-2025

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-how-to-take-advantage-of-no-tax-on-tips-and-overtime

New guidance has been released by the IRS to help taxpayers who are eligible for deductions on overtime compensation and tips.

01/29/2026

January 28 was Data Privacy Day. Remember that information you send via email is not secure and can be read by anyone/bot. I have a secure portal where clients can send information. The link is

01/29/2026

Identity theft is still a thing. Please be mindful of what you share and how you send information.

What’s the smallest piece of your data that could cause the biggest problem if exposed? 🔐

Why January 28?
Data Privacy Day commemorates the Council of Europe’s Convention 108, which was opened for signature on January 28, 1981, marking the first legally binding international treaty on data protection.

For Individuals:
● Review privacy settings on social platforms, apps, and devices
● Consider turning on multi-factor authentication when available
● Update software and browsers
● Replace weak or reused passwords; consider a password manager

For Businesses:
● Revisit data privacy policies and access controls (least privilege)
● Refresh employee training on phishing and social engineering
● Validate vendor/third-party data practices and breach response steps
● Log and minimize the sensitive data you collect

For Everyone:
● Talk with family about the value of personal information and the risks of oversharing—come up with a “safe word”
● Agree on household norms for passwords, app permissions, and updates

Make security a daily practice—not a once-a-year project.

01/23/2026

There are more options for how to depreciate new assets purchased in 2025.

Treasury and the share guidance on the permanent 100% additional first-year depreciation deduction for eligible depreciable property acquired after Jan. 19, 2025, provided by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. Read more here: https://ow.ly/UfJF50XXpLT

01/22/2026

When planning when to start Social Security, you should speak with a financial advisor. There are a lot of things to consider.

Is “Waiting Until 70” a smart Social Security move? ⏳

An October 2025 piece in “The Wall Street Journal” titled “Why Delaying Your Social Security Benefits May Not Make Sense” pointed out that delaying may not be the best fit for every household. Four angles to consider:

1️⃣ Behavior & Cash-Flow: Many retirees spend income but hesitate to draw principal. Delaying can unintentionally pinch lifestyle early on.
2️⃣ Market/Sequence Risk: “Bridging” with larger portfolio withdrawals while you wait can raise exposure to early-retirement downturns.
3️⃣ Timing & Medicare: Timing can affect how you sequence retirement plan withdrawals and handle Medicare payments.
4️⃣ Longevity & Survivor Needs: Health outlook, age gap, and survivor benefit priorities can tilt the math toward earlier—or later—claiming.

Takeaway: There’s no one-size-fits-all rule. A tailored strategy that models cash-flows, risk, and household goals beats a one-size-fits-all solution.

01/19/2026

Today we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. He embodied both hope and resistance, all while remaining peaceful. May we contemplate how we can be do all of these things.

01/15/2026

If you are 50+, do you know how your catch-up contributions are changing?

1️⃣ Who Is Affected
Employees aged 50+ whose prior-year W-2 F**A wages from the same employer exceed $150,000 (indexed) must make any 2026 catch-up contributions as Roth (after-tax).

2️⃣ When It Applies 📅
The statute kicks in for 2026 contributions. Final IRS regulations took effect on November 17, 2025, and generally apply starting in 2027. For 2026, plans may operate under a reasonable and good-faith interpretation.

3️⃣ What to Verify 🔎
Your plan must offer a Roth source. If it doesn’t, affected employees can’t make catch-ups until Roth is added.

4️⃣ With a Roth IRA, to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a five-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals. With a Roth 401(k), employer matching with pre-tax dollars is not distributed tax-free during retirement.