Raul Torres, CPA P.C.

09/04/2026

Did you request an extension to file your 2025 individual federal income tax return? If so, you have until Oct. 15, 2026, to file it. But if you have the tax-filing information you need, you may want to file now. There’s no advantage to waiting until the deadline. If you owe tax, the IRS offers short- and long-term payment plans, as well as installment agreements, to taxpayers who qualify. It’s important to act quickly if you owe because any amount that was due April 15 accrues interest until the balance is paid. Call us at (361) 854-0822 if you need help filing your extended return or have questions regarding your current tax situation.

09/02/2026

Perfectly said!

09/02/2026

Owning assets jointly with your adult child can invite unwelcome tax consequences that may outweigh potential benefits. For example, owning an asset together as “joint tenants with right of survivorship” can open up transfer tax exposure. If you add your child to the title of property you already own, it may be considered a taxable gift of half the property’s value. And when you die, half of the property’s value will be included in your taxable estate. A properly designed trust can be a more tax-efficient option. Call us at (361) 854-0822 for details.

09/01/2026

President Reagan is right.

Exactly right 🎯

09/01/2026

Happy Tuesday Friends!
Could your home office help lower your federal tax bill?

Join me TODAY for the "Let’s Talk Podcast" as we discuss:

“3 Key Benefits of Using a Qualifying Home Office”

You’ll learn how a qualifying home office may allow an eligible business owner to:

✅ Deduct a business portion of certain household expenses
✅ Potentially reduce taxable business income
✅ Choose between the actual-expense and simplified deduction methods

Simply working from home is not enough—the space generally must satisfy IRS requirements, including regular and exclusive business use.

📅 Today
⏰ 10:30–11:00 a.m.
📍 Live on the Raul Torres, CPA P.C. page

Don’t overlook a legitimate deduction that could save your business money. Watch, share, and tag a business owner who needs to hear this!

🌐 [www.raultorrescpa.com](http://www.raultorrescpa.com)
📞 (361) 854-0822

09/01/2026

Business owners: Are you or your employees planning to go “back to school” soon? Two types of work-related education costs may qualify for business tax breaks: 1) those required to retain an existing job, license or professional status, and 2) those directly tied to maintaining or improving skills for a current trade or business. Deductible expenses can include tuition, books, supplies and possibly travel if the primary purpose of the trip is business-related education. However, you can’t deduct costs for education that help meet the minimum qualifications for a position or to qualify for a new trade or business. Contact us at (361) 854-0822 to learn the ABCs of work-related education expense deductions.

08/31/2026

Whether your business sponsors a 401(k) plan or is considering it, automatic enrollment deserves a fresh look. This feature automatically enrolls eligible employees in the plan unless they opt out or choose a different contribution rate. Under the SECURE 2.0 Act, many 401(k) plans established on or after December 29, 2022, must include an auto-enroll feature for plan years beginning after December 31, 2024. (Some exceptions may apply.) Older plans generally aren’t required to add this feature, but doing so can benefit both employers and employees. Call us at (361) 854-0822 for more information.

08/28/2026

Scholarship awards can provide significant financial relief to families of college-bound students. Most, but not all, of the awards are tax-free. To qualify for tax-free status, scholarships must meet three criteria: 1) The student must be a degree candidate at an eligible educational institution, 2) the award must be used to pay for tuition and fees, books, and certain supplies (not room and board or travel), and 3) the award can’t represent wages for teaching or research. Many graduate student awards have employment compensation components, so they may be taxable. Also, taxable scholarship money could potentially be subject to the “kiddie” tax. Contact us at (361) 854-0822 for more information.

08/26/2026

STAY TUNED — THERE’S MORE TO COME! 💙

After more than three decades in business, one thing I’ve learned is this: you never stop learning, growing, or finding better ways to serve others.

Whether we’re talking about business, taxes, financial success, leadership, or simply lessons learned along the way, I’m looking forward to sharing more ideas, more conversations, and more real-world experiences with you.

And yes… I’ll probably talk a little Cowboys football along the way! ⭐🏈

Thank you to everyone who follows, comments, shares, and stays connected. I appreciate you!
Stay tuned. We’re just getting started.

08/26/2026

One of the easiest ways to reduce the size of your taxable estate is to take advantage of your gift tax annual exclusion. For 2026, you can transfer up to $19,000 per recipient gift-tax-free. And you can double the exclusion to $38,000 per recipient if you split the gifts with your spouse. But it’s critical to understand the rules of gift-splitting to avoid unintended tax consequences. To elect to split gifts, the spouse making the gift must file a gift tax return, and the other spouse must consent by checking a box on the return and signing it. Contact us at (361) 854-0822 for additional details.