Houlihan, LLP

Houlihan, LLP Houlihan, LLP is a full-service accounting firm. We can provide you with assistance that will improve your total financial well-being.

Our firm specializes in providing quality accounting services. We offer business valuation, tax planning, and financial planning for individuals and small businesses, as well as small business accounting. Please call or visit our website for more details.

Many individuals invest in real estate to help diversify their portfolio, create an income stream for themselves from re...
09/01/2026

Many individuals invest in real estate to help diversify their portfolio, create an income stream for themselves from rental income and build net worth over time. Income and losses from investment real estate are considered passive by definition — unless you’re a real estate professional. Even then, you generally must “materially participate” in a rental activity for it to be treated as nonpassive. Why is this important? Passive income may be subject to the 3.8% net investment income tax on top of any income tax otherwise due, and passive losses are deductible only against passive income, with the excess carried forward. Contact us to discuss tax planning for your investment real estate.

Could your traditional 401(k) or IRA balance be too large? Maybe! Contributing as much as you can to tax-deferred retire...
08/18/2026

Could your traditional 401(k) or IRA balance be too large? Maybe!
Contributing as much as you can to tax-deferred retirement accounts can be a good idea. Contributions are pretax or deductible, and tax-deferred compounding can turbocharge growth.

But sometimes maximizing tax deferral is counterproductive. This may be true if tax rates increase by the time you pay tax on distributions. Also, retirement plan distributions are taxed at your ordinary-income rate, not your long-term capital gains rate. So you may pay a higher tax rate on dividends and growth than you would if you held the investments in a taxable account.

Fortunately, there are strategies that can help. Contact us to learn more.

Disability insurance is a valuable benefit provided by many employers. It replaces a portion of the insured person’s inc...
08/11/2026

Disability insurance is a valuable benefit provided by many employers. It replaces a portion of the insured person’s income — typically 45% to 65% of pre-disability earnings. But in some cases, income taxes can take a bite out of disability benefits.

Taxability usually hinges on who paid the premiums. If your employer paid them, the payouts from the policy generally will be taxed to you just as if the income were paid directly to you by your employer. If you paid the premiums, the payments you receive generally won’t be taxable. State tax treatment of disability benefits varies.

We can help you assess how much disability coverage you need depending on the tax consequences and other factors.

If your child is heading to college this fall, tax breaks may be available. For example, you might be eligible for the A...
08/04/2026

If your child is heading to college this fall, tax breaks may be available. For example, you might be eligible for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) of up to $2,500 per student for the first four years of college. But the AOTC is phased out for married joint filers with modified adjusted gross income between $160,000 and $180,000 (between $80,000 and $90,000 for heads of households).

If your child has a tax-advantaged education account, such as a 529 plan, tax-free withdrawals can be taken to pay qualified expenses. But expenses paid with tax-free withdrawals can’t be used to claim the AOTC.

Contact us to discuss these and other tax tips for your situation.

Mutual funds offer an easy way to invest in a diversified portfolio. But the tax treatment isn’t so simple.One challenge...
07/28/2026

Mutual funds offer an easy way to invest in a diversified portfolio. But the tax treatment isn’t so simple.

One challenge is that certain mutual fund transactions are treated as sales even though they might not seem like it. Another is that determining your tax basis for shares sold can be complicated, especially if you dispose of only part of your interest in the fund and the shares were acquired at different times for different prices. Also, mutual fund capital gains distributions are generally taxable, even when reinvested in the fund.

If you have questions about the tax treatment of mutual funds, contact us. We can help you be a tax-smart mutual fund investor.

It’s easy to focus on the excitement of a big win. But before you spend lottery, gambling or other winnings, be sure you...
07/14/2026

It’s easy to focus on the excitement of a big win. But before you spend lottery, gambling or other winnings, be sure you understand the tax impact.

Federal tax law generally treats such winnings as taxable income. Knowing the basic rules can help you avoid surprises when you file your 2026 return next year. For example, if you win more than $5,000, generally the payer (lottery agency, casino, etc.) will withhold 24% for federal tax purposes — which may or may not be enough to cover your tax liability — and send you and the IRS a Form W-2G showing the winnings paid and tax withheld.

There also might be state tax consequences. Contact us to learn more.

Summer is a good time to see whether your income, deductions and investment activity are lining up as expected. Reviewin...
07/07/2026

Summer is a good time to see whether your income, deductions and investment activity are lining up as expected. Reviewing your tax picture now gives you more time to take steps to reduce or defer taxes. For example, if you expect this year’s income to be near the threshold for a higher bracket, consider strategies for reducing your taxable income to stay out of that bracket. If you’ve realized, or expect to realize, significant capital gains this year, consider selling some depreciated investments to generate losses you can use to offset those gains. And if you’d like help evaluating these and other midyear tax strategies, contact us.

Will your Social Security benefits be taxable? A portion might be. How much depends on your provisional income, your ove...
06/30/2026

Will your Social Security benefits be taxable? A portion might be. How much depends on your provisional income, your overall income and IRS thresholds.
Provisional income is your adjusted gross income with some additional calculations. You may have to report up to 85% of your Social Security benefits as taxable income if your provisional income is over $34,000 ($44,000 for joint filers). If you file separately from your spouse who lived with you at any time during the year, the threshold is $0.
Smart tax planning can potentially reduce your liability. We can help project your provisional income and review your overall tax situation to identify strategies that make sense for you.

Rising home values are leaving some homeowners with large gains when they sell. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a larg...
06/23/2026

Rising home values are leaving some homeowners with large gains when they sell. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a large tax bill. If you sell your principal residence and meet certain requirements, you can exclude up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for joint filers). Gain that exceeds the exclusion or doesn’t qualify for it, however, is subject to long-term capital gains tax (or short-term capital gains tax if you haven’t owned the home for more than a year). It also could be subject to the net investment income tax if your income is over a certain amount. Contact us before putting your home on the market. We can help you estimate the tax impact and discuss possible planning opportunities.

If you’ve recently lost your job, you’re likely focused on replacing income and evaluating your next steps. But some tax...
06/17/2026

If you’ve recently lost your job, you’re likely focused on replacing income and evaluating your next steps. But some tax implications related to a job loss may also require attention. For example, unemployment compensation and severance pay are generally taxable, at least at the federal level. And health insurance premiums you’d been paying pre-tax from your paycheck may now have to be paid after-tax — though you might be able to deduct them. There are also tax consequences to consider in relation to your retirement plan with your former employer or withdrawing funds from an IRA to replace some of your lost income. If you’d like guidance, contact us.

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421 E Cook Road, Ste 300
Fort Wayne, IN
46825

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Wednesday 8am - 5pm
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