Ballard & Company, Ltd.

08/14/2026

The amount of your tax bill is often dependent on your age and the age of your children. You need to plan accordingly. Here are the details.

As your children age, you can easily be surprised by a larger tax bill. To help ease the possible burden, here are some possible tax hits to prepare for as your children grow older.

08/14/2026

08/12/2026

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.

08/10/2026

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.

08/10/2026

The success of business negotiations shouldn’t hinge on winning at all costs. Instead, you and the other party must create value for both sides. Whether you’ll be negotiating with customers, vendors, lenders or others, prepare for the meeting by identifying what you want — and when you’ll walk away. During negotiations, protect your business’s position by making only small and deliberate concessions. To preserve the relationship and maintain your reputation for fair dealing, don’t overreach and generally avoid ultimatums. Contact us for help identifying your deal’s financial parameters and integrating them into your negotiating strategies.

08/08/2026

New tax rules may significantly reduce the cost of providing child care to your employees. Starting in 2026, the employer-provided child care credit generally equals 40% of qualified facility expenses (up from 25%), plus 10% of qualified resource and referral costs, up to $500,000 (up from $150,000). Small businesses may qualify for a 50% rate on qualified facility expenses and a $600,000 limit.

The credit may apply to operating your own facility, contracting with a qualified provider or participating in a jointly operated arrangement. But eligibility, additional limits and recapture rules require careful review.

Contact us for help evaluating your options and projecting the credit’s value.

08/07/2026

Time to plan for new contribution levels for your health savings account. Find the 2026 limits here.

Contribution limits for the ever-popular health savings account (HSA) are outlined for 2026. Now is a great time to review your situation and make adjustments as appropriate.

08/06/2026

IRS or state tax problems don’t have to derail your business. Many issues can be resolved when they’re addressed promptly and strategically.

If you or your business receives a tax notice from the IRS or a state agency, don’t ignore it. Be mindful of the notice’s deadline and work with your tax advisor to prepare supporting documentation and an appropriate response. If you owe back taxes that you can’t pay in full, explore potential relief options, such as a temporary delay in collection due to hardship, an installment agreement or payment plan, or a settlement plan.

We can help you communicate with tax authorities and create a plan to get your business back on track. Contact us to learn more.

08/05/2026

Tax savings come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some life events that require your attention if you do not wish to have a tax surprise latter on during the year.

Sometimes the biggest financial opportunities come from paying attention to the details. In this issue, we highlight the details of several tax rules that can impact many of your life's important milestones. You'll also find an overview of the increased business mileage rates for the second half of....

08/05/2026

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