TaxBuzz Top 5 — this week in tax: 🥊 Jake Paul’s Netflix fight pulled in massive income. It also triggered millions of dollars in taxes across the U.S. and U.K. Big payday. Bigger question: how do you protect income when it crosses borders? Also making headlines this week:

What is the “Tax Torpedo”? 🚀 It’s not a new tax. It’s what happens when Social Security + other income triggers higher taxes faster than expected. As income rises: • Social Security becomes taxable • Marginal tax rates spike • You lose deductions & credits Result? Your

Taxes are having a moment. Not quietly. Not in the background. Out loud, politically, and socially. This week’s TaxBuzz Top 5 includes: • A nationwide tax strike rally planned for Jan 3 • Courts pushing back on new betting taxes • States cutting income taxes •

📆 Key January 2026 Individual Tax Deadlines 🗓 Jan 2 – Time to schedule your tax preparation appointment. 🗓 Jan 12 – Report tips earned in December (if you received over $20) to your employer. 🗓 Jan 15 – Final estimated tax payment due for 2025 (Q4). Mark your calendar to

Want to kickstart 2026 financially? Start with habits, not just goals. Here are 7 financial habits that separate winners from the rest: • Track performance weekly. Numbers shouldn’t surprise you. • Plan with purpose. A budget without intention is just a list. • Review cash

🚨 Crypto Tax Alert (2025 → 2026) New IRS Form 1099-DA is coming. • Applies to 2025 crypto transactions • Sent to taxpayers in early 2026 • Issued by crypto brokers & exchanges • Reports gross proceeds from sales & trades • Cost basis reporting expands in 2026 Crypto

Are you only hearing from your CPA or bookkeeper once a year at tax time? If your advisor isn’t helping you plan ahead, you’re leaving money on the table. Here are clear signs it’s time for real advisory: • Your business is growing but financial decisions feel reactive •

Teachers already spend their own money to do their jobs. 2026 finally gives some of that back. New and expanded tax benefits for educators mean you may be able to: • Deduct more of the classroom supplies you already pay for • Exclude certain student loan assistance from

Most people treat retirement accounts like a checkbox. But Roth accounts are a quiet superpower many never use. Imagine paying taxes once, in a year you’re likely in a lower bracket… and then watching everything else grow tax-free forever. That’s not luck. That’s design.

🧾 Top TaxBuzz News – This Week 1️⃣ House passes 3-year ACA tax credit extension — The House moved to extend the expired Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for three years, forcing the battle to the GOP-controlled Senate. This could meaningfully affect health insurance

Profit tells you if your business works. Cash flow tells you if it survives. We’ve seen plenty of “profitable” businesses under constant stress because cash timing was ignored. You need to watch both, or growth gets painful fast.

California’s billionaire tax debate just got very real. Gov. Gavin Newsom says the proposed wealth tax “will be defeated—there’s no question in my mind,” adding, “I’ll do what I have to do to protect the state.” He also acknowledged the fallout already happening: “This is what

California’s wealth tax proposal isn’t just talk anymore. The ultra-wealthy are already acting like it’s real — packing up, moving, or restructuring assets before a 5% billionaire levy would ever take effect. Lose high earners, and you lose future tax revenue long term.

Crypto tax heads up 🚨 Starting with the 2025 tax year, crypto transactions get a lot more visible. New Form 1099-DA means brokers will report activity directly to the IRS beginning in 2026. The self-reporting era is ending. Transparency is here.

We get this question more often than you’d think: “Can I claim my dog as a dependent?” Short answer: no. Long answer: if the tax code rewarded loyalty, emotional support, and unpaid labor, dogs would qualify immediately. Dog owners, what’s your dog’s full-time job?

Nobody talks about this: Gen X is expected to: • earn more • support kids • help parents • save for retirement • absorb higher taxes All at the same time. If it feels like a balancing act, that’s because it is.

Nobody talks about this: Gen X is expected to: • earn more • support kids • help parents • save for retirement • absorb higher taxes All at the same time. If it feels like a balancing act, that’s because it is.

Tax season is shaping up to be more complex than usual. No federal tax on tips? Not that simple anymore. Overtime and wage rules? They vary by state. Some states haven’t updated compliance yet. If your tax situation felt “straightforward” before, you might reconsider. Who else

If 2026 is your year to win with money, it starts with habits, not hacks. Want better cash flow? Try this: • Track actual inflows and outflows each week • Forecast 90 days ahead, not 90 days behind • Treat cash like inventory — if it’s not counted, it’s not managed Small

Educators heads up 📚 Starting in 2026, teachers get more flexibility on unreimbursed classroom expenses. The $350 above-the-line deduction stays, and itemizing those expenses is back on the table. That means more planning options depending on your situation, not one rigid