Tax planning notes, IRS updates & founder takes

Plain-English guidance from our team of tax advisors and consultants on the moves that matter most for business owners and families.

Guide to IRS Form W-8BEN, the Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting for individuals, showing that a nonresident alien gives the form to the withholding agent rather than to the IRS and that 30 percent is withheld on the gross payment when no valid certificate is on file
September 9, 2026 · International Tax

Form W-8BEN: Foreign Status and Treaty Rates 2026

Form W-8BEN certifies foreign status so a U.S. payer withholds at a treaty rate instead of 30 percent. Validity, line 10 claims,…

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Guide to California Form 593, the Real Estate Withholding Statement, showing that escrow withholds 3 1/3 percent of the gross sales price at closing unless the seller certifies to an exemption or elects the gain based calculation before escrow closes
September 8, 2026 · Tax Planning

California Form 593: Real Estate Withholding 2026

California Form 593 withholds 3 1/3 percent of the sales price at closing. How the gain based election works and when it…

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Georgia inheritance tax guide for 2026 explaining that Georgia imposes no inheritance tax and no state estate tax, and that a Georgia heir is instead reached by income tax on inherited retirement accounts, another state inheritance tax, and real property withholding
September 8, 2026 · Tax Planning

Georgia Inheritance Tax: What Heirs Owe in 2026

There is no Georgia inheritance tax, but a Georgia heir can still owe income tax on an inherited IRA, tax to another…

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Guide to grantor retained annuity trust rules for 2026, explaining that a GRAT transfers only the asset growth that exceeds the Section 7520 hurdle rate, which reached 5.4 percent for September 2026, the highest month of the year
September 8, 2026 · Estate Planning

Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Rules 2026

A grantor retained annuity trust moves growth to heirs. How the 5.4% Section 7520 hurdle for September 2026 changes the math.

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Guide to the tax consequences of decanting a trust in 2026, covering the four federal taxes tested separately, the continuing IRS no ruling position, and the limits set by the Florida decanting statute
September 7, 2026 · Tax Planning

Decanting a Trust: Tax Consequences 2026

Decanting a trust: when it is a taxable gift, when it breaks GST exempt status, why the IRS still will not rule,…

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Navy title card reading The Georgia Composite Return, explaining that Form IT-CR lets a partnership or S corporation pay Georgia tax for its nonresident owners in place of withholding, that filing the return is itself the election, and that the election becomes irrevocable at the due date
September 7, 2026 · Tax Planning

Georgia Composite Return: IT-CR Rules for 2026

A Georgia composite return replaces 4 percent nonresident withholding on Form IT-CR. Here is the current rate and the one option that…

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IRS Form 843 guide for 2026, the claim form used to request a refund or abatement of penalties, interest and certain taxes other than income, estate or gift tax, with the filing window set by IRC section 6511
September 7, 2026 · IRS Resolution

IRS Form 843: Claim for Refund and Abatement 2026

IRS Form 843 claims a refund or abatement of penalties and interest. Deadlines under section 6511, mailing rules, and why claims are…

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Navy title card reading Texas Taxable Services, noting that Texas taxes sixteen named categories of service rather than services generally
September 6, 2026 · Tax Planning

Texas Taxable Services: What to Charge Tax On 2026

Texas taxable services are the 16 categories in Section 151.0101. Which labor and services are taxable, the 20 percent data processing break,…

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Guide to qualified personal residence trust rules for 2026, explaining how a retained term of years reduces the reported gift on a home and how the September 2026 Section 7520 rate of 5.4 percent increases that discount
September 6, 2026 · Estate Planning

Qualified Personal Residence Trust Rules 2026

A qualified personal residence trust cuts the gift on a home. How the 5.4% Section 7520 rate shrinks it, and the basis…

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California inheritance tax guide for 2026, explaining that California imposes no inheritance tax and no state estate tax, and that any inheritance tax bill follows the state where the decedent was domiciled
September 5, 2026 · Tax Planning

California Inheritance Tax: What Heirs Owe 2026

There is no California inheritance tax, yet an inheritance tax bill can still reach a California heir from another state. What heirs…

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