Blog
How Do Santa Cruz County Investors Avoid Capital Gains Taxes From Selling Investments Or Property?
Key TakeawaysHold for at least one year and a day to qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates. Use losses to offset gains through tax-loss harvesting (but beware the wash sale rule). Time your sale during a lower-income year to take advantage of...
What is in the One Big Beautiful Bill? Child Tax Credit Changes for Santa Cruz County Families
Key TakeawaysThe Child Tax Credit (CTC) is now worth up to $2,200 per child for 2025 taxes (filed in 2026). Up to $1,700 of the credit is refundable if you don’t owe any taxes. Because of the OBBBA, you (or at least one spouse if filing jointly) must...
What’s Alternative Minimum Tax? A 2026 Update for Santa Cruz County High Earners
Key TakeawaysThe OBBBA changes the AMT landscape starting in 2026, meaning more taxpayers will be pulled into AMT territory. High earners in high-tax states (and those with ISOs or private activity bonds) are the most at risk of an unexpected AMT...
Can an ABLE Account Help Santa Cruz County Families with Qualified Disability Expenses?
Key TakeawaysABLE accounts let you save and invest tax-free for disability-related expenses. Up to $100,000 in an ABLE account is excluded from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limits, and Medicaid eligibility continues beyond...
How Does the Health Savings Account Work for Santa Cruz County Taxpayers?
Quick Answers: How Does The Health Savings Account Work?You must have a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to open and contribute to an HSA (2025 min deductible $1,650/$3,300; max out-of-pocket $8,300/$16,600). HSAs give you a triple tax advantage:...
Santa Cruz County Couples: Wondering When to File “Married Filing Separately”?
Quick Answers: When To File Married Filing Separately?Filing separately can help if one spouse has high medical expenses and a lower income. It can protect a tax refund from being seized if the other spouse owes past debts (taxes, child support, student...
Does OBBBA Change How Social Security Is Taxed for Santa Cruz County Retirees?
“The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.” ―Jean-Paul SartreQuick Answers: How Does OBBBA Change How Social Security Is Taxed?Many retirees 65+ will see a lower overall tax bill in 2025–2028 thanks to the...
No Taxes on Overtime: Bigger Paychecks for Santa Cruz County Workers?
“The trouble with the world is not that people know too little; it's that they know so many things that just aren't so.” —Mark TwainQuick Answers: How Much Will I Actually Save With No Taxes On Overtime?You’ll still pay Social Security and Medicare (FICA) tax on every...
Santa Cruz County Families: Will Updating My W4 Tax Form Boost My Paycheck?
“A man should never neglect his family for business.” —Walt Disney Quick Answers: Will Updating My W4 Tax Form Increase My Paycheck?Child Tax Credit (CTC) is going up to 2.2K per child, but many will need to update their W4 to see that reflected in...
Itemizing Deductions This Year? Santa Cruz County Taxpayers, Read This
“If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.” —Tom PetersQuick Answers: 2026 Charitable Giving Changes Under OBBBAIn 2026, itemizers can only deduct gifts above 0.5 percent of taxable income, and the 60 percent AGI limit becomes permanent. 2025...
What’s the Last Day to File Taxes on Extension, Santa Cruz County Taxpayers?
“No plan ever failed due to good planning.” —Jury NelQuick Answers: What’s the Last Day to File Taxes on Extension?October 15, 2025, is the last day to file your 2024 federal return if you filed an extension back in April. If you still owe, penalties and interest...
Santa Cruz County Tipped Workers: What Does No Tax On Tips Really Mean?
Did you happen to catch that post floating around social media last week about 1.39K stimulus checks being mailed out? The post got shared and reshared like wildfire… but here’s the thing: it wasn’t true.The IRS had to step in on their official X account and post...












