The IRS doesn’t care how exciting your rodeo belt buckle is… they care whether you’re engaged in the activity with the actual intent to make a profit.
If it’s a business, losses are deductible.
If it’s a hobby, deductions are limited and can’t create a net loss against other income.
Missed your quarterly estimates this year?
You’re not alone.
The IRS underpayment charge is nondeductible, compounds daily, and snowballs fast.
Writing a big check today will stop new penalty accrual from this point forward, but it won’t erase the penalties tied to the quarters you already missed.
There is, however, a lawful way to make it as if you paid each quarter on time. It relies on how the tax code treats withholding from retirement distributions.
As of October 2025, The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) didn’t just keep Opportunity Zones alive. It made the program permanent, tightened zone eligibility, and changes investor incentives starting January 1, 2027.
Below is the upgraded, client-ready explainer with a now-vs-later comparison, a timeline, and the fine print sophisticated readers expect.
As of October 2025, f you’re age 70½ or older, you can transfer money directly from an IRA to qualifying charities. Those transfers are Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).
Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), QCDs now protect even more tax benefits by keeping AGI/MAGI low while still satisfying charitable goals.
Below is the upgraded, precise version:
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) permanently extended a harsh TCJA rule: no deduction for “miscellaneous itemized deductions,” including hobby expenses. That’s brutal for dog breeders, because the IRS often labels breeding as a hobby.
OBBBA adds a temporary, targeted deduction for tips. It’s not a universal “no tax on tips.” Many tipped amounts are still taxable, and payroll taxes still apply. Here’s the clean, CFO-level breakdown you can put in front of clients.
