All Articles - Think Outside the Tax Box

CURRENT EDITION

By Jason Dinesen, CPA

2026 Changes to Form 2441 and Dependent Care Benefits

The credit for dependent-care expenses (such as daycare costs) has long been stuck at 20% for "average" taxpayers. It finally gets a permanent boost in 2026 (for returns filed in 2027). Also, the amount of money a taxpayer can put into a dependent care assistance program is increasing by $2,500 for 2026. This change presents a chance for taxpayers and tax pros to reevaluate which is better – claiming the credit or using a flex plan.

READ MORE

How to Build a Better Client List (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)

You’ve got a packed calendar, a nonstop inbox, and maybe even a waitlist. But if your client list feels more like a burden than a blessing, you’re not alone. Many tax professionals find themselves weighed down by clients who are difficult, unprofitable, or simply not a good fit. What if the secret to a more profitable and fulfilling practice wasn’t more clients—but better ones? In this article, we will explore a simple, strategic framework to reshape your client base—one that leads to higher revenue, fewer headaches, and greater job satisfaction. From identifying red flags to implementing screening tools and disengaging with misaligned clients, these steps can help you build a practice you actually enjoy.

Read More

Effortlessly Convert Leads: How AI Bots Can Handle FAQs and Drive Appointments for Accountants

AI technology, particularly in customer service automation, is now more accessible than ever. AI-powered bots are a powerful tool for businesses, including accounting firms, empowering them to improve efficiency, enhance client engagement, and ultimately drive conversions. For accountants, AI bots provide a unique opportunity to take control of frequently asked questions (FAQs) from prospects, turning these interactions into booked appointments. In this article, I will discuss how you can leverage the power of AI bots to efficiently handle FAQs and convert prospects into clients, all while saving precious time and resources. By the end of this article, you’ll have the knowledge to set up an AI bot that resonates with your prospects, builds trust, and seamlessly guides conversations toward scheduled appointments, allowing you to focus on higher-value tasks.

Read More

Year-End Tax Planning Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, doesn’t reinvent the tax code it refines it. Much like its predecessor, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), it keeps many familiar provisions in play: lower rates, expanded SALT flexibility, and broader deductions. But here’s the real story: While most tax pros are busy memorizing what stayed the same, the planners who will win 2025 are the ones spotting what just became possible. OBBBA quietly opens a handful of powerful new planning windows — each one capable of delivering real, measurable savings for the right client. The key is knowing which changes are worth your time… and which are just political garnish. Below, we’ve curated the most strategic, high-impact moves to make before year-end 2025, the ones that separate the advisors who explain the law from those who leverage it. Most tax pros will stop at what changed. The smart ones will keep reading to learn how to use it.

Read More
Client Alert

Timing is Everything: A Conversation Between a Tax Pro and Client

The new permanent bonus depreciation regime will bring back the old playbook: lever up to buy a rental property and bonus depreciate everything under the sun. But the tax savvy general partners know that WHEN to depreciate is just as important as how to depreciate.

Read More

Student Loans After the OBBBA Part 2: Helping Clients Navigate the New Landscape

As the federal student loan system enters a new era, advisors are tasked with helping clients navigate the practical implications of recent reforms. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has redefined borrowing limits and repayment options, creating fresh challenges for borrowers at every stage of higher education. Whether clients are weighing school choices or managing existing student debt, understanding these updates is key to providing informed financial guidance. In Part 2 of our OBBBA student loan series, we explore how these changes could play out for common borrower situations and what advisors should be aware of to confidently guide clients through the post-OBBBA student loan landscape.

Read More

Are You a “Real Estate Dealer” or “Real Estate Investor” for Tax Purposes?

Tax law is forever classifying people and making structures that either create benefits or disadvantages on your tax return. Part of getting the most from your return is about understanding the definitions of the IRS. Two that seem very similar but have distinctly different consequences on your taxes, are real estate dealer and real estate investor.

Read More

TAX COURT ROUNDUP – November 2025

Though the government was shut down all month, and trial sessions were canceled, Tax Court carried on. Online improvements were forecast, the equitable tolling saga continued, and self-represented novelties featured this month.

Read More

An Analysis of the OBBBA’s Trump Accounts (Part 2)

In part one of this series, I went over the basics of the new retirement accounts for minors, Trump Accounts, which were created as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Trump Accounts allow the Government, Charitable Organizations, Parents, and others to contribute to a child’s savings, usually on an after-tax basis. These accounts then transition to a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) when the child turns 18. Although the contribution limits act like non-deductible traditional IRA contributions and have a contribution limit of only $5,000 per year, they do not have the same earned income requirements that traditional IRA contributions have. This means that children are able to accumulate savings even without earned income. This article presents several scenarios to examine how Trump Accounts may play into an overall savings strategy for children.

Read More
1 7 8 9 10 11 72
  • NOT A MEMBER YET?

    SUBSCRIBE TO GET ALL OF OUR
    GREAT ARTICLES AND RESOURCES!

  • Scroll to Top

    turn new laws into new opportunities download our FREE ebook

     

    Download Our FREE Magazine!

    Download Our FREE Magazine!

    Thank you for subscribing to Tax Law Pro

    You are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use Tax Law Pro by Think Outside the Tax Box, Inc., strictly according to these terms of use.