If reviewing Tax Court opinions teaches one thing, it's that tax legislation is too important to leave to legislators. Tax Court Judges are hyper-qualified; they need to be, to deal with what this month shows.

Chapter 4 of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) is titled “Investing In American Families, Communities.” Subchapter B of Chapter 4 is “Permanent investments in students and reforms to tax-exempt institutions.” That is where you will find “Modification of excise tax on investment income of certain private colleges and universities.” What is really amusing about this rewrite of IRC Section 4968 “Excise tax based on investment income of private colleges and universities” is that it applies to such a small number of institutions that you can identify them with a decent degree of certainty from publicly available information. The tax does not apply to state universities.

State and local business tax incentives are powerful tools that can significantly reduce a company’s tax burden and influence business decisions. Every U.S. state offers some form of incentive to attract or retain businesses, from tax credits and exemptions to cash grants and property tax abatements. For experienced tax professionals, understanding these incentives is crucial for effective tax planning and helping clients maximize savings. Below are ten key things to know about state and local business incentives, along with real-world examples and actionable insights. We’ll also wrap up with essential dos and don’ts when advising clients on these programs.

As accountants, we are no longer just the stewards of our clients' books; we're their trusted advisors, guiding them to financial success, helping them optimize performance, and keeping them compliant with tax regulations. We use data analytics tools to guide and advise our clients to make informed decisions. However, we sometimes overlook using the same tools to advance our practices. We can leverage analytics tools to unlock new sales opportunities, offer enhanced services, and build deeper client relationships. Data-driven sales is a strategic approach to growing your practice consistently, boosting client satisfaction.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act relieves some of the tax burden that comes along with tip income for tax years 2025-2028. But not in some of the ways that it was initially explained. Yes, tip income is still taxable income. No, customers do not have to pay tips in cash for them to be deductible. But the tip does have to be voluntary, qualified, and reported to the IRS.

Do you love giving your clients great news? I do. Especially when it is about a tax benefit they can receive as the result of the hard work that they have put in throughout the tax year. That is what the overtime deduction is for the taxpayer. A little bit of tax relief for their hard work. But before sharing the good news with them, we need to make sure that we understand that No tax on overtime is not a blanket statement that will apply to all overtime compensation and all taxpayers. It is our responsibility to do our due diligence to understand who it will impact and how.

The tax code is not kind to gamblers. All gambling wins are reportable as income. Losses are only deductible to the extent of wins and even that has limitations. Expenses of gambling, such as travel, meals, and lodging, are not deductible for casual gamblers. In Part 1of this two-part article we will discuss deducting gambling losses for recreational and professional gamblers. We will also discuss additional deductions professional gamblers can take and how they were affected by the OBBBA.

This month's Tax Court cases feature warnings to lawyers (and appraisers?) in the ongoing syndicated conservation easement wars; teasers about the impact of Loper Bright Ent. and Section 7701(o)(1); useful practice tips, and the conclusion of Boechler, P.C. (equitable tolling won't save a losing case).