Pronto Tax Blog
Calculating Crypto Taxes Simplified For Los Angeles Investors
Quick Answer: Crypto taxes are calculated by subtracting your cost basis from your gross proceeds for each taxable sale, swap, or purchase made with cryptocurrency. The IRS treats crypto as property, so selling crypto, trading one token for another, or earning...
How the Secure 2.0 Act Changes Beneficiary IRS Tax Rules For Your Los Angeles Heirs
Quick Answer: Under the SECURE 2.0 beneficiary IRA tax rules, most non-spouse heirs must fully liquidate an inherited IRA within 10 years, with many also facing mandatory annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) if you pass away after age 73. Because the...
Is Student Loan Forgiveness Taxable for Los Angeles Taxpayers in 2026?
Quick AnswerStudent loan forgiveness may count as taxable income in 2026 if the forgiven balance does not qualify for a separate federal exclusion. Long-term income-driven repayment forgiveness is the main area where borrowers may face a tax bill. Public Service...
Who Can Claim the American Opportunity Tax Credit? Guidance for Los Angeles Parents
Quick Answer: The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) must be claimed by whoever legally lists the student as a dependent on their federal tax return. If a parent claims the undergraduate, the parent gets the credit; if the student is independent, they claim...
Do You Get Better Tax Breaks For Being Married, Los Angeles Couples?
Key TakeawaysMost married couples lower their tax liability by choosing the Married Filing Jointly status, which preserves access to deductions that separate filers lose. When there is a significant income gap between partners, combining earnings on a joint...
2026 Guide to Short-Term Rental Taxes for Los Angeles Airbnb & VRBO Hosts
Key TakeawaysYou do not have to pay federal income tax on rental earnings if you rent your home for 14 days or fewer per year and use it personally for more than 14 days (or 10% of the rental period). You will only receive a Form 1099-K if you exceed $20,000 in...
What Happens If I Pay My Quarterly Taxes Late? Los Angeles IRS Tax Resolution Help
Quick AnswerIf you pay quarterly estimated taxes late, the IRS may charge an underpayment penalty based on the amount you should have paid, when it was due, and how long it stayed unpaid. Paying late is still usually better than waiting until you file, but it...
Do You Have to Pay Taxes On Sports Betting? What Los Angeles Bettors Need To Know
Key TakeawaysThe IRS considers all sports betting payouts as ordinary income, regardless of the amount or whether you received a tax form. For the 2026 tax year, you can only deduct 90% of your gambling losses against your winnings, even if you ended the year...
Will Filing For Bankruptcy Clear Student Loans For Los Angeles Debtors?
Key TakeawaysFiling for bankruptcy does not automatically get rid of student loans. You usually have to take an extra legal step and prove repayment would create an undue hardship. If student loan debt is discharged, forgiven, settled, or canceled, the tax...
The Los Angeles Taxpayer’s Guide: How Do I Calculate My Federal Tax Withholding?
Key TakeawaysA large refund is an interest-free loan to the government, while a big bill suggests you are at risk for IRS underpayment penalties. Updating your Form W-4 by late April allows you to spread adjustments across the majority of the year, minimizing the...
How Does Self-Employment Tax Work For Los Angeles Taxpayers Leaving Their 9-to-5?
Key TakeawaysAs a W-2 employee, you pay half of Social Security and Medicare tax through withholding. As a self-employed taxpayer, you pay both halves through self-employment tax. Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your adjusted net earnings, and you also pay...
How to Prevent Tax Debt for Los Angeles Business Owners
Key TakeawaysBusiness tax debt starts when tax money gets used to solve a cash flow problem somewhere else in the business. Payroll tax debt is especially dangerous because the IRS can sometimes hold owners and other responsible parties personally liable...