Pronto Tax Blog
What Are the IRS Rules on Claiming Dependents After Divorce For Los Angeles Parents?
Quick Answer: The IRS automatically gives the dependent tax claim to the parent the child slept under the same roof with for at least 183 nights. A noncustodial parent can only claim the child if the custodial parent officially signs IRS Form 8332 to pass over...
IRS Tax Debt Resolution Strategies: How Los Angeles Parents Can Safeguard Trump Accounts
Quick Answer: The IRS cannot directly seize money in your child's Trump Account because the minor is the legal owner and funds are locked until age 18. However, moving cash from a bank account tied to an active tax lien triggers transferee liability,...
How Does the SALT Deduction Work For Los Angeles High Earners?
Quick Answer: In 2026, the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction allows you to write off up to $40,400 on Schedule A, but a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) over $505,000 triggers a 30% phaseout that reduces the cap down to a $10,000 floor. To legally bypass...
How 529 Plans Are Taxed for Los Angeles Families
Quick Answer: Contributions to a 529 plan are made with post-tax dollars, allowing your investment to compound shielded from federal and state capital gains taxes during the growth phase. Withdrawals are 100% tax-free when used for qualified education expenses,...
What Happens If You Don’t Pay Payroll Taxes, Los Angeles Business Owners
Quick Answer: If your business falls behind on payroll taxes, the IRS has the legal authority to look past your corporation or LLC shield and hold you personally liable for the employee's withheld portion under the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. Because these...
How Does the Lifetime Learning Credit Work for Los Angeles Students, Parents, and Professionals?
Quick Answer: The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) is a non-refundable federal tax credit worth up to $2,000 per tax return. It’s calculated as 20% of the first $10,000 in qualifying higher education tuition and fees, with no limit on the number of tax years it can...
Should Los Angeles Homeowners Add A Name To A Deed?
Quick Answer: While it’s mechanically simple to add a name to a deed, doing so during your lifetime is a financial mistake that triggers unexpected IRS gift tax reporting and destroys your child's future stepped-up basis tax shield. To safely bypass probate court...
What If I Can’t Pay The IRS What I Owe? Help for Los Angeles Taxpayers
Quick Answer: If you can't pay the IRS what you owe by the notice deadline, the IRS will not immediately seize your paycheck or freeze your bank account. Missing the date does, however, trigger a predictable sequence of automated mail notices. You still...
What Is the US Retirement Age Timeline for Los Angeles Retirees?
Quick Answer: The official US Full Retirement Age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later, but true retirement is an 11-to-13-year financial timeline stretching from age 62 to age 73 or 75. Your specific birth year determines where you fall on this milestone spectrum,...
Supporting Los Angeles Charities? How 2026 OBBBA Charitable Giving Contributions Work
Quick Answer: Effective for the 2026 tax year, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) establishes a new universal deduction allowing non-itemizers to deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples) for qualified cash donations directly from their income. And...
How to Stop a Levy on Your Los Angeles Bank Account After an IRS Notice
Quick Answer: You stop an IRS levy or wage garnishment by acting fast, confirming what the IRS is trying to collect, and getting into a formal resolution before more money is taken. Depending on your situation, that can mean requesting a hearing, setting up...
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...