Stop Leaving Money on the Table at Tax Time (SB1798)

11 snips

Feb 2, 2026

They walk through seven major tax changes for 2026 and who actually benefits. Topics include the expanded SALT cap, a new senior deduction, and a tip-income deduction. They cover auto loan interest, HSA triple-tax benefits, retirement account tactics for tax savings, tax-loss harvesting tradeoffs, charitable giving rules, 529 optimization, and practical year-round planning moves.

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INSIGHT

SALT Cap Increase Changes Winners

The SALT cap rose to $40,000 but phases out at higher incomes, changing who benefits.
Tax software or your CPA will calculate phaseouts automatically so check if you live in a high-tax state.

INSIGHT

New Deductions Affect Different Groups

New deductions include a $6,000 senior deduction and up to $10,000 auto loan interest for buyers.
Check eligibility closely because some changes are temporary or income-limited.

ANECDOTE

Willie Nelson's Public Tax Battle

Doug recounts Willie Nelson's 1992 IRS fight and settlement as a tax cautionary tale.
Nelson sued his accountants and settled with the IRS after alleged faulty tax shelters.

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Taxes don't have to feel like something that happens to you.

Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug break down the biggest recent tax changes and, more importantly, how to use them intentionally instead of accidentally leaving money on the table.

This isn't about memorizing the tax code or becoming a DIY CPA. It's about understanding where the real opportunities are right now, which moves matter most at different life stages, and how smart planning today can quietly add up to thousands of dollars over time.

From new deductions to retirement-focused strategies, this episode helps you move from reacting at tax time to planning all year long.

What You'll Learn:

• The most important recent tax changes and who actually benefits from them

• How the expanded SALT deduction works and when it matters

• What the new senior deduction could mean for retirees and near retirees

• Why maximizing retirement accounts isn't just about saving for later but lowering taxes now

• How Health Savings Accounts create one of the most powerful tax advantages available

• When tax loss harvesting helps and when it's mostly noise

• Why managing your tax bracket in retirement can be as important as investment returns

• Smarter charitable giving strategies that align generosity with tax efficiency

• How education savings tools fit into a broader tax plan for those who need them

• Common tax season mistakes that quietly cost people money every year

This Episode Is For You If:

• You suspect you're paying more in taxes than you should

• Tax planning feels overwhelming so you just deal with it in April

• You want to understand which tax moves actually matter at your life stage

• You're tired of hearing about strategies that don't apply to your situation

• You're ready to stop reacting to taxes and start planning for them

This episode is for anyone who wants their tax strategy to support their bigger financial goals, not work against them. If you're looking to keep more of what you earn and make fewer "wish I'd known that earlier" decisions, this is one to queue up.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/tax_planning_moves_for_2026-1798

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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