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November and December are valuable months to review your federal tax position before 2026 closes. Florida residents have no state individual income tax, but federal income taxes, investment gains, self-employment taxes and business reporting still require attention. The ten steps below are planning considerations, not one-size-fits-all instructions. 1. Project your 2026 income and tax liability Review paystubs, business profit, investment activity and retirement distributions

A new federal income-tax deduction may allow eligible taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 a year of interest on certain loans used to buy new personal vehicles. The deduction applies during tax years 2025 through 2028. It is not a $10,000 rebate on the vehicle price, and the principal portion of a loan payment is not deductible under this provision. Which vehicles may qualify? The vehicle must be purchased for personal use, with original use beginning with the taxpayer, and mus

A new federal deduction may reduce taxable income for eligible adults age 65 and older. The enhanced senior deduction is available for tax years 2025 through 2028, including the 2026 tax year filed in 2027. It is a deduction, not a $6,000 refund or government check, and its value depends on the taxpayer's circumstances. Who qualifies for the new deduction? To qualify for a tax year, an individual must be age 65 by December 31 of that year, meet Social Security number requirem

Florida voters will decide on Amendment 3 in the November 3, 2026 general election. The proposal would substantially change certain property-tax exemptions and assessment rules if approved. As of November 2, it is a ballot proposal, not a change already in force. Homeowners should understand both the opportunity for potential savings and the important limitations. What would Amendment 3 change? According to the published ballot language, the proposal would raise the homestead

Online headlines about a possible $2,000 tariff rebate have raised a straightforward question: Is a payment actually coming? As of November 2, 2026, there is no enacted nationwide program authorizing these checks and no official IRS payment schedule. It is important to distinguish political proposals and pending legislation from a benefit that taxpayers can claim. Where did the $2,000 rebate idea come from? The idea grew out of proposals to return some tariff revenue to Ameri

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Can You Owe Money Back for ACA Health Insurance? Yes. If you received advance premium tax credits through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace during 2026 and your final household income makes you eligible for less assistance, you generally have to repay the excess on your federal income tax return. These advance credits ar

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Are the Automatic Refunds Real? Yes, but the announcement is specific. The IRS began issuing automatic refunds to certain taxpayers with eligible adoption tax credit carryforwards from earlier years. This is not a universal refund, a new stimulus check, or an automatic payment for every taxpayer. Why the Adoption Tax Credi

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Will Everyone Get an Extra Refund? No. Tax returns filed in 2027 generally report income earned during 2026. New or expanded deductions may lower eligible taxpayers’ federal income tax, but there is no universal extra IRS refund. A refund reflects the difference between payments and credits and the tax you actually owe. 20

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Does the Premium Tax Credit Still Exist? Yes. The original ACA premium tax credit remains available to eligible Marketplace enrollees. What ended after 2025 was the enhanced subsidy structure that temporarily expanded assistance, including support for some households above 400% of the federal poverty level. 2026 Eligibilit

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Has Social Security Become Tax-Free? No. Depending on combined income and filing status, up to 85% of Social Security benefits may still be included in taxable federal income. The new tax break is an additional deduction for qualifying older taxpayers, not a repeal of Social Security taxation. The $6,000 Senior Deduction E

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. A New Deduction for Standard-Deduction Filers Beginning in tax year 2026, eligible taxpayers who do not itemize can deduct qualifying cash charitable contributions in addition to the standard deduction. The provision restores a tax benefit for some donors who previously received no separate federal deduction for their givi

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Is the 30% Residential Solar Credit Available? Generally no for new eligible residential clean energy expenditures after December 31, 2025. Federal legislation accelerated the end of the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which previously covered 30% of qualifying residential solar costs. Projects That Crossed Into 2026 A si

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Can You Deduct Gambling Losses? Yes, but federal law now generally limits wagering-loss deductions to 90% of eligible losses, and no more than gambling winnings, beginning with the 2026 tax year. Recreational gamblers typically must itemize deductions to claim losses. Why the 90% Rule Matters Consider a recreational gamble

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. What Is the Child and Dependent Care Credit? This federal tax credit helps eligible taxpayers pay for qualifying care so they can work or look for work. It can cover certain daycare, preschool, after-school programs, summer day camps, and qualifying care for dependents unable to care for themselves. What Changed for 2026?

The following is a practical overview of the rules and common questions for taxpayers in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Broward County, and South Florida. Why Refund Scams Spread Scammers use news about refunds, credits, and IRS adjustments to send convincing texts, emails, and social media messages. Some promise extra payments; others claim a refund has been frozen until the taxpayer enters banking information. Warning Signs of a Fake IRS Refund Watch for urgent deadlines,

Nearly one million Americans are expected to receive a $500-per-person Obamacare refund following a September 2026 announcement from the federal government. The payments are intended to return surplus fees collected through the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. If you purchased health insurance through the Marketplace, you may be wondering whether you qualify, when the checks will arrive, and whether there is anything you need to do. What Is the $500 Obamacare Re

With the federal government beginning to send $500 Obamacare refund checks to eligible Americans in October 2026, an important tax question is emerging: Will you have to pay federal income tax on the $500 payment? The answer is not yet as straightforward as it might seem. The refund program is new, and taxpayers should distinguish these payments from the regular Premium Tax Credit associated with Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage. What Is the $500 Obamacare Refund? In

A major 2026 court ruling has opened the door to billions of dollars in tariff refunds for U.S. businesses that paid certain import duties. In February 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The subsequent refund process affects businesses that imported goods into the United States and paid those tariffs. But these tariff refunds are not general stimulus payments. Most consumers should not expect

For many U.S. businesses, tariffs became a significant additional cost of importing inventory, equipment, materials and components. Following a major Supreme Court decision in 2026, some businesses may now be entitled to recover certain tariffs they previously paid. The opportunity can apply to small businesses as well as large corporations. However, not every tariff qualifies, and receiving a refund may require businesses to identify eligible customs entries and follow the a

The new “No Tax on Overtime” deduction is one of the biggest federal tax changes affecting workers in 2026. But the name can be misleading. It does not mean that every dollar you earn while working overtime is completely tax-free. Instead, qualifying workers may deduct a specific portion of their overtime compensation from their federal taxable income. The deduction was created under the 2025 tax law commonly called the One Big Beautiful Bill and is available for tax years 20