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The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo: Tax Planning, Deductions, and Saving Money on Taxes
The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo: Tax Planning, Deductions, and Saving Money on Taxes
Lucas and Luna dissect the U.S. tax code with surgical precision, focusing on federal and state tax strategies for high-earning professionals, small business owners, and independent contractors. Each episode examines a specific deduction or credit, from Section 199A qualified business income deductions to cost-segregation studies for real estate investors, and walks through real-dollar examples using publicly available IRS forms and case law. They compare strategies like bunching itemized deductions versus taking the standard deduction, or weighing the benefits of a solo 401(k) against a SEP IRA. The show serves listeners who want to minimize their tax liability legally, without relying on gimmicks.
Episodes
How the Tax-Equivalent Yield Works for Muni Bonds in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the tax-equivalent yield on municipal bonds, explaining why a 3.5 percent muni can beat a 5 percent corporate bond for high-income investors. They walk through the math using a real-world example: a single filer in the 37 percent bracket plus the 3.8 percent net investment income tax, showing exactly how to calculate whether munis make sense in your portfolio. The episode
How the Charitable IRA Rollover Works in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) strategy for 2026 — the tax-savvy way to donate from your IRA. With the SECURE Act changes and the standard deduction still high, the QCD lets taxpayers over 70½ give up to $108,000 directly to charity, counting toward their Required Minimum Distribution without triggering taxable income. They walk through a concrete example: a
How the Home Office Deduction Works for 2026
Episode 89 of The Tax Strategy Podcast dives into the home office deduction for 2026. Lucas and Luna break down the two calculation methods — the simplified option at $5 per square foot and the regular method with actual expenses — and walk through the strict exclusive-use test. They discuss a real-world example: a freelance graphic designer who converted a 200-square-foot spare bedroom into an of
How the Net Operating Loss Deduction Works After the TCJA
Lucas and Luna unpack the net operating loss (NOL) deduction under current law — how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated NOL carrybacks, capped carryforwards at 80% of taxable income, and removed the two-year special rules. They walk through a concrete example: a boutique manufacturer that lost $500,000 in 2025 and how those losses offset future income under the 2026 rules. The episode also cover
How the Wash Sale Rule Snares Crypto Traders in 2026
Episode 87 of The Tax Strategy Podcast tackles the wash sale rule — but not for stocks. Lucas and Luna explain how the IRS applies this rule to cryptocurrency trades in 2026, a change that caught many retail investors off guard. They walk through a concrete example: a trader who sold Bitcoin at a loss in March, then bought it back within 30 days, and how that disallowed the loss for tax purposes.
How the Kiddie Tax Works in 2026 for Families with Investment Income
Lucas and Luna break down the kiddie tax rule for 2026 — the IRS provision that taxes a child's unearned income at the parents' marginal rate. They walk through the specific thresholds: the first $1,300 of unearned income is tax-free, the next $1,300 is taxed at the child's rate, and anything above $2,600 is hit with the parents' rate. Using a concrete example of a family with a teen who earned $4
How the Capital Loss Carryforward Offsets Future Gains
Episode 85 of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo digs into the capital loss carryforward rule — a powerful but often overlooked tool for tax planning. Lucas and Luna walk through how selling a losing stock in July 2026 creates a tax asset that can offset future capital gains and even ordinary income up to $3,000 per year. They use a concrete example: a fictional $15,000 realized loss on a biote
How the State and Local Tax Deduction Cap Works in 2026
Episode 84 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the $10,000 SALT deduction cap, which remains in effect for 2026 after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunset. Lucas and Luna explore strategies for taxpayers in high-tax states like California and New York, including bunching deductions, the workaround of pass-through entity taxes adopted by over 30 states, and the impact on itemizing versus claiming t
How the Nanny Tax Works for Household Employers in 2026
Lucas and Luna unpack the so-called nanny tax — the legal obligations when you hire a household worker like a nanny, housekeeper, or caregiver. In 2026, the threshold for paying Social Security and Medicare taxes is $2,800 in cash wages per year, up from $2,700 in 2025. They walk through the forms you need: Schedule H attached to your 1040, and an employer identification number from the IRS. They
The Tax Implications of Bitcoin Mining and Staking Rewards
In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down how the IRS treats cryptocurrency mining and staking rewards for the 2026 tax year. They cover the difference between mining as a hobby vs. a business, how to calculate taxable income when you receive a block reward or staking payout, and the key tax forms you'll need. They also discuss the IRS's updated guidance on staking issued last year, the impact on
The Donor-Advised Fund Strategy for Tax Savvy Giving in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the donor-advised fund (DAF) strategy for high-income earners looking to maximize charitable deductions in 2026. They walk through how a DAF works, the tax mechanics of bunching contributions, and the new SECURE 2.0 QCD-to-DAF rule that just took effect. Lucas uses a concrete example: a couple earning $450,000 who want to give $20,000 annually to charity but can't itemize
How the Backdoor Roth IRA Works in 2026
Episode 80 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the Backdoor Roth IRA maneuver for high earners in 2026. Lucas explains the mechanics: contribute to a traditional IRA, then convert to a Roth IRA. Luna raises the pro-rata rule trap when you have existing pre-tax IRA balances. They walk through a concrete example of a single filer earning $180,000, show how to avoid the income limit on direct Rot
The Research and Development Tax Credit for Small Businesses in 2026
Episode 79 of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo digs into the Research and Development Tax Credit (R&D Credit) — a tax break often thought of as a perk for tech giants like Apple and pharmaceutical companies, but increasingly available to small and medium-sized businesses. Lucas and Luna explain how the 2026 landscape has shifted after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunset restored immediate expens
How the AMT Tax Credit Recapture Works in 2026
Episode 78 of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo digs into the Alternative Minimum Tax credit recapture — a lesser-known but powerful tax break. Lucas and Luna explain how the AMT credit works, who qualifies, and why 2026 is a pivotal year for recapturing prior year AMT payments. They walk through the mechanics, the IRS Form 8801, and the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunset on AMT credit
How the Foreign Tax Credit Works for US Expats in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the foreign tax credit for US citizens living abroad, using a concrete example: a software engineer earning $120,000 in Germany, paying $35,000 in German income tax. They explain how Form 1116 prevents double taxation, the difference between the credit and the foreign earned income exclusion, and why high-tax countries like Germany often leave expats with a zero US tax bi
How the Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction Works in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the self-employed health insurance deduction, a valuable write-off for freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners. In this episode, they explain how the deduction works for 2026, including the rules around eligibility, the interaction with the premium tax credit, and a key trap: you cannot also claim the deduction if you are eligible for subsidized coverage throu
How State Tax Credits Work for Out-of-State Investors
Lucas and Luna break down how state-level tax credits can save you serious money even if you don't live in the state offering them. Using the Georgia Film & Television Tax Credit as a concrete example — 20% base credit, 10% uplift for Georgia promotions — they explain how non-resident investors can purchase transferable credits at a discount and apply them against their own tax liability. They wal
How the Standard Mileage Deduction Works in 2026
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the standard mileage deduction for 2026, including the new IRS rate of 62 cents per mile, how it applies to business, medical, and charitable driving, and the key recordkeeping requirements. They walk through a concrete example of a rideshare driver who can deduct over $12,000 in mileage, compare the standard rate to actual exp
How the Gift Tax Exclusion Works for 2026
Lucas and Luna dive into the federal gift tax exclusion for 2026, which allows you to give up to $19,000 per person per year without filing a gift tax return. They explain how married couples can double that amount via gift splitting, why paying someone's tuition or medical bills directly doesn't count toward the limit, and the surprising catch: gifts that exceed the exclusion eat into your lifeti
How a Health Savings Account Triple Tax Advantage Works in 2026
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive deep into the Health Savings Account (HSA) — arguably the most powerful tax-advantaged account available. They break down the triple tax advantage: tax-deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. Lucas explains the 2026 contribution limits ($4,300 for individuals, $8,600 for fam
How the Credit Card Signup Bonus Game Works for Tax in 2026
Episode 71 of The Tax Strategy Podcast tackles a question that comes up every spring: do credit card signup bonuses count as taxable income? Lucas and Luna walk through the specific IRS rules that separate a true gift or rebate from taxable income, using real-world examples like an $800 Chase Sapphire bonus and a rare 250,000-point Amex Business Platinum offer. They explain why the IRS has never i
The Tax Implications of Selling Your Home in 2026
Episode 70 of The Tax Strategy Podcast dives into the Section 121 exclusion for home sale gains. Lucas and Luna break down the $250,000 / $500,000 thresholds, the two-out-of-five-year ownership and use test, and how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunset in 2026 changes the landscape. They use a concrete example: a single filer who bought a home for $300,000 and sells for $650,000 in 2026. The hosts als
How the Qualified Business Income Deduction Works for 2026
Episode 69 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the Section 199A Qualified Business Income deduction — the 20 percent deduction for pass-through business owners. Lucas explains how the deduction phases out above taxable income thresholds ($383,900 married filing jointly in 2026), how specified service trades or businesses like law and consulting get restricted, and why a real-world example — a
How the Net Investment Income Tax Hits High Earners in 2026
Episode 68 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — a 3.8% surtax that catches many high-earning investors by surprise. Lucas and Luna explain how the tax works, who triggers it, and why a single real estate sale or mutual fund distribution can push a taxpayer over the threshold. They walk through a concrete example: a married couple filing jointly with $250,0
The Stepped-Up Basis Loophole for Inherited Assets
In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the stepped-up basis rule—a tax provision that lets heirs reset the cost basis of inherited assets to their date-of-death value, effectively wiping out decades of capital gains. They walk through a concrete example: a grandmother who bought Apple stock in 2008 for $8 a share and held it until her passing in 2026 when it's worth $220. Her heir sells immediatel
The Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the 25C Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Credit in 2026. They explain how homeowners can claim up to $3,200 annually for heat pumps, windows, doors, and insulation. The hosts walk through the credit limits, eligible products, and the critical stacking rules with other incentives. A concrete example: replacing an old furnace and installing solar-powered attic fans on a $1
How a SEP IRA Slashes Taxes for Freelancers and Solopreneurs
Lucas and Luna break down the SEP IRA — a tax-deferred retirement account that allows self-employed individuals to contribute up to 25% of net earnings, with 2026 contribution limits reaching $69,000. Using the example of a freelance graphic designer earning $150,000, they show how a 20% contribution reduces taxable income by $30,000, saving roughly $7,400 in federal income tax plus self-employmen
How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Sunset Reshapes Your 2026 Return
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act sunsets at the end of 2025. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through how that changes your 2026 tax return — lower standard deduction, lost personal exemptions, reduced child tax credit, and the return of the state and local tax deduction cap. They focus on a real middle-income family scenario: a couple with two kids earning $120,000 in Atlanta. Compare their 2025 tax
How the Kiddie Tax Catches Your Child's Investment Income
Lucas and Luna unpack the kiddie tax—a rule that taxes a child's unearned income above $2,800 at the parent's marginal rate, not the child's lower rate. They use a concrete example: a 14-year-old with $5,000 in dividend income from a custodial account. Lucas explains the $2,800 threshold for 2026, why the rule exists to prevent income shifting, and how it interacts with the new 2025 tax brackets a
How the Nanny Tax Works for Household Employees in 2026
Lucas and Luna tackle the so-called 'nanny tax' — the IRS rules for household employees like nannies, elder caregivers, and house cleaners. They walk through the $2,800 threshold for 2026, what forms you need (Schedule H, W-2, W-3), and the Social Security and Medicare tax split. Lucas explains why many families accidentally misclassify workers as independent contractors and the penalties that fol
How the Crypto Wash Sale Rule Works in 2026
Episode 61 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the 2026 crypto wash sale rule. Lucas and Luna explain how the IRS now treats digital asset losses the same as stock losses, using a concrete example of a trader who tried to harvest losses on Bitcoin and Ethereum. They cover what changed, what didn't change for spot vs. derivatives, and how the rule affects year-end tax planning. No generic advic
How the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Sunset Reshapes Your 2026 Return
Episode 60 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the pending expiration of key Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions at the end of 2025 — and what that means for your 2026 return. Lucas and Luna walk through the specific changes hitting itemized deductions, the child tax credit, the estate tax exemption, and the qualified business income deduction. They explain why the standard deduction won't revert
The Unreimbursed Partnership Expense Trap for Side Hustlers
This episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast uncovers a little-known IRS rule that disallows unreimbursed partnership expenses — costs you pay out of pocket for a partnership or multi-member LLC that you can't deduct as a business expense and can't claim as an itemized deduction either. Lucas and Luna walk through a real-world example: a freelance graphic designer and a web developer who form a 50-50
How the Child Tax Credit Phase-in Works in 2026
Episode 58 of The Tax Strategy Podcast digs into the Child Tax Credit's phase-in rules for 2026. Lucas and Luna explain how the credit's refundable portion gradually increases with earned income above $2,500, using a concrete example of a single mom earning $18,000. They walk through the formula, contrast it with the fully refundable credit from 2021, and discuss how the phase-in affects low-incom
The Secret Tax Break for Rental Property Owners
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the cost segregation study—a tax strategy that lets real estate investors accelerate depreciation on commercial and residential rental properties. They break down how this technique reclassifies building components into shorter-lived asset categories, generating bigger upfront deductions and deferring taxes. Using a concrete example of a $1.5 million apart
How the Foreign Tax Credit Saves You From Double Taxation
This episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo explores the Foreign Tax Credit, a powerful tool for U.S. investors and expats with international income. Lucas and Luna break down how the credit works, who qualifies, and why it often beats the foreign earned income exclusion for tax efficiency. They use a concrete example: a U.S. resident with $10,000 in dividends from a German company, show
How the Wash Sale Rule Traps Active Traders
Episode 55 unpacks the wash sale rule — a tax provision that disallows losses on securities sold at a loss if you buy a substantially identical stock within 30 days. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example of a trader triggering the rule unintentionally during a volatile quarter in June 2026. They explain tracking the 61-day window, how it interacts with tax-loss harvesting, and the surpris
How the Roth IRA Conversion Ladder Works in 2026
Episode 54 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the Roth IRA conversion ladder — a strategy for moving pre-tax retirement savings into a Roth account over multiple years to minimize taxes. Lucas and Luna explain the five-year rule, how to avoid the 10% early distribution penalty, and what the 2026 tax brackets mean for your conversion timing. They walk through a real example: a 45-year-old earn
How Tax-Loss Harvesting Cuts Your Capital Gains Bill
In this episode of Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna dive into tax-loss harvesting — a technique that turns investment losses into real tax savings. They explain how it works with a concrete example: selling a losing stock to offset gains from a winning one, and how the IRS wash-sale rule can trip you up. Lucas breaks down the mechanics using a hypothetical portfolio, showing how a
How a Dependent Day Care FSA Saves You Thousands
Episode 52 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the Dependent Day Care FSA — a tax-advantaged account that lets working parents set aside up to $5,000 pre-tax for child care expenses in 2026. Lucas and Luna walk through the eligibility requirements, the interplay with the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and a real-world scenario showing how a family can save over $1,200 in taxes. They also
How a Donor-Advised Fund Works for Tax-Smart Giving in 2026
In Episode 51 of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the donor-advised fund (DAF) — a tax strategy that lets you bunch charitable deductions into one year while spreading grants to nonprofits over time. They walk through a concrete example: a couple earning $200,000 who wants to give $15,000 annually but can itemize only every other year under the 2026 standard deduction. By fundin
How the American Opportunity Tax Credit Cuts College Costs
Episode 50 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), a dollar-for-dollar tax credit worth up to $2,500 per student for qualified college expenses. Lucas and Luna walk through the eligibility rules, income phaseouts, and how the 40 percent refundable portion helps families with little or no tax liability. They compare it to the Lifetime Learning Credit and
How the Self-Rental Rule Blocks Home Office Deductions
Episode 49 dives into the IRS self-rental rule, a trap that catches real estate professionals who rent their home office to their own business. Lucas and Luna break down Section 469, the material participation test, and a real-world example from a 2026 tax court case where a consultant lost $23,000 in deductions. Listeners learn how passive activity loss rules classify rental income and why owning
How Filing Status Changes Your Tax Bill After Marriage or Divorce
Getting married or divorced doesn't just change your life — it rewrites your entire tax situation. In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna walk through how filing status choices — Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household, and Single — affect everything from your tax bracket width to deduction eligibility. They dive into the real numbers:
How Bartering Income Is Taxable in 2026
Most people think trading services with a friend is tax-free. Not so fast. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down how the IRS treats bartering transactions in 2026, using a concrete example: a graphic designer swaps $2,000 worth of branding work for a mechanic's car repairs. They explain the fair market value rule, how barter exchanges report to the IRS on Form 1099-B, and why even a neighborl
How the IRS Audits Side Hustles in 2026
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down how the IRS is auditing side hustles in 2026, focusing on Form 1099-K reporting thresholds, the Transactional Data Analysis program, and a real case study of a freelance graphic designer who triggered an audit by mismatching income across platforms. They explain what red flags the IRS looks for, how to document business expense
How the Qualified Business Income Deduction Works in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the Section 199A qualified business income deduction for pass-through business owners. Using the example of a freelance graphic designer earning $180,000, they explain the 20 percent deduction, the taxable income threshold ($197,300 for single filers in 2026), the phase-in range, the wage and property limits, and how specified service trades or businesses like law, medici
How a Home Office Deduction Works for Hybrid Workers in 2026
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna tackle the home office deduction for hybrid workers in 2026. With the rise of hybrid schedules, many employees and self-employed individuals are unsure if they qualify. Lucas breaks down the strict eligibility rules under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, focusing on the 'exclusive and regular use' test and the 'principal place of business' test
How an S Corporation Election Reduces Your Self-Employment Tax
Lucas and Luna break down the S corporation election strategy for self-employed professionals. Using the example of a freelance software developer earning $180,000 in 2026, they show how electing S corp status can save over $8,500 per year in self-employment taxes. They walk through the mechanics of paying yourself a reasonable salary versus distributions, the IRS thresholds for eligibility, and t
How the Net Investment Income Tax Hits Your Passive Gains
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — a 3.8% surtax that catches many investors off guard. They use a concrete example: a married couple filing jointly with $300,000 in wage income and $80,000 in capital gains and rental income. Lucas explains how the NIIT applies to the lesser of net investment income or the excess modified a
How the Kiddie Tax Affects Your Childs Investment Income in 2026
Episode 41 of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo digs into the kiddie tax—the IRS rule that taxes a child's unearned income at the parent's marginal rate. Lucas and Luna break down the 2026 thresholds, why a 16-year-old with a summer job and a brokerage account might face a surprise tax bill, and how to structure custodial accounts to stay under the radar. They walk through a real scenario: a f
How Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Sequencing Works in Retirement
Episode 40 of The Tax Strategy Podcast. Lucas and Luna break down the tax-efficient order of withdrawals from retirement accounts—taxable brokerage, pre-tax 401(k), Roth IRA, and Health Savings Account. Using a concrete example for a married couple retiring in 2026 with $1.5 million in combined accounts, they walk through the logic of filling lower tax brackets with pre-tax money, tapping Roth acc
How Tax Inflation Indexing Affects Your 2026 Brackets
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna unpack how inflation indexing for 2026 is reshaping tax brackets, standard deductions, and key thresholds. Using the IRS's recent revenue procedure, they explain why the 2026 adjustments are lower than the last two years due to cooling inflation. Lucas breaks down the specific numbers: the 2.8 percent inflation adjustment versus last year
How Installment Sales Defer Taxes on Large Gains
Lucas and Luna unpack the installment sale strategy for deferring capital gains tax when selling a business, property, or valuable asset. Using the example of a $2 million commercial building sale in Austin in June 2026, they walk through how spreading payments over five years keeps the tax bill manageable and avoids the net investment income tax surcharge. They also cover the tricky recapture rul
How Stock Options and RSUs Affect Your Tax Bill in 2026
Equity compensation is increasingly common outside of tech, but the tax rules are still confusing. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down how Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs), and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) are taxed, when the AMT can sneak up on you, and what happens if you leave your job before shares vest. Lucas walks through a concrete example of an emp
How a Spousal IRA Doubles Retirement Savings for Non-Working Spouses
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna explain how a Spousal IRA lets a working spouse contribute to a retirement account for a non-working spouse, effectively doubling a couple's retirement savings. They walk through the income limits for 2026, the difference between traditional and Roth spousal IRAs, and a concrete example of how a family earning $150,000 can save an extra $
How Tax Brackets Actually Work and Why You Shouldnt Fear a Raise
Ever turned down a raise because you thought it would push you into a higher tax bracket and leave you with less money? Lucas and Luna bust that myth wide open. They explain how marginal tax brackets actually function in the US system, walk through the 2026 bracket thresholds, and show why only the money in the new bracket gets taxed at the higher rate — not your entire income. They use real numbe
How the Foreign Tax Credit Prevents Double Taxation
Lucas and Luna break down the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC), one of the most powerful tools for Americans with foreign investments or overseas income. Using a concrete example—a U.S. investor who holds shares of a German company and pays 15% German withholding tax on dividends—they walk through how Form 1116 works, the per-country and overall limitations, and the tricky interaction with the Qualified B
How the Backdoor Roth IRA Works in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the Backdoor Roth IRA strategy for 2026, using a concrete example: a high-income earner named Jen who earns $180,000 and is phased out of direct Roth IRA contributions. They walk through the two-step process—making a nondeductible traditional IRA contribution and converting it to Roth—and explain the pro-rata rule that can trigger unexpected taxes if you have existing pre
How the Health Savings Account Triple Tax Advantage Works
Lucas and Luna break down the Health Savings Account (HSA) — the only tax vehicle that gives you a deduction on contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. They walk through the 2026 contribution limits ($4,300 for individuals, $8,600 for families, plus $1,000 catch-up for 55+), explain who qualifies (must have a high-deductible health plan with minimum deductibl
How Tax-Loss Harvesting Offsets Your Investment Gains
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down tax-loss harvesting—the strategy that lets investors use realized losses to offset capital gains and reduce their tax bill. Using a concrete example of an investor who sold a losing tech stock in June 2026, they explain how losses first offset gains of the same type, then any remaining losses can be deducted against ordinary in
How a Donor-Advised Fund Cuts Your Capital Gains Tax in 2026
In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down donor-advised funds (DAFs) as a powerful tax strategy for charitable giving with appreciated assets. Using a concrete example with NVIDIA stock, they show how donating shares instead of cash can eliminate capital gains tax entirely, reduce your income tax bill, and simplify giving. They cover the mechanics, the deduction limits, and the potential pitfalls
How the Charitable Remainder Trust Cuts Taxes and Boosts Giving
Lucas and Luna break down the charitable remainder trust (CRT) — a powerful but underused strategy that lets you donate assets to charity, receive lifetime income, and claim a charitable deduction. They walk through a concrete example: a donor with $500,000 in highly appreciated stock who uses a CRT to avoid capital gains tax, generate a 5% annual payout, and leave the remainder to a donor-advised
How the Medical Expense Deduction Works in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the medical expense deduction for 2026—who qualifies, what counts, and the 7.5% AGI floor that blocks most people. Using a real-world example of a freelancer with $18,000 in unreimbursed medical costs, they walk through the math, the trap of over-the-counter items, and the strategy of bunching expenses into a single tax year. They also cover the new IRS guidance on telehe
How the Child and Dependent Care Credit Really Works in 2026
Lucas and Luna break down the Child and Dependent Care Credit for 2026, covering the new higher expense limits, phaseout thresholds, and how the credit interacts with employer-provided dependent care benefits. They walk through a concrete example: a married couple with two kids paying $16,000 in daycare costs. Lucas explains why the credit is now partially refundable for the first time, and Luna h
How the Saver's Credit Boosts Your Retirement Savings
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the Saver's Credit — a tax credit that rewards low- and middle-income workers for contributing to retirement accounts. They explain who qualifies, how the credit is calculated, and how it overlaps with other tax breaks like the traditional IRA deduction. Using a concrete example of a couple earning $50,000 a year, they show how
How a Home Equity Debt Strategy Cuts Your Tax Bill
Episode 25 of The Tax Strategy Podcast explores a little-used tax loophole: using home equity debt to purchase investment property and deduct the interest. Lucas explains the 2026 rules under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including how the $750,000 debt limit applies, and walks through a concrete example of a homeowner in Portland who refi'd their primary residence to buy a duplex, saving $3,400 in t
How Qualified Opportunity Zones Cut Capital Gains Tax in 2026
Lucas and Luna unpack the mechanics of Qualified Opportunity Zones as of June 2026. They explain how deferring capital gains into a QOF can reduce your tax bill by up to 15 percent, walk through the 10-year holding period for tax-free appreciation, and highlight a real-world example in Denver, Colorado. They also cover the 2026 sunset of the 10 percent exclusion bump and the new IRS reporting requ
How a Self-Rental Strategy Shrinks Your Tax Bill
Lucas and Luna unpack the self-rental strategy, a little-known tax maneuver where a business owner rents property from themselves to shift income, claim deductions, and reduce self-employment taxes. They walk through a concrete example: a real estate agent in Austin who owns her office condo personally and leases it to her LLC, saving roughly $8,000 in 2025. The hosts explain the IRS 'recharacteri
How the Qualified Business Income Deduction Works in 2026
Episode 22 of The Tax Strategy Podcast breaks down the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction under Section 199A, focusing on how it applies to freelancers and small business owners in 2026. Lucas and Luna walk through a concrete example: a freelance graphic designer earning $180,000 per year with $40,000 in qualified business income from a side LLC. They explain the 20% deduction, the phaseout
How to Deduct Your Hobby Expenses Legally in 2026
Lucas and Luna tackle the tricky IRS rules on hobby versus business income. Using the real example of a freelance photographer who turned her weekend gig into a profitable side business, they explain the key tests the IRS uses to decide if you can deduct losses. They walk through the nine-factor 'profit motive' test, the difference between a hobby loss and a start-up loss, and how the Tax Cuts and
How the Net Investment Income Tax Hits Your Passive Income
Most people focus on income tax brackets, but there is a separate 3.8 percent surtax that quietly eats into investment earnings for higher earners. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) — who it applies to in 2026, what counts as 'investment income' (spoiler: rental real estate and capital gains are included), and a surprising exemption for active real est
How the Nanny Tax Works for Household Employers
If you hire a nanny, housekeeper, or caregiver in 2026, you are likely subject to the 'nanny tax' — paying Social Security, Medicare, and federal unemployment taxes on their wages. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through the current thresholds, the Schedule H filing process, and the surprising way this tax interacts with the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Using a concrete example of a famil
How the American Opportunity Tax Credit Cuts College Costs
In Episode 18 of The Tax Strategy Podcast, Lucas and Luna break down the American Opportunity Tax Credit—a refundable credit worth up to $2,500 per student for qualified college expenses. They walk through the income phase-outs, what counts as a qualified expense, and the tricky rule about claiming the credit in the same year you use a 529 plan. Using a real example of a family earning $160,000 wi
How the Kiddie Tax Traps Teen Investors and What to Do
Episode 17 of The Tax Strategy Podcast digs into a tax rule that surprises a lot of parents: the kiddie tax. Lucas walks Luna through how unearned income over $2,600 for kids under 19 gets taxed at the parents' marginal rate, not the child's lower bracket. They use a concrete example — a 16-year-old with $8,000 in stock dividends and a part-time job — to show how the tax bill jumps from roughly $1
How State Tax Credits Reduce Your Federal Bill
Episode 16 of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo dives into state tax credits that can directly lower your federal tax liability. Lucas and Luna use the real example of the Louisiana Motion Picture Investor Tax Credit, which offers a 30% state credit — but the federal deduction for state taxes paid creates a double benefit. They walk through the numbers: a $100,000 investment in a qualifying fi
How Side Hustle Deductions Work Under the New IRS Rules
If you've got a side gig — freelance writing, reselling vintage furniture, dog walking, driving for a rideshare — the IRS changed the rules in late 2025 for how you deduct expenses. Lucas walks through two real scenarios: a graphic designer earning $14,000 in 2026 and a reseller who buys pallets of returned goods. The key number is $1,000 — the new de minimis safe harbor threshold for supplies. Lu
How the Home Office Deduction Works for Hybrid Workers in 2026
Lucas and Luna unpack the home office deduction specifically for hybrid employees in 2026. They compare the regular method vs. the simplified method, highlight the key eligibility test — exclusive and regular use — and walk through how a graphic designer who works from home three days a week can qualify. They also discuss what happens when you sell your home if you've claimed the deduction, and ho
How the Foreign Tax Credit Prevents Double Taxation on Global Income
In this episode of The Tax Strategy Podcast with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna unpack the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) — a critical but often misunderstood tool for Americans with foreign income. They walk through a concrete example: a freelance consultant earning $120,000 from a German client who already paid 15% German tax. Lucas explains how Form 1116 works, the difference between foreign earned income e
How a Solo 401k Cuts Taxes for Freelancers
Lucas and Luna break down the Solo 401k — a retirement account that lets self-employed individuals contribute up to $69,000 in 2026 as both employer and employee. They walk through the mechanics: the 25% employer profit-sharing contribution on top of the $23,500 employee deferral, the catch-up provisions for those over 50, and the key difference from a SEP IRA — the ability to make Roth contributi
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