What changed in U.S. taxes
A practical feed of federal and state changes, explainers and commentary.
California will start taxing many SaaS sales in 2027. The customer address now matters.
SB 122 expands sales and use tax to remote access to prewritten software and creates new sourcing and large-purchaser rules.
The IRS raises the high-low per diem rates to $329 and $230 starting Oct. 1.
Employers using the simplified method also need to check the updated high-cost locality list and year-end transition rules.
The IRS is asking for more input on the next Opportunity Zone rules. These are questions, not final answers.
Notice 2026-55 covers deferred gain, distributions, rural zones and Tribal communities, but it does not settle those rules.
The research-expense law changed. The IRS has now updated the accounting-method path businesses use to follow it.
Revenue Procedure 2026-32 changes the automatic-method procedures and makes several transition dates operationally important.
The 1099-NEC threshold is $2,000 for 2026. That changes the paperwork, not whether the income is taxable.
The federal threshold rises for many contractor and miscellaneous payments, but backup withholding, payment methods and state rules can change the filing answer.
Treasury finalizes the car-loan-interest rules. Used cars still don’t qualify, but some mixed-use vehicles do.
The final regulations clarify vehicle eligibility, U.S. assembly, mixed use, the MAGI phaseout, refinancing and lender reporting.
A late-year stock gain can create an estimated-tax problem. Your W-2 withholding may be part of the fix.
A late-year investment gain can change both the amount due and the timing analysis. Safe harbors, Schedule AI and wage withholding do different jobs.