We are coming to the end of another year filled with rising interest rates and continued market volatility, with little action from Congress to fix or extend tax provisions that could benefit individuals and small businesses alike. These factors make year-end tax planning challenging, but more critical than ever, to ensure any and all opportunities for tax reduction and deferral are being considered.

This planning letter contains information and planning strategies based on federal laws, regulations, court cases, and policies that are in effect as of the publication date. The planning strategies and recommendations discussed generally focus on federal tax laws, so if you live in a state that does not typically follow the federal tax rules additional nuances may need to be considered before implementing a strategy. Our state and local tax (SALT) experts provide some insights in this letter and are also available to provide additional planning strategies that may be more beneficial at the state level.

In addition, international tax issues continue to be a focus with the IRS, and compliance costs continue to rise as reporting becomes more complex and penalties increase. Individuals and businesses that engage in foreign activities need to be more vigilant in documenting and reporting all of their foreign activities and ensuring that all income is reported appropriately. Our international tax experts are available to talk through potential issues and identify planning opportunities that could help minimize foreign reporting requirements. We hope you find the information in this letter helpful, and we encourage you to reach out to your HBK tax advisor to discuss these planning opportunities prior to implementing any changes. We look forward to working with you this coming year.