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California has a weird hobby: taking normal business relationships and turning them into legal trivia contests with expensive prizes. If you hire independent contractors (ICs) in California, you’re operating in a world shaped by Dynamex and AB 5 (plus later amendments). The big takeaway is simple: California starts from suspicion, not trust. Your job is to structure the relationship so it can survive scrutiny.

This post is a practical, more generic overview of how California looks at ICs, what the main “tests” are, and how the carve-outs work in real life.

Recent tax legislation includes new provisions that allow for the establishment of new investment accounts for children ages 18 or younger. The goal of the account is to have funds available for them when they become adults. While not yet available to create, news out of the IRS in early December makes it important to stay up to date on the rules and benefits as they develop. Here is what you need to know.

Overview

Subject: The Hidden Benefits of Filing a Gift Tax Return (Form 709) in 2026

If you’ve made larger gifts to family or others, you may be required to file a federal gift tax return (Form 709), even if you don’t owe any actual gift tax.

Filing can feel like extra paperwork, but it also provides important protection and clarity for you and your estate.

The New Child Savings Plan Parents Need to Know (530A / “Invest America”)

Congress has officially blessed us with yet another account type. This one is built for children and is commonly being called a “Trump Account” (also referred to as a Section 530A / “Invest America” account). The elevator pitch: it’s a tax-advantaged, long-term investment account for a minor, seeded (in some cases) with government money, and designed to push families toward early investing.

At the end of the year you will be inundated with commercials to donate a vehicle to charity. While it is one of the biggest contributions a taxpayer can make, if not done carefully, the tax deduction of a donated vehicle could be a lot lower than you think.

Each year there's typically an open enrollment for many benefit programs from your employer. Here are some tips to consider.