Client Newsletters
Stay informed on the tax and estate planning developments that matter most. The Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer newsletter delivers timely updates on IRS policy changes, filing deadlines, new legislation, and planning strategies, written by our attorneys for our clients and friends of the firm. Browse recent issues below.
The information in these newsletters is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or tax advice. Some items may reflect rules or deadlines that have since changed. Please contact us for guidance specific to your situation.
July 2026
In this issue: IRS Wait Times Increase | No More Paper Checks | Charitable Deduction Update
IRS phone wait times have climbed sharply following staffing reductions, and we share practical alternatives for getting answers online. We also cover the full phase-out of paper refund checks, including the CP53E notice process and available exceptions, plus a closer look at the new AGI floor and top-bracket cap on charitable deductions taking effect for 2026 returns.
January 2026
In this issue: Notable Tax Dates | The IRS Goes Electronic | Tax Organizer Update | SafeSend Returns | Estate Planning Tidbit: Realty Trusts
Key filing dates for the 2026 season, the IRS transition to electronic-only refunds, and the retirement of the My1040Data online organizer. We also introduce SafeSend Returns, our new secure tax return delivery system, and explain how Massachusetts realty trusts work, including what they can and cannot do for privacy, estate taxes, and probate.
December 2025
In this issue: What’s New for 2026 | Charitable Deduction Changes | Increased DCFSA Contribution
A look ahead at 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: updated standard deductions, the child tax credit increase, and gift exclusion amounts. We break down the new charitable deduction rules for itemizers and non-itemizers and cover the first increase in the Dependent Care FSA limit in nearly 40 years.
August 2025
In this issue: IRS Eliminates Paper Check Refunds | Termination of Clean Energy Credits | No Tax on Tips or Overtime
What the end of paper refund checks means for Americans living abroad, plus a year-end deadline alert on expiring clean energy credits for home improvements and solar installations. We also explain the new deductions for qualified overtime pay and tips, including limits and income phase-outs.
July 2025
In this issue: One Big Beautiful Bill | $6,000 Senior Deduction | New SALT Deduction | Gift & Estate Tax Update
Our first look at the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law on July 4, 2025. We cover the new $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older, the SALT deduction increase from $10,000 to $40,000 with its income phase-out, and the permanent increase of the gift and estate tax exclusion to $15 million per person, along with planning strategies for each.
May 2025
In this issue: BE-10 Survey Deadline | ACH vs. Wire Transfer | 401(k) Over-Contributions | Q2 Estimates
A reminder on the mandatory BE-10 survey for U.S. owners of foreign rental real estate or foreign business entities, plus a practical guide to the difference between ACH and wire transfers and the options for paying an IRS bill. We also explain how 401(k) over-contributions happen, especially after a job change, and how to correct them before penalties apply.
January 2025
In this issue: Gathering Your Tax Documents | Looking Ahead to Possible Tax Changes
A checklist of documents to set aside as the 2024 filing season begins, from wage statements to IRS Identity PIN letters. We also preview the scheduled sunset of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and what it could mean for estate exemptions, tax rates, the SALT cap, the child tax credit, and the small business income deduction.
November 2024
In this issue: Beneficial Ownership Information Deadline | Standard Deduction vs. Itemizing | 2025 Estate & Gift Thresholds
A reminder that the Corporate Transparency Act’s January 1, 2025 deadline for filing an initial Beneficial Ownership Information report was fast approaching for entities formed before 2024, along with an explanation of who qualifies as a reporting company and beneficial owner. We also compare the standard deduction to itemizing, including strategies for grouping charitable donations, and share the IRS’s new 2025 thresholds for the estate and gift tax exemption and annual gift exclusion.
September 2024
In this issue: Tax Deadlines on the Horizon | Underpaying Quarterly Estimates | Gifting Strategies
Fall filing deadlines for extended partnership, S corporation, trust, and individual returns, and why underpaying quarterly estimates has become more costly with higher IRS interest rates. Our estate planning team continues its gifting series with outright gifts, topping off trusts, pre-funding life insurance premiums, and loan forgiveness ahead of the exemption sunset.
July/August 2024
In this issue: Updated Wiring Instructions | Tracking Your Refund | Gifting Strategies: Spousal Limited Access Trusts
An important notice that our wiring instructions changed as of June 1, 2024, with a reminder to confirm current instructions before sending funds. We outline typical federal and Massachusetts refund timelines and the tools for checking refund status, then continue our gifting strategies series with a look at Spousal Limited Access Trusts (SLATs), including how they work, their advantages, and the reciprocal trust doctrine pitfall to avoid when both spouses create one.
Read the July/August 2024 issue
June 2024
In this issue: 2024 Q2 Estimated Tax Payments | Gifting Strategies: Generation-Skipping Transfer Trusts | Do You Really Have to File Your Taxes?
A reminder that 2024 Q2 estimated tax payments were due June 17th. Our gifting strategies series continues with Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Trusts, explaining how they preserve assets across multiple generations, their asset protection benefits, and who should consider one before the exemption drops in 2026. We also break down the real cost of filing late versus not filing at all, comparing late-payment penalties, interest, and the much steeper failure-to-file penalty.
March 2024
In this issue: Partnership and S-Corp Deadline | Massachusetts Charitable Deduction | Document Deadline for Individual Returns
A reminder that Partnership and S-Corporation returns, along with the Massachusetts S-Corp excise tax, were due March 15, 2024. We explain that Massachusetts allows a charitable contribution deduction on state returns even for taxpayers who take the federal standard deduction, though it can only offset ordinary income. We also set the March 15th deadline for individual clients to submit tax documents via ShareFile to ensure a timely April 15th filing.
February 2024
In this issue: Tax Season Opens | Documents to Watch For | 2023 Filing Deadline & Extensions
The IRS began accepting e-filed returns on January 29, 2024, and we outline the tax forms and statements to expect as they arrive, along with tips for sending clear, single-copy PDF documents. We also lay out the April 15, 2024 deadline for 2023 personal returns and Q1 2024 estimated payments, and explain our extension process for clients whose information arrives after the March 15th and March 31st cutoffs.
January 2024
In this issue: Mandatory Reporting of Beneficial Ownership Information
An introduction to the Corporate Transparency Act, effective January 1, 2024, which requires most corporations, LLCs, and partnerships to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN. We cover who qualifies as a Reporting Company, Beneficial Owner, and Company Applicant, the filing deadlines for new and existing entities, exemptions such as Large Operating Companies, the specific information required, and the penalties for noncompliance.