A law passed in 2025 allows a new temporary senior tax deduction for the years 2025 through 2028, and also changes the standard deduction for most other individuals. Ed Zurndorfer explains the changes and how they present both tax-planning opportunities and a caution for potential “stealth taxes.” Practical examples are included. more…
How to File a Tax Return for An Individual Who Died
Filing a tax return for the year an individual dies presents some unique filing and reporting rules. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the rules and provides the list of forms (with links) that the tax filer may need more…
Understanding the Complicated Roth TSP to Roth IRA Rollover Rules
Upon retiring from federal service, a Roth TSP participant has the option of rolling over their Roth TSP account to a Roth IRA. But this rollover one of the most complicated transfers, and can have major federal and tax consequences. Ed Zurndorfer explains the three most critical pieces of the rollover that federal employees and retirees need to consider more…
Who Must File a 2025 Federal Income Tax Return, How to File, and Filing Deadlines
Ed Zurndorfer discusses which individuals are required to file a 2025 federal income tax return, how to file a return, and filing deadlines. Included is a checklist of the personal information and documents you’ll need plus ways to file for free more…
New Postal Rule Could Delay Processing of Your Tax Returns
Ed Zurndorfer explains the rule and gives federal employees and retirees the steps to avoid penalties, interest and late claims this year more…
Larger TSP Balances Mean Larger RMDs During 2026
While the stock market performance is encouraging news for Thrift Savings Plan participants, it also means federal employees and retirees should take some tax-planning moves. Ed Zurndorfer outlines 3 actions that traditional TSP participants may want to consider in order to reduce 2026 required minimum distributions (RMDs) more…
What Are Trump Savings Accounts and How Do They Work?
A new federal program was passed into law as part of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). Ed Zurndorfer explains how these individual retirement-style investment accounts work, and several reason why they likely make sense for many of those eligible more…
What Federal Employees & Retirees Should Know About the Medicare General Enrollment Period
Each year, the Center for Medicare and Medicare Services conducts a General Enrollment Period (GEP) from January 1 through March 31. Ed Zurndorfer discusses how federal employees and retirees are affected by it including eligibility requirements, what parts of Medicare they can enroll in, when Medicare coverage starts, and how it works with the Federal Employees Health benefits program (FEHB). Practical examples are included. more…
Important Rules & Considerations for IRA Contributions
An individual retirement arrangement (IRA) provides a tax-beneficial way for a federal employee to set aside money for retirement. Ed Zurndorfer outlines the requirements to contribute, the contribution limits and deadlines — as well as the differences between traditional IRA and Roth IRA (and their tax consequences)
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What Federal Employees Need to Know About Receiving Social Security Benefits
Ed Zurndorfer discusses how some federal employees may temporarily lose some or all of their Social Security benefits due to the “earnings test.” Included is the effect of a retiring federal employee’s lump-sum payment for unused annual leave with practical examples more…