Third Thursdays | Safe Harbor Payments, Real Estate and Spousal IRAs

EPISODE RESOURCESSubscribe to our YouTube channel!Repayment Assistance Plan Explained2026 IRS Tax TablesReal Estate Professional Status RequirementsIRS Passive Activity RulesThird Thursday Preview: IRS Delays, Safe Harbor Payments, and the Hidden Context Behind Tax-Saving TikToksIn this episode, we preview content from our “Third Thursday” YouTube series, where we add some context to the financial content you see on social media. We review a TikTok about IRS staffing cuts, longer wait times, and delayed processing, using it to introduce the concept of safe harbor payments for people who risk paying tax penalties for underwithholding throughout the year. We cover safe harbor payments and the two strategies that can be used to keep yourself out of the IRS' crosshairs.. We then critique a viral “save $60,000 in taxes” video for missing context, covering startup loss limits (hobby loss rule), the IRS's definition of a Real Estate Professional and how it benefits your taxes, the practical limits of maxing retirement accounts, and spousal IRA deduction phaseouts tied to adjusted gross income.00:00 Series Preview Intro00:47 Behind the Scenes Update01:49 Third Thursday Format03:18 IRS Staffing TikTok05:34 Safe Harbor Basics08:07 Two Safe Harbor Rules10:10 Safer Payment Tactics11:53 Marriage Tax Hack Video14:50 Context for Four Couples14:56 Founder Losses and Risks17:10 Real Estate Pro Status20:44 Freelancer Retirement Limits21:56 Spousal IRA Phaseouts25:46 Final Takeaways and WrapSupport the show