3 stories from the week to December 21, 2025, in the order they matter to someone who pays the top rate.
December 18, 2025 at 1:50 AM PST
Eight states cut individual income tax rates for 2026 while New York extends its temporary surtaxes on high earners, reshaping the state bill for affluent households and anyone weighing a move.
From 2026 the AMT exemption starts phasing out at $1 million for joint filers and disappears twice as fast, so the bargain element on incentive stock options is far more likely to trigger AMT.
The private-equity-backed supplier jumped 41% in its Nasdaq debut. For employees of companies that list, stock settling at a public price often comes with a tax bill larger than what payroll withholds.
General information, not tax, legal or investment advice.