Are your taxes going to change?

By Kevin Theissen

Most likely you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C. called by one of these following names: The Build Back Better Act, “the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill” or the “Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working Families.”

Regardless of what name you’ve heard, one fact is clear: It is likely to be months before any action is taken.

When bills are being worked on — especially bills of this size — it’s a good time to take a quick civics refresher. Right now, the bill is “in committee” with both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The committees are filling in the policy details and the exact financial figures, which can be a long process.

It will then be up to the House and Senate to vote on an identical version of a final bill — if both can agree to a final version.

Right now, it would be hasty to make any portfolio changes based on what’s being discussed and debated. An ambitious investor would have to guess at what policies will be in the final bill, estimate the financial impact, and determine what portfolio changes should be made. That’s a tall order.

So as difficult as it may be, sometimes the best approach is to wait and see. We are watching every twist and turn. If something starts to take shape, we will evaluate the impact.

We also understand that some of you may have concerns about whether your taxes are going to change. If that’s the case, please reach out to your qualified and experienced investment and tax professional.

Kevin Theissen is the owner of HWC Financial in Ludlow.