HIVE TAX AI
Lotus Li
Lotus Li is a CPA who has transformed 20 years of professional experience into building products with a mission to simplifying everyone’s tax journey. She is passionate about bringing cutting-edge AI into the world of tax and finance and is deeply immersed in designing, building, and launching innovative AI-powered tax solutions.
What are the key IRS deadlines for filing and payments during the 2026 filing season, including extensions and estimates?​
File Form 4868 (or get an automatic extension via an extension-designated e-payment) by April 15, 2026
Who qualifies to use the expanded IRS Direct File program for 2025 returns, and how does it compare to other e‑file options?​
As of January 24, 2026, the IRS Direct File expansion that is clearly documented on IRS.gov is for filing season 2025 (filing 2024 federal returns), when Direct File was offered in 25 states
Why Financial & Tax Advisors Need a More Powerful, Versatile Tax Planning Solution in 2026
In today’s rapidly evolving tax landscape, financial and tax advisors can’t rely on legacy 1040-centric software or generic calculators to deliver the depth and breadth of insight clients demand. Complex client profiles
Unlocking the New $6,000 Senior Deduction: A Powerful Tax-Saving Opportunity for 2026
The 2026 tax season brings a major financial win for Americans age 65 and older — a brand-new $6,000 senior deduction designed to put extra money back in retirees’ pockets.
Why Individual Investors and Business Owners Already Need an AI Tax Research & Planning Tool in 2026
In 2026, tax complexity isn’t just something CPAs and financial advisors wrestle with — it’s a reality that individual investors and business owners face every day
If I alternate between itemizing one year and taking the standard deduction the next, can that lower my total 2‑year tax cost?​
Yes. Because the choice to itemize vs. take the standard deduction is made separately each tax year, alternating can reduce your combined 2-year tax when you can “concentrate” deductible payments into one year
What kinds of expenses make itemizing worthwhile compared with the 2025 standard deduction levels?​
To make itemizing worthwhile for 2025, your allowable Schedule A total generally needs to exceed your 2025 standard deduction amount: $15,750 (single or MFS), $23,625 (head of household), or $31,500 (MFJ or qualifying surviving spouse).Â
As a senior (65+), how do the new temporary senior standard deduction and existing age-based add-ons work for 2025–2028?​
For tax years 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 (i.e., taxable years beginning before January 1, 2029), there is an additional deduction of $6,000 for each qualified individual who is age 65+ by the end of the tax year
How did the 2025 and 2026 standard deduction amounts change for single, married, and head of household filers?​
The standard deduction increased from tax year 2025 to tax year 2026 as follows (these are the basic standard deduction amounts, before any additional amounts for age 65+ and/or blindness):
Should I take the higher 2025 standard deduction or itemize my deductions on my 2025 return?​
For 2025, the IRS’s current guidance reflecting 2025 law changes shows these standard deduction amounts: