Hyrule's Hoarders: Trump Tax Bill Treats the Rich Like Royalty!

A Golden Opportunity... For Someone Else

By the goddesses! It seems another 'big beautiful bill' is set to bless the land but alas it appears to favor those already swimming in rupees. Tax experts whisper that this new decree will extend many of the 2017 tax cuts offering a sweet 3% boost to the after tax income of our millionaire friends. That's like finding a hidden chest full of gems... if you already own a castle! For the average Hylian the increase is a mere 2.5%. I suppose we'll have to be content with our cuccos and rusty swords.

75,000 Rupees?! Where's MY Treasure Chest?

According to the Tax Policy Center these millionaire magnates will see an average after tax income increase of $75,000 by 2026. Seventy five THOUSAND rupees! I could buy an entire stable of Eponas with that kind of coin! Meanwhile I'm over here struggling to afford a decent shield. Is it any wonder Ganondorf keeps winning? It's hard to fight evil on an empty stomach you know. At least the core provisions of the 2017 tax cut are expected to be extended always look on the bright side right?

SALTing Away the Benefits (Again!)

Ah the dreaded SALT cap! That pesky limit on state and local tax deductions. Well fear not for those earning less than 500,000 rupees (or dollars whatever currency you prefer) will see the cap rise to 40,000! It seems the Senate and House had a bit of a spat over this but thankfully they agreed on the 40,000 mark. But wait there's more! A loophole remains – a 'pass through entity tax' – allowing clever folks to avoid the cap altogether. From car dealers to dentists everyone's getting in on the action! Except of course the employees who actually *do* the work. As they say in Hyrule 'Well excuse me princess!'

Small Business Big Rewards

Calling all entrepreneurs and investors! The Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) program is getting a major upgrade. The threshold for qualifying as a 'small business' is jumping from 50 million to 75 million rupees. And the exclusion from capital gains taxes? A whopping 15 million rupees! Imagine the possibilities! One could invest 74.9 million rupees and potentially shield up to 749 million rupees from capital gains. It seems the gods are smiling... on those who already have a mountain of treasure. 'It's a secret to everybody.'

Death and Taxes (But Mostly Taxes)

The estate tax is here to stay folks! The exemption is increasing to 15 million rupees per estate (30 million for couples) and it'll even be indexed for inflation. This means the ultra wealthy can breathe a sigh of relief and continue planning their opulent estates without fear of excessive taxation. I wonder if Ganondorf has to pay estate taxes on his Dark Realm holdings? Probably not evil never pays does it?

Charity Begins... With the Rich?

A mixed bag of rupees when it comes to charitable giving. For the common folk the bill allows for a charitable deduction of up to 1,000 rupees for single filers and 2,000 for married couples even if they take the standard deduction. However for the wealthy donors who contribute the bulk of charitable funds the news isn't so grand. The bill decreases the value of charitable deductions by capping itemized deductions and setting a new floor for the itemized charitable deduction. So if you're swimming in rupees you might think twice before tossing a few coins to the needy. After all even princesses have to watch their gold!