Montana · Investment Advisory Fees Deduction
Investment Advisory Fees Deduction in Montana (2026)
Investment advisory and management fees are currently suspended for individuals but remain deductible for trusts and estates through 2025. Montana has a progressive income tax with a top rate of 5.65%, so a Montana filer's combined marginal rate on the next dollar at $60,560 of income is about 16.7% (12% federal + 4.7% MT).
2026 savings example for Montana
Planning estimate for a single filer earning $60,560 (Montana median household income in LevyIO's state dataset) who removes $5,000 from taxable income. Federal tax uses the 2026 IRS brackets after the $16,100 standard deduction; MT tax uses the state brackets in LevyIO's dataset and assumes the state follows the federal treatment.
Estimated total savings
$835
Federal savings
$600
$5,087 → $4,487 · 12% bracket
MT state savings
$235
$2,090 → $1,855 · 4.7% marginal
Combined marginal rate
16.7%
≈ $167 saved per $1,000 deducted
Federal × Montana marginal rates (2026, single)
Gross-income ranges include the federal standard deduction. The MT column is the state marginal rate at the midpoint of each range. The last column is the tax saved per $1,000 deducted at that combined rate.
| Federal bracket | Gross income (single) | MT marginal | Combined | Per $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $16,100 - $28,500 | 4.7% | 14.7% | $147 |
| 12% | $28,500 - $66,500 | 4.7% | 16.7% | $167 |
| 22% | $66,500 - $121,800 | 5.65% | 27.65% | $277 |
| 24% | $121,800 - $217,875 | 5.65% | 29.65% | $297 |
| 32% | $217,875 - $272,325 | 5.65% | 37.65% | $377 |
| 35% | $272,325 - $656,700 | 5.65% | 40.65% | $407 |
| 37% | Over $656,700 | 5.65% | 42.65% | $427 |
Eligibility & forms
Investors paying fees for investment management within IRAs or trusts
- Suspended for individuals 2018-2025 under TCJA
- Still deductible for trusts and estates
- Must be paid outside the investment account for IRAs
Federal forms: Schedule A, Form 1041
Montana filing notes
Use Montana DOR tax tables before filing, especially if you have long-term capital gains. This calculator models ordinary income and does not split capital gains from wages or other ordinary income.
Common mistakes: Trying to deduct personal investment fees under current law; Not using IRA funds to pay fees directly; Missing trust-level deduction opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
How much can the Investment Advisory Fees Deduction save a Montana taxpayer in 2026?
In LevyIO's example, a single filer with $60,560 of income (the Montana median household income in our state dataset) who removes $5,000 from taxable income saves about $600 in 2026 federal tax (12% marginal bracket) plus about $235 in Montana tax (4.7% state marginal rate), roughly $835 combined. It is a planning estimate computed from the 2026 IRS brackets and LevyIO's MT bracket data, not a survey figure.
What is the Montana income tax rate for 2026?
Montana has a progressive income tax with a top rate of 5.65%. The MT standard deduction in LevyIO's dataset is $16,100 single / $32,200 married. Two ordinary-income rates to 5.65%. No statewide sales tax. Separate net long-term capital gains rates.
Who qualifies for the Investment Advisory Fees Deduction in Montana?
Investors paying fees for investment management within IRAs or trusts. The federal rules are the same in every state; the requirements are: Suspended for individuals 2018-2025 under TCJA; Still deductible for trusts and estates; Must be paid outside the investment account for IRAs. Montana filers should confirm on the MT return whether the state follows the federal treatment.
Which forms do I file to claim the Investment Advisory Fees Deduction?
Federal: Schedule A, Form 1041. Montana: check the Montana Department of Revenue instructions for the matching state schedule. Common mistakes: Trying to deduct personal investment fees under current law; Not using IRA funds to pay fees directly; Missing trust-level deduction opportunities.
Investment Advisory Fees Deduction in other states
Sources
Reviewed 2026-09-17. Estimates are educational planning figures computed from the IRS 2026 inflation adjustments and LevyIO's state bracket dataset; they are not tax advice.