Deemed personal exemption amount introduced for various tax benefits

The IRS on Tuesday announced that it plans to issue regulations providing that the reduction in the personal exemption amount to zero for tax years 2018 through 2025 will not be taken into account in determining whether a person is a qualifying relative under Sec. 152(d)(1)(B) (Notice 2018-70). Accordingly, in defining a qualifying relative for …

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Proposed rules would curb avoidance of SALT deduction limit

Under proposed regulations issued by the IRS on Thursday, transfers to a state agency or charitable organization in lieu of paying state and local taxes would be deductible as a charitable contribution only to the extent that the taxpayer making the donation did not receive a quid pro quo (REG-112176-18). Contributions that result in a …

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Proposed regs. address several transition tax issues

The IRS issued proposed regulations on Wednesday on the Sec. 965 transition tax, which was added to the Code by P.L. 115-97, the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (REG-104226-18). Sec. 965 applies to the last tax year of a deferred foreign income corporation (DFIC) that begins before Jan. 1, 2018. The …

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Final rules govern adequate substantiation for charitable contributions

The IRS published final regulations that implement changes made by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, P.L. 108-357, and the Pension Protection Act of 2006, P.L. 109-280, to the substantiation and reporting rules for charitable contributions under Sec. 170 (T.D. 9836). The final regulations set forth the substantiation requirements for contributions of more than …

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IRS warns small businesses about tax return identity theft

The IRS warned employers and small businesses to beware of growing attempts by cybercriminals to target businesses to obtain the business's and employees' information. These criminals then use the stolen information to open credit card accounts and file fraudulent tax returns for "bogus refunds." In the past two years, the IRS has noted an increase …

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IRS issues final regulations on electing out of centralized partnership audit regime

The IRS and Treasury published final regulations (T.D. 9829) on Jan. 2, 2018, that provide guidance on electing out of the new centralized partnership audit regime introduced by the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2015, P.L. 114-74. It is important that partners, partnerships, and their representatives be aware of the rules in the final regulations …

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Mechanics of the new Sec. 199A deduction for qualified business income

One of the more important provisions in P.L. 115-97, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted Dec. 22, 2017, is new Sec. 199A, the deduction for qualified business income (QBI). Sec. 199A allows a deduction for up to 20% of QBI from partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), S corporations, trusts, estates, and soleproprietorships. …

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1 Out of Every 4 Small Businesses with Employees Lacks Workers’ Comp Coverage

Not only can workers’ compensation help protect injured workers from having to pay expensive medical bills, it can potentially prevent them from suing their employer to recoup their medical expenses.A recent poll conducted by Insureon and Manta found that of the more than 900 small business owners surveyed who have employees, 26 percent do not …

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Casualty losses and expenditures under Sec. 162 or 165

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The deduction for an individual's personal casualty loss of property not connected with (1) a trade or business or (2) a transaction entered into for profit arising after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2026, has been eliminated, with several exceptions. Business taxpayers may deduct amounts paid for repairs and maintenance to …

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