How the suspension of personal exemptions affects health-care-related provisions

The IRS on Thursday explained how taxpayers who may be eligible for the Sec. 36B premium tax credit or who may have to pay the Sec. 5000A shared-responsibility payment should determine their status now that the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, P.L. 115-97, has reduced the personal exemption deduction under Sec. …

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Tax reform law deals pro gamblers a losing hand

Professional gamblers' decadelong streak of being able to deduct a net loss from gambling as a trade or business was ended this year by P.L. 115-97, known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA). Although a relatively minor facet of the wide-ranging tax reform package, the TCJA's amendment to Sec. 165 overturning …

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Rules issued on paid family and medical leave credit

The IRS on Monday issued 34 questions and answers on new Sec. 45S, which was added by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, P.L. 115-97, to provide a general business credit for employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees (Notice 2018-71). The credit equals a percentage of …

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Meals continue to be deductible under new IRS guidance

The IRS on Wednesday issued guidance clarifying that taxpayers may generally continue to deduct 50% of the food and beverage expenses associated with operating their trade or business, despite changes to the meal and entertainment expense deduction under Sec. 274 made by the tax law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), P.L. …

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Rules issued on paid family and medical leave credit

The IRS on Monday issued 34 questions and answers on new Sec. 45S, which was added by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, P.L. 115-97, to provide a general business credit for employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees (Notice 2018-71). The credit equals a percentage of …

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IRS issues 2018–2019 per-diem rates

Business travelers who incur expenses while traveling away from home have new per-diem rates to use in substantiating certain of those expenses (Notice 2018-77). The new rates are in effect from Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019. The IRS on Wednesday provided the 2018–2019 special per-diem rates, including the transportation industry meal and incidental …

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Leasing property to a corporation

Shareholders of closely held C corporations commonly lease real estate, equipment, and other property to the corporate entity, either directly or through a separate partnership, a limited liability company, or an S corporation. Advantages that can motivate these rental arrangements include the following: Avoiding payroll taxes: Rental income from real estate is not subject to …

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5 key benefits of cash balance plans

Much uncertainty exists in health care due to the constantly evolving health care environment. Physicians are dealing with vast amounts of new regulations and costs because of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, and other recent legislation. Providers are looking for ways to reduce their tax burden. Many are looking at their …

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Sec. 163(j) places renewed importance on tax shelter status

The revised limitation on interest expense brought about by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), P.L. 115-97, may affect a broader base of businesses than originally anticipated by many. The newly minted Sec. 163(j) limits the deduction for business interest to the sum of business interest income and 30% of …

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