Tag: tax

Top Ten Tax Topics of 2021

christopherfloss

It’s April 15, which, in pre-Covid times, was considered “Tax Day” for the majority of American taxpayers. Since it still is “Tax Day” for some filers, I thought I’d share the following federal tax topics which have been circulating in the news during the first few months of 2021:

  1. Deadline Extension. The IRS extended the federal 2020 tax filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021 for Form 1040 filers. All other returns with an April 15 deadline are not automatically extended. The first quarter federal income tax extension payment remains due on April 15.
  2. Response Times. IRS response times are still delayed due to reduced staff at IRS service centers. E-file remains the best option for efficient processing of returns. A significant number of 2019 paper-filed returns have yet to be processed.
  3. Gift and Estate Tax. Currently, the federal lifetime exemption amount remains at $11,700,000. The Biden Administration has indicated that a proposal may be coming to reduce this amount to $3,500,000. If enacted, this change will subject more estates to estate tax. Strategic planning through lifetime gifting or other techniques can be initiated now to minimize, if not eliminate, estate tax exposure.
  4. RMDs. Required Minimum Distributions from IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are in full force for 2021. For some, the 2020 hiatus demonstrated that drawing from other sources of income was sufficient for maintaining lifestyle demands. Qualified Charitable Distributions remain a viable alternative to realizing income from RMDs.
  5. Charitable Contribution Deductions. Individual taxpayers are permitted to deduct up to $300 for cash donations to public charities without itemizing deductions on Schedule A. Individual donors may continue to deduct up to 100% of their AGI for cash contributions to public charities.
  6. Unemployment Income Exclusion. The American Rescue Plan enacted in early 2021 provides for the exclusion of up to $10,200 of unemployment income for taxpayers who received unemployment income and have a modified adjusted gross income under $150,000.
  7. Recovery Rebate Credit. The Recovery Rebate Credit acts as a “true up” to the stimulus payment program initiated in early 2020. The 2020 stimulus payments were based on income reported in 2019. Taxpayers who would have qualified for a stimulus payment based on income reported in 2020 may be entitled to receive a credit up to the full amount of the first two stimulus payment amounts.
  8. PPP Loan Forgiveness. The CARES Act provided that PPP loans issued to qualifying businesses that are forgiven are not taxable income. Note that expenses paid with forgiven loan amounts are not deductible.
  9. Employee Retention Credit. The employee retention credit initially enacted under the CARES Act remains in place for the first two quarters of 2021. Eligible employers may be able to obtain a refundable tax credit against the employer’s share of Social Security tax up to 70% of the qualified wages paid to employees between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021.
  10. Corporate Tax. The corporate tax rate remains at 21%. The Biden Administration proposes to increase this rate to 28%. If enacted, this rate increase may force corporate entities to explore more tax favorable entities or jurisdictions.

Only 250 Hours? Sec. 199A and Rental Real Estate.

christopherfloss

While most of the posts on this blog pertain to estate planning topics, there are a few income tax related items that are making the tax headlines.

Tax professionals are in the midst of sorting through the nuances of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Act”) as they begin to prepare 2018 income tax returns.  A notable addition to the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) as a result of the Act is Sec. 199A, which allows a deduction up to 20 percent of a non-corporate taxpayer’s qualified business income.  This new deduction only applies to a qualified trade or business other than a specified service trade (as further defined).  The definition of a trade or business remains consistent with Sec. 162’s standard.

The Department of Treasury has proposed regulations for this new section.  Additionally, the Internal Revenue Service has issued guidance on several items related to the new deduction, one of which is a separate safe harbor for owners of rental real estate who wish to avail themselves of the deduction.

IRS Notice 2019-07 (the “Notice”) provides that a rental real estate enterprise will be treated as a trade or business for purposes of Sec. 199A if the following requirements are satisfied during the taxable year:

(1)  separate books and records are maintained to reflect income and expenses for each rental real estate enterprise;

(2)  for tax years prior to January 1, 2023, 250 or more hours of rental services are performed per year with respect to the rental enterprise; for tax years after December 31, 2022, 250 or more hours of rental services are performed in any three of the five consecutive taxable years; and

(3)  the taxpayer maintains contemporaneous records, including time reports, logs, or similar documents, regarding the following:  (i) hours of all services performed; (ii) description of all services performed; (iii) dates on which such services were performed; and (iv) who performed the services.

According to the Notice, a rental real estate enterprise is an interest in real property held for the production of rents and may consist of an interest in multiple properties.

Keep in mind that these requirements are solely for purposes of determining the eligibility of the taxpayer’s QBI deduction under Sec. 199A.

Rental real estate owners should recognize most of these requirements since they are very similar to the real estate professional rules under the Sec. 469 Regulations.  However, the reduction of the hour requirement may provide an additional tax incentive to those taxpayers who devote 250 hours of activity to rental real estate activities.

It is strongly advised that taxpayers consult with their tax counsel to ensure compliance with this new safe harbor.

An $11 Million Exemption?! Estate Planning Considerations and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

christopherfloss

January 1, 2018 ushered in more than a new year for taxpaying Americans. Tax professionals of all areas of concentration continue to study the changes to the Internal Revenue Code enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.  Most media reports have focused on the changes affecting income tax, such as doubling the standard deduction, eliminating personal exemptions, cutting back on certain deductions and adding a new treatment of “passthrough” income.  Few reports have addressed the one change in the federal estate tax:  doubling the exemption amount.  While this change is not nearly as exciting as the changes to the income tax, it does warrant consideration as taxpayers of varying degrees of net worth attempt to implement tax efficient estate plans.

Under the new law, individuals now have approximately $11 million of exemption before they are subject to federal estate tax. The “portability” of a spouse’s unused exemption has not been changed, which means that a married couple has a collective exemption amount of approximately $22 million.  Note, however, that the new law sunsets on January 1, 2026, with a reversion to the pre-2018 exemption amount thereafter.  So, what does one do?

Taxpayers whose net worth is above the new exemption amount should consider using the increased exemption amount as a further opportunity to continue moving value out of their estates. The use of irrevocable gift trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), transfers to intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs) and  family limited partnerships (FLPs) are still viable methods to move value (particularly rapidly appreciating assets) from one generation to the next by minimizing the sting of the estate tax.

Also, taxpayers subject to a state estate tax should determine whether the change in the federal law also increases the exemption at the state level. For example, Illinois has a fixed exemption amount of $4 million that is not indexed to the federal exemption amount.  Other states, such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, also have exemptions significantly less than the federal exemption.  Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawaii, and Maine currently have exemption amounts that are indexed to the federal exemption amount.  Maryland and New York are set to have exemption amounts indexed to the federal exemption as of January 1, 2019.

Furthermore, taxpayers who are no longer affected by the estate tax due to the increase in exemption, but have previously implemented value-based estate planning techniques to remove value from their estates, should consider options to utilize the step-up in basis wherever possible. Assets that are considered part of a decedent’s estate at death receive a “step-up” in basis to the fair market value of such assets as of the decedent’s date of death.  Effectively utilizing this rule will be more important so as to minimize post-death capital gains tax.

Taxpayers with a net worth significantly less than both the federal and, if applicable, state estate tax exemptions should still be concerned with post-death income tax planning considerations, such as an effective use of the step-up rule to minimize post-death capital gains (as discussed above) and the transfer of income to taxpayers who are taxed at a lower income tax rate.

Finally, annual per donee exclusion gifting is still an option for making gifts to individuals. An individual may gift up to $15,000 per year to an individual without any gift tax implications.

Opportunity exists for planning at all levels and the implications of the increased federal estate tax exemption should be considered in the context of a taxpayer’s specific circumstances.

S-Corps and Saving Tax

christopherfloss

Recently, President Obama enacted the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015.  While there are several changes to the tax code covered in this Act, the following linked article addresses a permanent change to the recognition period for built-in gains for the sale of assets within the S-corp tax structure.  Read here for a brief summary:  Less Time To Tax!

Avoid Paying Penalties To The IRS!

christopherfloss

Today marks the extension deadline for 2014 partnership and calendar-year corporate returns.  Before it’s too late, now is a good time to remember October 15, which is the extension deadline for personal returns.  If you timely filed an extension for your 2014 personal tax filing, make sure you file your return on or before October 15.

Around the April 15 deadline, the following press release was issued regarding the extent to which penalties may be assessed for federal income tax that’s not paid by April 15:  Tax Attorney Advice on Avoiding Interest and Penalties for Outstanding Tax Liabilities.  It may be worthwhile to review your particular tax situation so that you can avoid paying unnecessary penalties and interest in the future!

Win Big In Vegas? Uncle Sam Does Too!!!

christopherfloss

If you’ve ever been to Las Vegas, you know first-hand the allure of the gambling scene. Rows of card game tables, flashing lights on the slot machines and the shouts of joy as fellow gamblers strike it big—these are the sights and sounds that entice casino patrons to place the wager on the line. If you’re fortunate to come out ahead of the game, you may not be the only one winning. Gambling winnings are subject to income tax.

The Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) defines gross income as “. . . all income from whatever source derived . . .”[1] While this Code section lists various types of income that fit into this definition, the Regulations provide that gross income “. . . is not limited to the items so enumerated.”[2]

Internal Revenue Service Publication 525 provides that gambling winnings are to be included in line 21 of the taxpayer’s Form 1040.[3]

Furthermore, the IRS requires the payer of gambling winnings to report any winnings that meet the following criteria: (1) the winnings are $1,200 or more from bingo or slot machines, (2) the winnings are $1,500 (reduced by the wager) or more from a keno game, (3) the winnings are more than $5,000 (reduced by the wager or buy-in) from a poker tournament, (4) the winnings, reduced by the wager, are $600 or more and 300 times the amount of the wager, or (5) the winnings are subject to federal income tax withholding.[4] So, if your winnings meet any of these criteria, you will receive a Form W2-G listing your winnings and any income tax withheld.

For most infrequent gambling patrons, this question is more pertinent: are gambling losses deductible? The answer: it depends. The Code provides that wagering losses are deductible to the extent of gains derived from such transactions.[5] Additionally, the Code categorizes wagering losses as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the two percent limitation.[6] As a result, in order to be able to deduct any portion of incurred gambling losses, the taxpayer must (a) itemize his or her deductions for the applicable tax year and (b) incur expenses categorized as miscellaneous itemized deductions in excess of two percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.[7] Any portion of miscellaneous itemized deductions that exceeds the two percent limitation may be deducted on Schedule A.

Separate rules apply to “professional gamblers,” which are beyond the scope of this brief explanation.

[1] IRC § 61(a).

[2] Treas. Reg. § 1.61(a)

[3] IRS Pub. 525.

[4] IRS Instructions for Forms W2-G and 5754.

[5] IRC § 165(d).

[6] Id. at § 67(b)(3).

[7] For further discussion on itemizing expenses, see “Can I Write That Off?”

Trusts and Tax Planning

christopherfloss

Trusts have become a very common element to modern estate planning. Clients are often confused as to the different types of trusts available for various planning needs. One major distinction among the types of trusts is whether it is revocable or irrevocable. This distinction may have significant income and gift tax consequences that need to be explored in the planning process.
See this brief article to begin exploring the income tax consequences of creating an irrevocable trust.