The IRS on Wednesday issued proposed regulations to implement Sec. 512(a)(3)(E), which limits the amount of exempt function income that can be set aside when calculating the unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) of Sec. 501(c)(9) voluntary employee beneficiary associations (VEBA) and Sec. 501(c)(17) supplemental unemployment benefit trusts (SUBs) (REG-143874-10). This
Business tax
Final regs. issued on Sec. 382 ownership changes
On Oct. 22, the IRS released long-awaited final regulations on owner shifts and ownership changes under Sec. 382. The rules, contained in T.D. 9638, retain a taxpayer-friendly exception for small shareholders and provide a new anti-abuse rule. Sec. 382 limits a corporation’s use of net operating loss (NOL) carryovers and
IRA-owned LLC’s payment to owner results in retroactive tax and penalties
The Tax Court held that compensation received by a taxpayer from a limited liability company (LLC) that was almost entirely owned by the taxpayer’s individual retirement account (IRA) resulted in several types of self-dealing prohibited transactions. Thus, the IRA owning the LLC automatically terminated as of the first day of the
Implementing the new tangible property regulations
Know the revised “repair regs.” and their implications for property acquisition, improvement, and disposition.
Claiming the small employer health insurance tax credit
Small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees should learn about this credit and claim it if they are eligible.
Proposed rules address disguised sales and partnership liabilities
On Wednesday, the IRS issued proposed regulations on disguised sales of property to or by a partnership under Sec. 707 and the treatment of partnership liabilities under Sec. 752 (REG-119305-11). The IRS says the proposed regulations are designed to address “deficiencies and technical ambiguities” in the current regulations. Disguised sales
Partnership basis rules proposed
The IRS on Wednesday issued proposed regulations providing guidance on the application of Sec. 704(c)(1)(C) added by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, P.L. 108-357 (AJCA), and the amendments to the mandatory basis adjustment rules of Sec. 743 in the AJCA. The proposed regulations would also conform the regulations
Proposed regulations change definition of R&D expenditures
The IRS recently provided guidance on the treatment under Sec. 174 of research and development (R&D) expenditures incurred in connection with the development of tangible property, including pilot models (REG-124148-05). The proposed regulations would, among other things, settle the question of whether the sale of a product resulting from otherwise
Internet Tax Freedom Act preempts Illinois click-through nexus law
The Supreme Court of Illinois held in October that the state’s click-through nexus law is expressly preempted by the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), P.L. 105-277, which prohibits states from imposing discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. The Illinois law (35 Ill. Comp. Stat. 105/2) expanded the definition of retailers
Buckle up for tax season
For taxpayers and their CPA return preparers, now is the time to power their way through filing season, hopefully with a minimum of hassle. Plus: The JofA’s annual Quick Guide, a printable card that contains dollar thresholds, tax tables, standard amounts, credits, and deductions to keep at your fingertips during tax season.
IRS announces automation of taxpayer resources, start of business filing season
The IRS announced on its website that, beginning in 2014, it will stop providing a number of taxpayer assistance services in person or over the phone and will shift those services online. The move is designed to free up IRS employees to help taxpayers deal with issues, such as identity
Proposed rules would require terminating partnerships to amortize startup expenditures
On Friday, the IRS issued proposed regulations aimed at preventing partnerships from using technical terminations to accelerate their deductions of startup and organizational expenses (REG-126285-12). When finalized, the regulations will apply to technical terminations of partnerships that occur on or after Dec. 9, 2013. Under Sec. 708(b)(1), a partnership terminates
Numerous provisions expire at year end
Taxpayers and practitioners breathed a sigh of relief in January when Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), P.L. 112-240, at the last minute, bringing some certainty to a host of provisions that had been uncertain. Many expired and expiring provisions were extended by ATRA, including the
Supreme Court resolves circuit split on 40% gross valuation misstatement penalty
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the 40% penalty for a gross valuation misstatement applied when the partnerships at issue had been determined to be shams that lacked economic substance, and, as a result, the partners’ outside basis in the partnerships was zero (Woods, No. 12-562 (U.S. 12/3/13),
FICA and FUTA caps refer to common law employment relationships
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a lower court decision that the wage caps for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) must be calculated by reference to common law employment relationships rather than statutory employment relationships. Thus, a payroll service company
Long-awaited repair regulations are issued
The IRS issued long-awaited final regulations (T.D. 9636) regarding the treatment of expenditures incurred in acquiring, producing, or improving tangible assets, including rules on determining whether costs related to tangible property are deductible repairs or capital improvements. The IRS noted that it had received many comments on the regulations, most
IRS bound to honor designation of voluntary payment by one taxpayer of another’s liability
In a reviewed opinion, the Tax Court held that the IRS must follow a corporation’s designation of voluntary payments toward the income tax liabilities of its owners/employees. However, because the payments did not represent taxes withheld at the source, the IRS was allowed to levy on the assets of the
IRS issues employment tax refund procedures for same-sex spouses
In Notice 2013-61, the IRS announced the procedures employers should follow for filing refund claims for overpaid Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and income taxes paid on employer-provided benefits for same-sex spouses that, because of the Supreme Court’s Windsor decision, are now tax free. The notice provides two streamlined administrative
Tenth Circuit resurrects Colorado’s Amazon law
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals recently dismissed a lower court’s permanent injunction that had enjoined Colorado from enforcing its Amazon law requiring remote sellers to report sales in the state. The Tenth Circuit held that the Tax Injunction Act (TIA) precludes federal jurisdiction over the claim that Colorado’s law
Final rules released on 0.9% Medicare surtax
The IRS issued final regulations governing the 0.9% Medicare surtax, which took effect this year (T.D. 9645). The regulations contain guidance for employers and individuals on the implementation of the tax, including the requirement to file a return reporting the tax, the process for employers to make adjustments of underpayments
Features
SPONSORED REPORT
Preparing clients for new provisions next tax season
As the 2025 filing season approaches, H.R. 1 introduces significant tax reforms that CPAs must be prepared to navigate. These legislative changes represent some of the most comprehensive tax updates in recent years, affecting both individual and corporate taxpayers. This report provides in-depth analysis and guidance on H.R. 1.
