IRS Audits for Car & Truck Expenses, What You Need to Know

There are a number of issues that the IRS frequently examines on audit.  Car and truck expenses are high on that list.  The applicable rules and court cases must be reviewed before presenting records to the IRS to substantiate car …

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Intercompany Fee Arrangement Lacks Economic Substance

If the employees and owners of a profitable C corporation set up a related entity and lease the employee-owner’s services back to the C corporation, can the C corporation deduct the payments?  Taking it a step further, what if the related entity …

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Intercompany Fee Arrangement Lacks Economic Substance

Line Of Credit Standby Fees, To Deduct Or To Capitalize?

If the employees and owners of a profitable C corporation set up a related entity and lease the employee-owner’s services back to the C corporation, can the C corporation deduct the payments?  Taking it a step further, what if the related entity is owned by a retirement plan so that most of the payments by… Continue reading Intercompany Fee Arrangement Lacks Economic Substance

Conversations Between Spouses Not Evidence of Tax Crimes

Can the IRS record conversations between a husband and wife and use the recordings as evidence for tax crimes?  The court addressed this in United States v. Fomichev, No. 16-50227 (9th Cir. 2018) holding that marital communications are privileged even …

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The Trade or Business Requirement for the Sec. 199A Deduction

The new Sec. 199A deduction that provides a 20 percent benefit for flow through entities has been in the news as of late.  The Yaryan v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2018-129, case provides an opportunity to consider one aspect of this new Sec. 199A deduct…

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The Trade or Business Requirement for the Sec. 199A Deduction

The Trade Or Business Requirement For The Sec. 199a Deduction

The new Sec. 199A deduction that provides a 20 percent benefit for flow through entities has been in the news as of late.  The Yaryan v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2018-129, case provides an opportunity to consider one aspect of this new Sec. 199A deduction.  Specifically, the Treasury released regulations that adopt a “trade or business” standard… Continue reading The Trade or Business Requirement for the Sec. 199A Deduction

Litigation Award for Damage to Dairy Farm Ordinary Not Capital

If a dairy farmer receives an award for damages to the farm, is the damage award capital or ordinary?  The distinction is important.  Unlike ordinary income, capital gains are generally afforded lower tax rates and not subject to self-employment taxes….

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Litigation Award for Damage to Dairy Farm Ordinary Not Capital

Line Of Credit Standby Fees, To Deduct Or To Capitalize?

If a dairy farmer receives an award for damages to the farm, is the damage award capital or ordinary?  The distinction is important.  Unlike ordinary income, capital gains are generally afforded lower tax rates and not subject to self-employment taxes.  The court considered this fact pattern in Allen v. United States, No. 16-C-1412 (E.D. Wis. 2018). Facts &… Continue reading Litigation Award for Damage to Dairy Farm Ordinary Not Capital

Discharging Unpaid Taxes in Bankruptcy

There are circumstances when unpaid taxes can be discharged in bankruptcy.  The recent United States v. Mayer, No. 16-626-RGA (D. Del. 2018), case provides an opportunity to consider these bankruptcy-tax rules. Facts & Procedural History The case …

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Whistleblower Using Public Information Cannot Remain Anonymous

We have previously written about the court’s position that serial whistleblowers, those who submit more than one whistleblower claim with the IRS, cannot remain anonymous when litigating the right to their whistleblower claims.  In Whistleblower …

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