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Treatment of Prior-Period Expenses under Sec. 199

Taxpayers that are eligible for the domestic production activities deduction under Sec. 199 often face the difficult question of how to properly allocate prior-period expenses between activities that created domestic production gross receipts (DPGR) and activities that did not create DPGR (non-DPGR).

Renewable Energy Tax Incentives

As part of the economic stimulus, federal and state governments are stepping up their efforts to encourage individuals and businesses to take advantage of renewable energy technologies to be more energy efficient. These incentives include income tax incentives, sales or property tax incentives, rebates, grants, loans, industry support, and bonds (these vary by jurisdiction).

Homebuyer Credit, NOL Carrybacks Extended; Mandatory E-Filing Enacted

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 contains a handful of tax provisions. These include changes to the first-time homebuyers’ credit, increased NOL carrybacks for small businesses, and mandatory e-filing for most tax return preparers.

Court of Federal Claims Upholds LILO Transaction

The Court of Federal Claims held that a lease-in, lease-out (LILO) transaction involving a Dutch power plant undertaken by a New York utility company was a valid business transaction that had economic substance.

LMSB Identifies New Repairs Issue

In an IRS Large and Mid-Size Business (LMSB) Division memorandum (LMSB-4-0509-019), the IRS notified LMSB executives of an emerging issue relating to the recharacterization of costs associated with tangible assets previously capitalized under Sec. 263(a) as currently deductible repairs under Sec. 162.

Grants in Lieu of Business Energy Credits

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 included the option to receive a cash grant in lieu of taking the business energy credit for taxpayers who place in service specified energy property.

Charitable Contribution of Qualified Conservation Easement

The Tax Court held that a conservation easement of air space over an historic structure that was donated by a taxpayer to a nonprofit organization did not meet the requirements to be considered a qualified conservation easement.

Determining Basis in Tax-Free Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions are often a significant component of the growth strategies for many companies. CPAs who support these activities can help acquiring companies decide whether to buy the assets of the target corporation or acquire its stock.

AMT Consequences of an Ownership Change

While most tax planning routinely contemplates the impact of the Sec. 382 limitation on the use of a corporation’s net unrealized built-in losses (NUBILs) following an ownership change, the corresponding impact of Sec. 56(g)(4)(G) for adjusted current earnings (ACE) is often overlooked and may have a significantly different effect than Sec. 382.

Intangibles Can Be Like-Kind Property

The IRS ruled that exchanged intangibles such as trademarks, trade names, mastheads, and advertiser and subscriber accounts may be eligible for like-kind exchange treatment.

Merger Termination Fee Deductible

The Tax Court held that a termination fee paid by the taxpayer to cancel a merger agreement in order to consummate a more lucrative merger was deductible.