The Tax Court held that a trustee’s activities in a trade or business of a trust was work performed by an individual, and, therefore, it was possible for a trust to qualify for the Sec. 469(c)(7) exception to the treatment of rental real estate activities as per se passive activities.
Taxation of Estates & Trusts
Final Rules on Fiduciary Fees Are Issued
The IRS issued final regulations on the controversial question of which costs incurred by trust and estates are subject to the 2% floor on miscellaneous deductions under Sec. 67(a).
Rev. Proc. 2014-18: Automatic Extension for Qualifying Estates to Elect Portability
IRS recently issued Rev. Proc. 2014-18, which provides an automatic extension for certain taxpayers to elect portability of the deceased spousal unused exclusion.
How the Sec. 1411 Tax Applies to CRTs and Beneficiaries
This item discusses how the net investment income tax under Sec. 1411 applies to charitable remainder trusts and their beneficiaries.
The Mechanics of Decanting
This item addresses the mechanics of decanting and provides guidance on how not to spill or otherwise compromise the trust assets.
Case Law Opens Options for Trusts Looking to Minimize State Income Taxes
Armed with two planning strategies derived from recent cases involving the taxation and administration of trusts, tax advisers can take steps to alleviate the state tax burden on undistributed trust income.
Coordinating Charitable Trusts and Private Foundations for the Business Owner: Complying With UBIT and Self-Dealing Rules
This item details some charitable giving options for owners of closely held businesses, the applicable unrelated business income and self-dealing rules, and best practices for taxpayers who have these charitable desires and restrictions.
Estates Get Simplified Method to Request Extended Time to Make Portability Election
The IRS issued a revenue procedure that provides executors of certain estates a simplified way to request an extension of time to make the “portability” election to transfer a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exclusion to the surviving spouse
Trust Materially Participated in Real Estate Business
The Tax Court held that a trust materially participated in its rental real estate business and therefore could deduct the losses it incurred in conducting those activities as losses from nonpassive activities.
State Trust and Estate Income Tax Return Checklist
The AICPA State & Local Tax Technical Resource Panel has developed a checklist to assist practitioners with compliance for trusts and estates.
Computing the Charitable Tax Deduction for a Charitable Remainder Trust
The methods for calculating a charitable remainder annnuity trust and a charitable remainder unitrust are different because the CRUT income stream fluctuates with changes in the value of the trust property. The technicalities involved in determining the value of the income stream or the remainder interest are much more complex for a CRUT.
3.8% Net Investment Income Tax Regulations
The IRS issued final and proposed regulations giving guidance on the application and computation of the 3.8% net investment income tax imposed by Sec. 1411.
Simplified Method Offered for Requesting Extended Time to Make Portability Election
The IRS offered certain executors a simplified way to request an extension of time to make the “portability” election to transfer a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exclusion to the surviving spouse.
Top Tax News Developments in 2013
The past year featured a large number of tax developments, some of which got extensive coverage in the media, and many of which got less coverage but affect almost all taxpayers and practitioners. As we get ready to welcome a new year, here’s a look back at the most important
Election to Treat Qualified Revocable Trust as an Estate and the Separate-Share Rules
The election to treat a qualified revocable trust as an estate under Sec. 645 can result in some complicated accounting and tax consequences as well as some interesting tax planning opportunities because of the separate-share rules.
Gift Determined With Reference to Assumption of Potential Estate Tax Liability
In a departure from its own precedent, the Tax Court held that the fair market value of a donor’s taxable gift may be determined with reference to the donee’s assumption of the potential Sec. 2035(b) estate tax liability for the gift.
Final and Proposed Regs. Issued on 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax
The IRS issued final and proposed regulations giving guidance on the application and computation of the 3.8% net investment income tax imposed by Sec. 1411.
IRS Oversight of CPAs Who Provide Valuation Services
With the enactment of Sec. 6695A, the IRS was given new responsibilities to ensure the quality of appraisals and appraisers who provided information in support of a taxpayer’s federal tax filings.
IRS Releases Inflation Adjustments for 2014
The IRS issued the annual inflation adjustments for 2014 for more than 40 tax provisions and the tax tables for 2014.
Tax Court Holds Assumption of Estate Tax Liability May Reduce Value of Gift
The Tax Court denied an IRS motion for summary judgment in an estate and gift tax case where the taxpayer made gifts to her daughters while requiring them to pay any tax liability that would have been due if the taxpayer had died within three years of making the gifts.
TAX PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
2025 tax software survey
AICPA members in tax practice assess how their return preparation software performed during tax season and offer insights into their procedures.
