Standard mileage rates decrease from 2019 to 2020
The IRS issued the standard mileage rates for 2020 for business, charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes, as well as other deduction amounts.
Expenses & Deductions
Recent developments in individual taxation
This semiannual update of recent developments in the area of individual taxation includes cases on hobby losses, innocent-spouse relief, material participation in a business, discharge of indebtedness, and self-employment tax, as well as IRS guidance on charitable deductions, cryptocurrency, and other topics.
Optimal choice of entity for the QBI deduction
The enactment of the Sec. 199A QBI deduction adds a new consideration to the form of entity analysis because the QBI deduction available to a business owner may vary depending on a business’s entity form. This article discusses the differences in calculating the QBI deduction for S corporations and LLCs in a variety of scenarios.
Proposed regs. issued on meal and entertainment expense deductions
The IRS issued proposed rules clarifying that taxpayers may generally continue to deduct 50% of the food and beverage expenses associated with operating their trade or business, despite changes to the meal and entertainment expense deduction under Sec. 274.
IRS clarifies per-diem rules after TCJA changes
The IRS issued updated rules for substantiating the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses paid or incurred while traveling using the per-diem rates.
IRS explains TCJA’s effect on standard mileage rate rules
The IRS updated rules concerning the use of standard mileage rates and to reflect the current suspension of miscellaneous itemized deductions and moving expense deductions.
IRS issues 2020 standard mileage rates
On the last day of 2019, the IRS issued the standard mileage rates for 2020 for business, charitable, medical, or moving expense purposes, as well as other deduction amounts.
The business meal expense deduction after the TCJA
This article explores the competing perspectives and discusses the IRS’s interim guidance on the deductibility of business meals.
Final regulations permit casualty loss deductions in prior years
The IRS finalized regulations permitting taxpayers to deduct disaster losses in the prior tax year and removed the related temporary regulations that were issued in 2016.
Sec. 199A update: Tax planning and issues to consider
This article discusses some specific issues to consider for tax year 2019.
Rental real estate businesses can qualify for QBI deduction
The IRS issued a revenue procedure describing the requirements taxpayers have to meet to be a rental real estate business that qualifies for the safe harbor to be treated as a trade or business in order to qualify for the Sec. 199A qualified business income deduction.
Per-diem method clarified in light of TCJA changes
The IRS issued updated rules for substantiating the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses paid or incurred while traveling away from home using the per-diem rates.
Use of standard mileage rate, other rules are updated for TCJA
The IRS updated its rules concerning the use of standard mileage rates and to reflect the current suspension of miscellaneous itemized deductions and moving expense deductions.
TIGTA reports large increase in alimony tax gap
Discrepancies between the amount of alimony deducted by payers and reported as income by its recipients increased by 38% in six years, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reported.
Maximizing the QBI deduction with UBIA property
This article examines the calculation of the UBIA of qualified property; offers guidance on special situations such as like-kind exchanges and the Sec. 754 election; and presents planning opportunities to maximize the UBIA of qualified property.
Taxpayers may deduct casualty losses in prior years
The IRS finalized regulations permitting taxpayers to deduct disaster losses in the prior tax year and removed the related temporary regulations that were issued in 2016.
Pitfalls and treasures of the QBI deduction
The QBI deduction raises new considerations for retirement contributions and accounting method changes for small businesses.
Safe harbor allows QBI deduction for rental real estate businesses
The IRS issued a revenue procedure describing the requirements taxpayers have to meet to be a rental real estate business that qualifies for the safe harbor to be treated as a trade or business in order to qualify for the Sec. 199A qualified business income deduction.
Limiting business interest expense
Under new Sec. 163(j), business interest expense deductions are limited, and a business interest expense that is disallowed in the current year is carried forward to the succeeding tax year.
Current developments in individual taxation
This article is a semiannual review of recent developments in individual federal taxation, covering cases, rulings, and guidance on a variety of topics.
