Tax incentives for college students: Part 1
This article examines planning issues when a student is a young child whose parents are saving for college and when the student is a young adult paying for college.
Expenses & Deductions
IRS issues 2020–2021 per-diem rates
The IRS issued the 2020-2021 per-diem rates for business travelers who incur expenses while traveling away from home.
Taking business deduction for RV ends up costing taxpayers
Taking business expense deduction for RV is evidence of commercial use in warranty dispute.
Recent developments in individual taxation
This semiannual update of recent developments in the area of individual taxation includes cases on conservation easements, discharge of student loan debt, net operating loss deductions, and real estate professional status.
RIC shareholders get benefit on Sec. 199A
The IRS issued final regulations allowing regulated investment companies to report qualified real estate investment trust dividends as Sec. 199A dividends to their shareholders.
Final regs. issued on payments to charitable organizations
The IRS issued additional final regulations on payments made to charitable organizations in lieu of state and local tax credits.
When deductions are permitted for restitution payments
The IRS issued regulations explaining the allowance of deductions for certain fines and penalties under Sec. 162(f) as amended by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
IRS issues business interest expense limitation guidance
The IRS issued a package of related guidance on the business interest expense limitation enacted in the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and amended by the CARES Act.
2020 depreciation limits for cars and trucks are issued
The IRS issued the 2020 limits on depreciation deductions for cars and trucks first placed in service in 2020 and the income inclusion amounts for passenger automobiles first leased in 2020.
RIC shareholders can take Sec. 199A deduction for REIT dividends
The IRS issued final regulations allowing regulated investment companies (RICs) to report qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) dividends as Sec. 199A dividends to their shareholders.
Rules proposed for direct primary care arrangements, health care sharing ministries
The IRS issued proposed regulations defining direct primary care arrangements with doctors and health care sharing ministries and how payments for them can qualify as Sec. 213 medical expenses.
Proposed rules govern deductions and reporting for restitution
The IRS issued regulations explaining the allowance of deductions for certain fines and penalties under Sec. 162(f) as amended by the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Meal expenses still 50% deductible under proposed regs.
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.
Do a business’s charitable contributions reduce its QBI deduction?
A search of T.D. 9847 yields no discussion of whether the deduction for charitable contributions should be included in the computation of QBI.
Deduction for worthless partnership interest
A recent Tax Court case provides a road map for establishing the legal requirements needed to sustain a deduction for worthlessness, and reinforces the position that actual abandonment of a partnership interest is not required to claim a loss under Sec. 165(a).
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.
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.
