Progressive deterioration caused collapse of an
80-year-old retaining wall, making a taxpayer ineligible for casualty loss deduction.
Deductions
Individual Tax Update
This article covers recent developments affecting taxation of individuals, including regulations, cases, and IRS guidance.
Proposed Regs. Govern Reporting and Claiming Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses
The IRS is proposing to amend the rules governing eligibility to claim a deduction or credit for eligible education expenses to conform them to recent legislative changes.
Charitable Donations of Food Inventory
A recent change in the law makes it easier for taxpayers to claim charitable deductions for food products donated to charity.
Valuing and Substantiating Charitable Contributions
The burden of establishing fair market value of clothing and household items gifted to charity is on the taxpayer, but many have problems determining that value.
Health Savings Account Limits for 2017 Are Issued
The IRS issued the inflation-adjusted figures for the annual contribution limits for health savings accounts and the minimum deductible amounts and maximum out-of-pocket expense amounts for high-deductible plans.
Charitable IRA Distributions: A Great Opportunity
Exclusion of IRA “qualifying charitable distributions” can a powerful incentive to charitable giving.
Charitable Contributions of Artwork: An Important Primer
A number of tax planning opportunities are available when gifting artwork, but donors should do their homework to avoid surprises.
IRS Withdraws Controversial Charitable Donation Rules
The IRS withdrew proposed regulations that would have allowed charities to file information returns with the IRS and donors instead of providing contemporaneous written acknowledgments of charitable donations.
Deducting Business Bad Debts
Planning that maximizes the business bad debt deduction can help minimize the taxpayer’s overall economic loss.
Individual Taxation: Recent Developments
This article covers recent developments in the area of individual taxation arranged in Code section order.
Controversial Charitable Donation Rules Withdrawn
The IRS announced that it is withdrawing proposed regulations released last September that would have allowed charities to file information returns with the IRS and donors instead of providing contemporaneous written acknowledgments of charitable donations.
Bad News for Noncash Contributions
Most taxpayers are unaware of the stringent
regulations that apply to the substantiation of noncash charitable contributions and do not furnish the required information.
Standard Mileage Rates Will Go Down in 2016
The IRS issued the standard mileage rates for business use of an automobile and for driving for medical or moving purposes for 2016.
Casual Lender Not Allowed Bad Debt Deduction
A taxpayer who made high-interest loans to friends was not entitled to any bad debt deduction for a loan that went belly up because he did not prove that it was a business loan.
IRS to Implement Donee Reporting for Charities
The IRS will develop a specific-use information return for donee reporting.
Per-Diem Rates for 2015–2016 Travel Are Issued
The IRS issued its annual update of special per-diem rates for use in substantiating certain business-travel expenses.
Mortgage Interest Deduction Applies on a Per-Taxpayer Basis
Unmarried taxpayers who co-own a residence can each deduct interest payments on home-acquisition and home-equity debt up to the $1.1 million limit.
Poor Recordkeeping Hurts Taxpayers: Problems and Preventions
Recordkeeping and attention to the letter of the law should pay off in avoiding lost deductions.
Deduction for Seized Marijuana Goes Up in Smoke
The Tax Court held that the owner of medical marijuana dispensaries could not deduct the cost of marijuana seized by the DEA as costs of goods sold.
employee benefits & pensions
Profits interests: The most tax-efficient equity grant to employees
By granting them a profits interest, entities taxed as partnerships can reward employees with equity. Mistakes, however, could cause challenges from taxing authorities.