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TOPICS / INDIVIDUALS

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).

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Guidance issued on payments to charitable organizations

The IRS issued additional rules on the treatment of deductions for charitable contributions in lieu of state and local taxes, an area in which it has already issued final regulations and other guidance.