Proper advance planning is imperative to maximize the benefits of the TCJA provisions.
Deductions
Sec. 199A rental real estate activity safe harbor proposed
The IRS issued a proposed revenue procedure that would provide a safe harbor for taxpayers under which a rental real estate enterprise will be treated as a trade or business for purposes of the Sec. 199A deduction.
Exploring the undefined: Trade or business
A group of TCJA-related changes requires taxpayers to distinguish separate and specific types
of trades or businesses in order to take advantage of certain tax benefits.
Final regulations on Sec. 199A issued
The IRS issued final regulations on the QBI deduction under Sec. 199A and an anti-avoidance rule under Sec. 643 that will require multiple trusts to be treated as a single trust in certain cases.
New proposed regulations on Sec. 199A
The IRS released new proposed regulations on the treatment under Sec. 199A of previously suspended losses, “Sec. 199A dividends” paid by a RIC, and the treatment of amounts received from split-interest trusts and CRTs.
Guidance provided on calculating W-2 wages for Sec. 199A purposes
The IRS issued Rev. Proc. 2019-11, which provides guidance on how to calculate W-2 wages for purposes of Sec. 199A.
Traps for the unwary: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changes
This article lists the changes together, along with some unexpected nuances.
Potential pitfalls of charitable contribution substantiation and reporting
Failure to properly complete all required fields on Form 8283, including the donor’s cost or other basis, could jeopardize the entire deduction with respect to the donated property.
Individual tax report
This semiannual update on current developments in the area of individual taxation includes a number of cases on material participation, hobby losses, charitable contributions, the Sec. 199A regulations, and several other important areas.
Legal and professional fees in divorce case not deductible as business expenses
Legal and professional fees incurred in a divorce action were nondeductible personal expenses since the “origin of the claim” in the divorce action was not related to the taxpayer’s trade or business.
Qualified business income deduction regs. and other guidance issued
The package includes final regulations, guidance on how to calculate W-2 wages, a safe-harbor rule for rental real estate businesses, and new proposed rules on the treatment of previously suspended losses.
Divorce post-TCJA: unexpected consequences
This article discusses changes that might affect clients that are divorced, are in the process of divorcing, or that have prenuptial or post-nuptial agreements.
Sec. 199A: Questions and answers
Jeff Bilsky, CPA, senior practice leader for BDO’s national partnership taxation group, sat down recently for a question-and-answer session on guidance that has been issued on the Sec. 199A qualified business income deduction.
2019 standard mileage rates announced
The IRS released guidance on the standard mileage rate for business, medical and certain moving expenses incurred in 2019.
Service businesses that qualify for the 20% QBI deduction
This article discusses the limitations that apply to
specified service trades or businesses.
IRS clarifies deductibility of business meals
The IRS issued guidance on the deductibility of meal and entertainment expenses after the modification of Sec. 274 by the TCJA.
Avoiding the hobby loss trap after the TCJA
The suspension of the deduction for expenses from hobby activities in the years 2018 through 2025 makes it all the more important for taxpayers to be
able to establish a profit motive for their activities.
Meals continue to be deductible under new IRS guidance
The IRS issued guidance on the deductibility of meal and entertainment expenses after the modification of Sec. 274 by the TCJA.
IRS proposes rules for Sec. 199A qualified business income deduction
The IRS issued guidance on the new Sec. 199A deduction for qualified business income in the form of proposed regulations and a separate notice on how to calculate W-2 wages for those purposes.
IRS issues final rules on adequate substantiation of charitable contributions
Final regulations address how taxpayers can comply with the requirements for adequate substantiation of charitable contributions of money or property.
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.