Litigation support payments are income, not loans
Litigation support payments received by lawyer are includible in gross income.
Income
Foreclosure of principal residence and DOI income
Taxpayers can exclude from gross income a discharge of qualified principal residence indebtedness before Jan. 1, 2021; under the CARES Act, certain taxpayers may also request forbearance from foreclosure on their residence.
Swaps with nonperiodic payments: Back to the old way for some NPCs
Under proposed regulations, the IRS would return to a modified version of the rules that predated the temporary regulations.
Qualified opportunity zone rules are relaxed
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS further postponed the 180-day deadline to invest in a qualified opportunity fund from July 15, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2020, extended other deadlines, and relaxed some qualified investment rules.
No loss deduction for reduction of federal disability annuity
A reduction of a taxpayer’s FERS disability annuity payments by the SSDI benefits he received was not a deductible loss.
Hedging transactions: Timing of gain or loss
While the U.S. federal income tax rules generally provide comprehensive instruction on tax hedging transactions, ambiguity remains regarding the timing for transactions intended to hedge anticipated, but unfulfilled, transactions.
IRS says no need to report most video game currency transactions
Gamers who, as part of a video game, transact in virtual currencies that do not leave the video game environment do not have to report the transactions on a tax return, the IRS made clear in a statement released on its website.
Lawmakers propose tax changes for virtual currency
Members of Congress have introduced a bill that would provide a de minimis exemption for personal transactions where the gains are less than or equal to $200.
Final regulations govern QOZs
The IRS issued final regulations providing guidance on tax-favored investments in qualified opportunity zones (QOZs).
Choosing which tax return to file when married taxpayers own a business
Filing rules for businesses owned by spouses contain several exceptions to the partnership filing rules, and this article discusses when the exceptions apply, how to implement them, and if they are worth the effort to elect.
Private foundations and donor-advised funds: A new CPA best practice
An ‘outstanding practice’ combines personal financial planning with tax compliance to help clients maximize charitable deductions, provide solutions for difficult financial situations, avoid capital gains tax, and create a family legacy.
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.
No need to report some transactions in video game currency, IRS says
Gamers who, as part of a video game, transact in virtual currencies that do not leave the video game environment do not have to report the transactions on a tax return, the IRS made clear in a statement released on its website.
Prop. regs. address eliminating LIBOR, other interbank-offered rates
To facilitate the transition away from IBORs and minimize the resulting market disruption, the IRS issued the proposed regulations with an aim of reducing associated tax uncertainty and taxpayer burden.
Guidance explains tax treatment of cryptocurrency airdrops and hard forks
The IRS ruled that a taxpayer does not have gross income as a result of a hard fork of a cryptocurrency if the taxpayer does not receive units of a new cryptocurrency, but does have gross income as a result of an airdrop of new cryptocurrency after a hard fork if the taxpayer receives units of the new cryptocurrency.
Qualified opportunity zone regs. finalized
The IRS issued final regulations providing guidance on tax-favored investments in qualified opportunity zones (QOZs).
Opportunity zone managers and investors must act before year-end
The QOZ program will generally require year-end action on the part of the fund managers.
Tax advantages of QOZ investments
Sec. 1400Z-2 offers three ways for a taxpayer to benefit from investing directly or via a passthrough entity in a qualified opportunity zone.
The taxation of collectibles
This article discusses what assets are treated as collectibles subject to the 28% rate, the netting process for collectibles gains and losses, how gains on the sale of collectibles are taxed, and practical strategies that taxpayers can use to lessen the impact of the 28% rate.
Hours spent working at a remote location counted for material participation purposes
The Tax Court held that a taxpayer had materially participated in his business located in Chicago, despite residing in Florida for the majority of several tax years.
