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.
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Individuals
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.
Rollover relief for required minimum distributions
The IRS provides relief for taxpayers who had already taken required minimum distributions (RMDs) in 2020 before the CARES Act suspended the RMD requirement for 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on taxpayers and the stock market.
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.
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.
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.
IRS permits remote signatures for plan loan consents
In another response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS is allowing retirement plan participants who want to take coronavirus-related distributions from their retirement plans to provide remote signatures, even for spousal consents.
Elective capitalization as a TCJA planning tool
Taxpayers whose overall tax position in a given year would benefit from accelerating gross income or from converting current deductions into capital expenditures should consider the elective capitalization provisions of Sec. 266.
IRS issues Form 7200 for advance payment of employer tax credits, explains employee retention credit
The IRS issued a new form and instructions for employers to use to obtain advance payments of three tax credits that were created to help businesses cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
Helping young professionals build a foundation for success
Build up young professionals by encouraging continuing education, mentorships, and volunteering opportunities with professional and charitable organizations.
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.
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.
Responding to the pandemic crisis and calls from practitioners, IRS issues broader tax deadline relief
The IRS granted relief for a broad array of tax filing and payment deadlines that fall between April 1 and July 15, expanding on previous relief, as requested by the AICPA.
E-filing of Form 1040-X coming this summer
The IRS announced that taxpayers will be able to electronically file Forms 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, later this summer.
Premium tax credit unaffected by personal exemption decrease to zero
The IRS issued long-promised proposed regulations explaining how taxpayers who may qualify for the Sec 36B premium tax credit are affected by the temporary reduction of the personal exemption deduction under Sec. 151 to zero.
HSA contribution limits increase for 2021
The IRS issued its annual inflation-adjusted contribution limits for contributions to health savings accounts permitted to participants in high-deductible health plans. Most of the amounts increased slightly over the 2020 amounts.
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.
Taxpayers must act soon for direct deposit of stimulus payments
The IRS announced that taxpayers for whom the Service does not have direct deposit information should go to its “Get My Payment” website and enter that information by noon on Wednesday, May 13, so they can receive their stimulus payments electronically.
Proposed regs. would update income tax withholding rules for TCJA changes
The IRS proposed new regulations for withholding on individuals’ wages to reflect the statutory changes in the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including the elimination of the personal exemption.
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).
INDIVIDUALS
Current Developments in Taxation of Individuals: Part 1
This update surveys recent federal tax developments involving individuals, including court cases, rulings, and guidance issued during the six months ending October 2025.
