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Using Debt to Leverage a Taxable Gift to a QPRT

A qualified personal residence trust is a trust created to own a personal residence of the grantor for the benefit of the grantor’s spouse, children, or charity. The grantor makes a gift of a personal residence into the trust while retaining a right to occupy the residence for a term of years.

The New Student Tax

The Internal Revenue Code contains a number of tax incentives to encourage college attendance. However, it also contains one “student tax” disincentive.

Vacation Property Rental and Resale

The vacation home rules have always been confusing, and with the enactment of Sec. 121(b)(4) they have become more convoluted for clients who convert a vacation home to a principal residence.

Housing Act Contains Tax Provisions

On July 30, 2008, the president signed into law the Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008, containing tax provisions affecting homeowners and first-time homebuyers, as well as changes to the rules governing the low-income housing credit, tax-exempt bonds, and the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

Individual Taxation Report

This article covers recent developments affecting taxation of individuals, including legislation, regulations, and IRS guidance.

Final Regs. Clarify “Counting Nights” Rule for Dependents

When a child of divorced or separated parents lives with both of them during the year, the right to claim the dependency exemption may be released by the “custodial parent” (Sec. 152(e)). The custodial parent is defined as the parent with whom the child resides for the longest period of

Tax Court Does Not Have Jurisdiction Over Duplicate Request for Relief

The Tax Court held that it lacked jurisdiction over a request for Sec. 6015(f) equitable relief that was based on the same facts and grounds for relief as an earlier request that had been denied by the IRS. Facts Judith Barnes was married to Nathan Genrich. On their joint return

Tax Planning for Elderly Clients

With the rapid increase in the number of elderly clients, tax practitioners will need to become familiar with the special issues that affect tax compliance and planning for the elderly.

Academic-Based VITA Programs

VITA programs sponsored by accounting programs provide valuable, free tax services to their communities.

Avoiding the Self-Rental Trap

This item gives a general background of the passive activity rules and the self-rental provision and addresses the consequences of a sale of an operating company when the self-rental property is retained.

IRS Intensifies Focus on Worker Classification

As the IRS intensifies its scrutiny of worker classification, businesses may want to take a fresh look at how their policies, procedures, and documentation around engaging independent contractors might withstand IRS review.

Taxpayer Must File Jointly to Qualify as Innocent Spouse

The Ninth Circuit has held that to be eligible for innocent spouse relief under Sec. 6015, a taxpayer must have filed a joint return with his or her spouse and that Sec. 6015’s equitable relief provision also requires that a joint return had been filed.