Contributions, Distributions & Basis

Interest Deduction on Debt-Financed Distributions

Editor: Kevin F. Reilly, J.D., CPA Although the real estate market has cooled off in many areas, the value of commercial properties seems to have been less affected than that of residential properties. In fact, many commercial properties continue to be worth substantially more than their historic cost. Most commercial

Current Developments in S Corporations (Part I)

Part I of this two-part article discusses S corporation eligibility, elections, and termination issues, including several changes related to the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007.

Open Account Debt for S Shareholders

Editor: Anthony S. Bakale, CPA, M.Tax. On April 12, 2007, the Service issued proposed amendments to Regs. Sec. 1.1367-2 and -3 (REG-144859-04), to address concerns about the treatment of S shareholders’ open account debt. Background Regs. Sec. 1.1367-2(a) states that open account debt is a shareholder advance that is not

Rulings Relax Related-Party Exchange Rules

Editor: Annette B. Smith, CPA Recently released IRS Letter Rulings 200709036 and 200706001 suggest a liberal trend regarding related-party exchanges under Sec. 1031(f). The rulings may indicate a more favorable Service attitude toward exchanges in which the related parties have not cashed out of their original investments through “abusive” basis-shifting.

Allocating Partnership Depreciation Between Trusts and Beneficiaries

This article reviews how depreciation from a partnership is allocated between a trust and its beneficiaries and highlights the potential trap the allocation can cause when the depreciation deduction flows through a partnership.

Technical Terminations: Tangible Personal Property Depreciation Issues

Editor: Mary Van Leuven, J.D., LL.M. Technical terminations of partnerships under Sec. 708 (b)(1)(B) and its regulations create numerous issues as to the proper tax treatment of depreciable tangible property owned by the terminating partnership, particularly when changing its accounting method for such property. Under Regs. Sec. 1.708-1(b)(1)(iv), the new

Adjusting Basis of Inherited S Stock for IRD

Editor: Albert B. Ellentuck, Esq. Income in respect of a decedent (IRD) generally consists of items of gross income a decedent was entitled to at death that, because of the decedent’s method of accounting, were not included in the final individual return; see Regs. Sec. 1.691(a)-1(b). IRD is included in