Deductions

Charitable income tax deductions for trusts and estates

Income tax charitable deductions for trusts and estates are governed by Sec. 642(c) — these rules are substantially different from the rules for charitable contribution deductions for individuals and corporations under Sec. 170.

Proposed regs. on trust and estate deductions

The proposed regulations make clear that some deductions, including deductions for administrative expenses, are still available despite the TCJA’s suspension of miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Unexpected tax bills for simple trusts after tax reform

Post-TCJA, expenses that are miscellaneous itemized deductions are taken into account in computing trust accounting income but are now nondeductible in computing taxable income and distributable net income for the trust.

New limitation on excess business losses

The TCJA amended Sec. 461 to include a subsection (l), which disallows excess business losses of noncorporate taxpayers if the amount of the loss is in excess of $250,000 ($500,000 in the case of a joint return).

Clarification of itemized deductions for trusts and estates

Regulations are anticipated to clarify that the costs of trust or estate administration that are deductible under Sec. 67(e)(1) are not miscellaneous itemized deductions and, therefore, their deductibility has not been suspended by Sec. 67(g).

Trust Can Qualify for Sec. 469(c)(7) Exception

The Tax Court held that a trustee's ­activities in a trade or business of a trust was work performed by an individual, and, therefore, it was possible for a trust to qualify for the Sec. 469(c)(7) exception to the treatment of rental real estate activities as per se passive activities.

Trust Materially Participated in Real Estate Business

The Tax Court held that a trust materially participated in its rental real estate business and therefore could deduct the losses it incurred in conducting those activities as losses from nonpassive activities.

Tax Insider Articles

DEDUCTIONS

Business meal deductions after the TCJA

This article discusses the history of the deduction of business meal expenses and the new rules under the TCJA and the regulations and provides a framework for documenting and substantiating the deduction.

TAX RELIEF

Quirks spurred by COVID-19 tax relief

This article discusses some procedural and administrative quirks that have emerged with the new tax legislative, regulatory, and procedural guidance related to COVID-19.