Business Owners: How to Avoid Additional Estate Taxes after Connelly v. Commissioner
In early June, the Supreme Court issued an opinion that clarifies how company-owned life insurance impacts the value of the company for estate tax purposes. As a business owner, you may need to re-evaluate the use of those policies and whether they will subject you to increased estate tax exposure. Here’s what happened in Connelly and how it may affect you. Read More ›
Categories: Alerts and Updates, Did you Know?, Insurance, News, Tax, U.S. Supreme Court
Do I Need a Private Placement Memorandum to Raise Investment Capital?
The short answer is that it depends, but it is usually advisable and sometimes required. Let’s dig deeper.
Initially, let’s discuss what a PPM is. A PPM is a document that discloses information regarding the company that is seeking to raise investment capital. In some ways, it is like a business plan, but with detailed additions for investment risk factors, securities law provisions, and the proposed terms of investment. PPMs go by a variety of names – including confidential information memorandums (CIMs) and offering memorandums. Read More ›
Categories: Crowdfunding, Tax, Venture Capital/Funding
Maryland’s Digital Ad Tax: The Next Frontier in State and Local Taxation
On Friday February 12, the Maryland State Senate voted to override Maryland’s governor to pass a bill creating a tax on annual gross revenues derived from digital advertising services in Maryland. Maryland’s digital advertising tax is the first of its kind in the United States. Read More ›
Categories: Sales Tax, Tax, Tax Disputes
Strategies and Resources for Year End Tax Planning
In a year that has forced many to be reactionary, tax planning offers an opportunity for business owners to be proactive about the health of their business as the end of 2020 draws near.
Attorney Michael Zahrt provides tax planning strategies for year end along with updates to the CARES Act and PPP Loans in the following short video:
The CARES Act created a number of new tax benefits that are available for one year only, and these benefits have largely been lost in the sea of various stimulus programs (and compliance with those programs).
For a more in depth look at tips for year end tax planning, visit the following article which summarizes a few tax opportunities available to your business before the end of 2020:
Categories: Alerts and Updates, Financing, Tax
A Guide to the Employee Retention Tax Credit: An Alternative to the PPP
For more articles from the June 2020 issue of Business & Tax Law News, click here.
The CARES Act created the Employee Retention Tax Credit (“ERTC”), which is designed to provide financial relief to employers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ERTC is a refundable tax credit that is credited against an employer’s share of social security taxes for specific wages paid on or after March 12, 2020 and before January 1, 2021. An eligible employer can access ERTC funds by (1) immediately reducing employment tax obligations, (2) applying for an advance payment of the estimated credit, or (3) calculating the final credit amount at the end of the applicable calendar quarter, usually on Form 941. Importantly, an employer that has received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan cannot also claim the ERTC (unless the employer has repaid its PPP loan by May 14, 2020). Read More ›
Categories: Employment, Tax
Tax Court Decision Highlights the Risks of Sending Your Tax Documents to the IRS Via Regular U.S. Mail
For businesses and individuals, preparing tax-related documents required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or United States Tax Court can be a complex process, often requiring the assistance of outside advisors such as attorneys and accountants. As a recent case in the Tax Court demonstrates, the last, seemingly simple step in the process—filing a tax document —should not be taken lightly. Indeed, all of the analysis and number-crunching that goes into a tax document could be for naught if a document isn’t delivered before the relevant deadline. Read More ›
Categories: Corporate Income Tax, Income Tax, Tax, Tax Disputes
IRC §108 – Income from Discharge of Indebtedness
Section 61 of the Internal Revenue Code establishes that all income, from whatever source derived, is included in gross income. If the income arises from a sale or exchange of property that is not a capital asset or property used in a trade or business then it is taxed as ordinary income. Read More ›
Categories: Did you Know?, Income Tax, Tax
IRS Finalizes 199A Safe Harbor for Rental Property
The IRS recently issued Revenue Procedure 2019-38, which finalizes the safe harbor for rental property under Code Section 199A that was originally provided in IRS Notice 2019-07. The safe harbor treats a rental real estate enterprise as being eligible for the qualified business income deduction under Section 199A, even if it does not meet the definition of a “trade or business” as provided in Treas. Reg. 1.199-1(b)(14). Read More ›
Categories: Property Tax, Tax
Responding to a Michigan Department of Treasury Notice Regarding a Tax Liability or Refund Adjustment
There are several ways to respond to a notice from the Michigan Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) regarding an outstanding tax liability or refund adjustment. The options available to individuals and businesses generally include the following:
1. offer in compromise;
2. informal conference and appeals; and
3. alternative dispute resolution. Read More ›
Categories: Tax, Tax Disputes
Tax Court Permits Examination of Predeceased Spouse for Purposes of DSUE Adjustment
The concept of “portability” was introduced into the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) pursuant to the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Portability allows a surviving spouse to apply an unused portion of a deceased spouse’s estate tax exclusion amount to his or her own estate tax liability. Read More ›
Categories: Estate Planning, Tax, Tax Disputes
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