Defer tax with a like-kind exchange

Do you want to sell commercial or investment real estate that has appreciated significantly? One way to defer a tax bill on the gain is with a Section 1031 “like-kind” exchange where you exchange the property rather than sell it. With real estate prices up in some markets (and higher resulting tax bills), the like-kind […]

Football Stadium subsidies

Is the NFL fleecing taxpayers? Yes, according to three U.S. House Democrats, who recently introduced legislation to eliminate tax-exempt status for bonds used to construct new stadiums. According to a press release, “Since 2000, subsidies for financing professional sports stadiums have cost taxpayers $4.3 billion despite the billions of dollars in profits” reaped by team […]

Bill Signed

On March 11, President Biden signed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill into law. The headline is that the bill includes $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine. But it also keeps the U.S. government funded through September 30, increases defense spending by $42 billion and boosts the IRS’s budget by $12.6 billion or 6%. That […]

Business Tax Climate

From the Tax Foundation: Ranking Individual Income Taxes on the 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index https://bit.ly/3MYG0KG

Split-Dollar ruling

The U.S. Tax Court has issued a taxpayer-favorable ruling on a split-dollar life insurance arrangement. A woman created an estate plan that included a revocable grantor trust and an irrevocable insurance trust that purchased split-dollar life insurance on the lives of her daughter and son-in-law with money she borrowed. The insurance trust gave the woman […]

IRS News

The IRS announced that it aims to hire 10,000 employees over the next few months and deploy a new 700-person “surge” team to help clear its backlog of 24 million tax returns. It also intends to extend high-tech customer support tools throughout its operations. The U.S. Dept. of Treasury added that the agency also is […]

Does your business barter? Here are some facts you should know

In today’s economy, many small businesses are strapped for cash. They may find it beneficial to barter or trade for goods and services instead of paying cash for them. Bartering is the oldest form of trade and the internet has made it easier to engage with other businesses. But if your business gets involved in […]

IRA, is it right for you?

It may not be too late to lower your 2021 tax bill. You may still be able to contribute to an IRA until the due date of your 2021 tax return (April 18 this year). Be sure to designate the contributions for 2021. Generally, eligible taxpayers can contribute up to $6,000 to an IRA for […]

Crypto regulation

Greater regulation of digital assets could be coming. On March 9, President Biden signed an executive order (EO) to expand oversight of cryptocurrency markets. The EO also prioritizes the assessment of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Various government financial regulators will assess how the “adoption of digital assets” would affect U.S. investors and businesses. […]

Lost your job? Here are the tax aspects of an employee termination

Despite the robust job market, there are still some people losing their jobs. If you’re laid off or terminated from employment, taxes are probably the last thing on your mind. However, there are tax implications due to your changed personal and professional circumstances. Depending on your situation, the tax aspects can be complex and require […]