The Tax Professionals Blog
New Military Spouse State of Residence Election
Posted by Lee Reams Sr., BSME, EA on
The Veterans Benefits and Transaction Act of 2018, sponsored by Senator Jon Tester of Montana, became public law on 12/31/2018. Sec. 302 of that legislation added the following election:
Rentals as Trade or Business for the 199A Deduction
Posted by Lee Reams Sr., BSME, EA on
One of the most difficult tasks tax practitioners are facing this tax season is the determination of whether their clients’ rentals rise t the level of trade or business for purposes of the Sec 199A deduction. Which Rental Real Estate Activities Qualify for the199A Deduction?
Posted by Lee Reams Sr., BSME, EA on
Regrettably, the most misunderstood issue for preparing taxes for 2018 could be the most significant - the issue of when a rental activity is a trade or business qualified for the new Sec 199A deduction. The final regulation (§1.199A-1(b)(14)) defines a trade or business as being the same as trade or business under Code Sec. 162.
Rentals and Information Reporting
Posted by Lee Reams Sr., BSME, EA on
The Sec. 199A deduction has stirred up a lot of controversy in the tax preparation community related to whether landlords are subject to information reporting requirements, typically filing and issuing 1099-MISC forms for annual payments of $600 or more to unincorporated service providers such as plumbers, the pool guy, gardeners, etc. And unfortunately, the government has added substantially to that confusion.
Businesses and State SALT Workarounds
Posted by Lee Reams Sr., BSME, EA on
Several states, in an effort to circumvent the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions imposed by the TCJA, have established charitable funds and then give contributors to the funds a credit, based on a percentage of the amount contributed, against their state, and in some cases, local taxes. The result is a conversion of a limited tax deduction into a charitable contribution deduction. IRS has issued proposed regulations that squash these attempted workarounds. The regs, which apply to post-8/27/18 contributions, specify the charitable contribution in these cases is the difference between the contribution amount and the tax credit.