IRS Problem

Tax Shelter IRS Resolution

August 8, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

New IRS settlement initiative for LILO and SILO transactions

IRS recently announced a settlement initiative for Lease-In/Lease-Out (LILO) and Sale-in/Lease-Out (SILO) transactions. Under this initiative, more than 45 of the nation’s largest corporations that participated in these shelters will receive a letter with an offer. Shelter participants will have 30 days to make a decision to accept the offer. Taxpayers would have to concede 80% of certain claimed tax breaks but they would not be hit with accuracy-related penalties.

Charitable Contribution

August 7, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Proposed regs explain strict charitable contribution substantiation & appraisal rules Preamble to Prop Reg 08/06/2008; Prop Reg § 1.170A-15, Prop Reg § 1.170A-16, Prop Reg § 1.170A-17, Prop Reg § 1.170A-18

Mike Habib, EA

IRS has issued proposed regs explaining the charitable contribution substantiation changes made by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (AJCA) and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA). The proposed regs, which would be effective for contributions made after the date final regs are issued, also would provide guidance on what constitutes qualified appraisals and qualified appraisers for purposes of the substantial rules for noncash gifts.

Identity Theft Tax Problem

August 7, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Finance Chairman Baucus wants more action and details on IRS strategy to combat identity fraud [Press release dated Aug. 5]:

A recent IRS update on its Identity Protection Strategy has failed to satisfy the concerns of Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The report, submitted to Baucus on July 21 by IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, was provided in response to a request the senator made at a committee hearing held in April. It summarized IRS’s efforts in three areas: assistance to taxpayers in resolving tax issues associated with identity theft; outreach to increase taxpayer awareness of identity theft; and prevention of identity theft by building programs to address the problem.

CWA Central Withholding

August 5, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS issues new version of Central Withholding Agreement form

Mike Habib, EA

The IRS has issued a June 2008 version of Form 13930, Application for Central Withholding Agreement.

Passive Activity Losses

August 5, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS may require reporting of PAL activity groupings

Mike Habib, EA

Notice 2008-64, 2008-31 IRB 268

Innocent spouse relieved of tax

August 3, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Innocent spouse relieved of tax from embezzlement and forgery

Yakubik, TC Summary Opinion 2008-74

Mike Habib, EA The Tax Court recently held that the IRS abused its discretion in not granting equitable innocent spouse relief to a husband whose wife embezzled funds from her employer and forged checks taken from her stepfather.

Kansas Tax Relief

August 3, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

IRS explains how to claim (or elect out of) 50% Kansas bonus depreciation Notice 2008-67, 2008-32 IRB

Mike Habib, EA

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, popularly known as the Farm Act, provided temporary GO Zone-style tax relief for taxpayers in Kiowa County, Kansas, and surrounding areas, who were affected by the storms and tornadoes that began on May 4, 2007. This relief includes 50% bonus depreciation (Kansas additional first year depreciation) for qualified Recovery Assistance (RA) property placed in service by the taxpayer on or after May 5, 2007, during the tax year that includes May 5, 2007. IRS has issued detailed guidance explaining how to claim (or elect out of) this Kansas bonus depreciation.

Doctors tax penalties

August 3, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Doctors get socked with big tax and penalties for donations tied to consolidation of their practice

Berquistist and Kendrick, et al., (2008) 131 TC No. 2

Mike Habib, EA

Private Trust Companies

August 3, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Proposed revenue ruling gives green light to use of private trust companies Notice 2008-63, 2008-31 IRB

Mike Habib, EA

A new notice contains a proposed revenue ruling that would allow families to use private trust companies (PTCs) in their estate planning without adverse income, estate, gift or generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax consequences for the trust creators or beneficiaries in carefully defined situations. IRS requests comments on the proposed ruling.

Charitable Remainder Trust

July 9, 2008 | Mike Habib, EA

Charitable remainder trust can be divided into separate trusts without adverse tax consequences Rev Rul 2008-41, 2008-30 IRB Mike Habib, EA

In the context of two fairly detailed factual situations, a new revenue ruling makes it clear that a charitable remainder trust (CRT) can be divided into two or more separate CRTs without adverse tax consequences. If properly effected, the separate trusts will continue to qualify as CRTs, the division won’t be a sale, and no excise taxes will arise under Code Sec. 507(c), Code Sec. 4941 or Code Sec. 4945.

Background. In general, a charitable remainder trust (CRT) provides for a specified periodic distribution to one or more noncharitable beneficiaries for life or for a term of years with an irrevocable remainder interest held for the benefit of charity. A CRUT pays a unitrust amount at least annually to the beneficiaries as opposed to a charitable remainder annuity trust or CRAT, which pays a sum certain at least annually to the beneficiaries. (Code Sec. 664)