Tax writers in Congress are set to begin debating and writing tax reform legislation. On September 27, the White House and GOP leaders in Congress released a framework for tax reform. The framework sets out broad principles for tax reform, leaving the details to the two tax-writing committees: the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. How quickly lawmakers will write and pass tax legislation is unclear. What is clear is that tax reform is definitely one of the top issues on Congress’ Fall agenda.

Tax writers in Congress are set to begin debating and writing tax reform legislation. On September 27, the White House and GOP leaders in Congress released a framework for tax reform. The framework sets out broad principles for tax reform, leaving the details to the two tax-writing committees: the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. How quickly lawmakers will write and pass tax legislation is unclear. What is clear is that tax reform is definitely one of the top issues on Congress’ Fall agenda.

Individuals

The GOP framework proposes consolidating the current seven individual tax rates into three: 12, 25 and 35 percent. However, the framework leaves open the possibility of an additional top rate “to the highest-income taxpayers to ensure that the reformed tax code is at least as progressive as the existing tax code and does not shift the tax burden from high-income to lower- and middle-income taxpayers.”

For individuals, the GOP framework also proposes to:

• Eliminate the alternative minimum tax
• Roughly double the standard deduction
• Repeal the federal estate tax
• Preserve the home mortgage interest deduction and the deduction for charitable contributions
• Eliminate most other itemized deductions
• Repeal the personal exemption for dependents
• Retain tax benefits that encourage work, higher education and retirement security

Family incentives

Family incentives have traditionally garnered bipartisan support in Congress and the GOP framework includes several. The child tax credit, for example, currently phases out when incomes reach certain levels. The GOP framework calls for increasing the income levels for the credit to unspecified amounts.   Another proposal would create a new non-refundable $500 credit for non-child dependents. The details would be left to the tax-writing committees.

Businesses

One pillar of the GOP framework is a corporate tax rate cut. The framework calls for a 20 percent corporate tax rate, down from the current 35 percent rate. Businesses that operate as passthroughs, such as S corporations, would have a maximum tax rate of 25 percent, subject to unspecified limitations to prevent abuses.

Other business proposals include:

• Enhanced expensing
• Limiting the deduction for net interest expenses by C corporations
• Eliminating the Code Sec. 199 deduction
• Preserving the research and development credit and tax preferences for low-income housing
• Reforming certain international taxation rules

Drafting legislation

After the GOP framework was released, the chairs of the tax writing committees said their committees would begin drafting legislation. The Ways and Means Committee is made up of 24 Republicans and 16 Democrats. Republicans also have a majority on the Senate Finance Committee but only by two votes (14 to 12). This narrow vote margin is likely to influence any tax bill out of the Senate Finance Committee. Our office will keep you posted of developments.

Extenders

A number of popular but temporary tax incentives have expired. Unless extended, these “extenders” will not be available to taxpayers when they file their 2017 returns in 2018. They include:

• Tax exclusion for canceled mortgage debt
• Mortgage insurance premium deductibility
• Higher education tuition deduction
• Special expensing rules for film, television, and theatrical productions
• Seven-year recovery period for motorsports entertainment complexes

Other tax bills

Several tax-related bills may be taken up by either the House or Senate, including:

• RESPECT Act, passed by the House and waiting for a vote in the Senate, would limit the IRS’s ability to seize assets related to structured transactions
• FY 2018 IRS budget bill, passed by the House and waiting for a vote in Senate, which would fund the IRS for FY 2018

Please contact our office if you have any questions about tax reform, the extenders or other tax bills.

As millions of Americans recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, Congress is debating disaster tax relief. The relief would enhance the casualty loss rules, relax some retirement savings rules, and make other temporary changes to the tax laws, all intended to help victims of these recent disasters. At press time, a package of temporary disaster tax relief measures is pending in the House. The timeline for Senate action, however, is unclear.

As millions of Americans recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, Congress is debating disaster tax relief. The relief would enhance the casualty loss rules, relax some retirement savings rules, and make other temporary changes to the tax laws, all intended to help victims of these recent disasters. At press time, a package of temporary disaster tax relief measures is pending in the House. The timeline for Senate action, however, is unclear.

Tax relief

In past years, after disasters similar to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, Congress passed disaster tax relief measures. After Hurricane Katrina, far-reaching disaster tax relief was passed by Congress, which benefited businesses and individuals. In 2008, lawmakers passed a national disaster tax relief law. However, that law was temporary. After Hurricane Sandy several years ago, disaster tax relief was introduced in Congress but ultimately was not passed. Now, Congress is revisiting disaster tax relief.

Targeted tax relief

The House bill is the Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2017. The bill provides targeted tax relief to victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Unlike national disaster tax relief, discussed below, the measures in the House bill are temporary.

Included in the House bill is language to:

• Enhance the deduction for personal casualty losses
• Allow penalty-free access to retirement funds
• Encourage charitable giving
• Provide a tax credit to qualified employers
• Allow taxpayers to use prior year income for EITC and child tax credit

At press time, a similar disaster tax relief bill has not been introduced in the Senate. Reports have surfaced that the Senate Finance Committee may unveil some proposals in the near future. These proposals could mirror some or all of the ones in the House bill.

National disaster tax relief bill

In September, Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, and Rep. Tom Reed, R-New York, introduced the National Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2017. Their bill aims to create disaster tax relief not just for victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, but victims of all disasters. The lawmakers modeled their 2017 bill on previous national disaster tax relief acts, including the legislation passed in 2008.

Like the House-passed temporary disaster tax relief bill, the National Disaster Tax Relief Act would relax the casualty loss rules. The National Disaster Tax Relief Act would also provide a temporary five-year net operating loss (NOL) carryback for qualified natural disaster losses; allow an affected business taxpayer to deduct certain qualified disaster cleanup expenses; and increase temporarily the limits that an affected business taxpayer could expense for qualifying Code Sec. 179 property.

Please contact our office if you have any questions about disaster tax relief.

IRS Exam staffing in fiscal year (FY) 2016, the latest tax year with statistics available, reached a 20-year low. As a result, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has reported that the IRS undertook fewer audits.

IRS Exam staffing in fiscal year (FY) 2016, the latest tax year with statistics available, reached a 20-year low. As a result, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has reported that the IRS undertook fewer audits.

Staffing

"Examination is a vitally important aspect of maintaining a voluntary tax compliance system because 85 percent of the Gross Tax Gap is comprised of underreported tax on timely filed returns," TIGTA reported. Although hiring increased in FY 2016, it did not make up for recent attrition and retirements, TIGTA found. Examination staffing in FY 2016 reached a 20-year low with 8,847 employees, a decrease of four percent from FY 2015 (9,189 employees) and 23 percent lower than FY 2012 (11,432 employees).

Overall, the number of IRS full-time employees has declined by some 14 percent since FY 2012. The decline in the number of employees is likely to continue, TIGTA predicted. Approximately 22 percent of full-time permanent employees in the IRS are eligible to retire, and the IRS expects this number to increase to 34 percent by 2019, TIGTA found. "Should this loss of staffing be realized, the gap created by the loss of knowledge and experience has the potential to materially affect the administration and enforcement of tax laws," TIGTA reported.

Audit coverage

Individuals. TIGTA reported that the IRS examined one of every 143 individual income tax returns in FY 2016. This reflected a 16 percent decline compared to FY 2015 and 30 percent fewer examinations than the five-year high reported in FY 2012. The IRS examined one in 17 returns in FY 2016 with more than $1 million in income, which, according to TIGTA, is a decline of 29 percent compared to FY 2015.

Corporations and S corps. TIGTA found that fewer corporate tax returns were examined during FY 2016 than any year since FY 2004. The number of S corp examinations fell 15 percent from FY 2015 to FY 2016 (one in every 295 S corp returns in FY 2016 compared to one in every 248 S corp returns in FY 2015).

Partnerships. Partnership examinations also declined, TIGTA found. The number of partnership returns examined decreased 24 percent from FY 2015 to 14,645 in FY 2016. "Due to a focus on partnership examinations in FY 2015, one of every 196 returns filed were examined; however, this number decreased to one of every 263 returns being examined in FY 2016," TIGTA reported.

TIGTA Ref. No. 2017-30-072

IRS Chief Counsel, in generic legal advice (AM-2017-003), recently described when a qualified employer may take into account the payroll tax credit for increasing research activities. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act) created the payroll credit aimed at start-ups with little or no income tax liabilities. This tax break allows taxpayers to get the cash benefit of the payroll tax credit sooner as they reduce their payroll tax liability as payroll payments are made, instead of having to wait until the end of the quarter to receive the credit.

IRS Chief Counsel, in generic legal advice (AM-2017-003), recently described when a qualified employer may take into account the payroll tax credit for increasing research activities. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act) created the payroll credit aimed at start-ups with little or no income tax liabilities. This tax break allows taxpayers to get the cash benefit of the payroll tax credit sooner as they reduce their payroll tax liability as payroll payments are made, instead of having to wait until the end of the quarter to receive the credit.

Background

A qualified business during a tax year may elect to apply a portion of its research credit against the 6.2 percent payroll tax imposed on the employer’s wage payments to employees. This payroll credit for research expenditures is limited to the lesser of: (a) the research credit for the tax year; (b) $250,000; or (c) the amount of the business credit for the tax year, including the research credit that may be carried forward to the tax year immediately after the election year.

Schedule B. Chief Counsel explained that if an employer is a semiweekly schedule depositor, it must complete Schedule B (Form 941), Report of Tax Liability for Semiweekly Schedule Depositors, and attach it to Form 941. Schedule B is also referred to as Record of Federal Tax Liability (ROFTL) for semiweekly schedule depositors. The IRS uses this information to determine if the employer made its federal employment tax deposits on time. Current Instructions for Schedule B describe the payroll tax credit.

Payroll credit

Employers, Chief Counsel explained, know the maximum amount of payroll tax credit potentially available for a quarter at the beginning of the quarter. This is because the return reflecting the payroll tax credit election on Form 6765, Credit for Increasing Research Activities, must have been filed before the quarter begins in which the employer can claim credit. However, the amount of the credit that is allowed for the quarter is limited to the employer Social Security tax on wages paid to the employer's employees during the quarter.

Therefore, as the employer makes payments of wages from the beginning of the quarter for which the payroll tax credit is taken, the employer can take the payroll tax credit into account for purposes of the Schedule B and for purposes of deposit liability on the Form 941 or other employment tax return, provided the employer later files Form 8974, "Qualified Small Business Payroll Tax Credit for Increasing Research Activities," Chief Counsel explained.

Further, the payroll tax credit should be taken against deposit liabilities and reflected on Schedule B as the employer incurs liability for employer Social Security tax on wages paid in the quarter to which it applies, beginning with the first payment of wages in the quarter. "It would be counter to the purpose of the payroll tax credit to allow it as a credit only when the employer files its Form 941 for the quarter claiming the credit and not as the employer is paying wages during the quarter subject to employer Social Security tax," Chief Counsel stated.

Deadline opportunity: The IRS also recently announced that it would allow start-up companies to make the payroll tax credit election on an amended return for the 2016 tax year, but as long as the amended return is filed by December 31, 2017.

Yes, however, there are special timing rules for foreign adoptions. These rules differ from the timing rules for domestic adoptions and impact when you may claim qualified adoption expenses.

Yes, however, there are special timing rules for foreign adoptions. These rules differ from the timing rules for domestic adoptions and impact when you may claim qualified adoption expenses.

The Tax Code provides a nonrefundable credit for qualified adoption expenses. The credit is subject to income limitations, which means that some taxpayers may not qualify for it. Generally, the credit covers adoption expenses such as fees, court costs, traveling expenses, and other expenses directly related to the adoption.

The Tax Code also distinguishes between domestic and foreign adoptions. This distinction is important due to timing rules. The IRS has explained that a domestic adoption is the adoption of a U.S. child, an eligible child who is a citizen or resident of the U.S. or its possessions before the adoption effort begins. Qualified adoption expenses paid before the year the adoption becomes final are allowable as a credit for the tax year following the year of payment, even if the adoption is never finalized and even if an eligible child was never identified.

A foreign adoption is the adoption of an eligible child who is not yet a citizen or resident of the U.S. or its possessions before the adoption effort begins. Qualified adoption expenses paid before and during the year are allowable as a credit for the year when the adoption becomes final.

Let’s look at an example. Julia pays qualified adoption expenses of $2,000 in 2015, $3,000 in 2016 and $4,000 in 2017 related to the adoption of Marisa, who is not a U.S. citizen or resident. The adoption becomes final on September 5, 2017. Because the adoption is foreign and not domestics, Julia may claim all $9,000 in expenses on her 2017 federal income tax return.

After an adoption becomes final, qualified adoption expenses paid during or after the year of finality are allowable as a credit for the year of payment, whether the adoption is foreign or domestic. In our example, Julia pays an additional $1,000 in qualified adoption expenses in 2018. Julia may claim the $1,000 in expenses on her 2018 return.

The adoption credit is just one personal tax preference that could be modified if Congress passes a tax reform bill. Under current law, as described above, there is a distinction between domestic and foreign adoptions. Please contact our office if you have any questions about the adoption credit and how it may help offset the expenses of an adoption, whether domestic or foreign.

As an individual or business, it is your responsibility to be aware of and to meet your tax filing/reporting deadlines. This calendar summarizes important federal tax reporting and filing data for individuals, businesses and other taxpayers for the month of October 2017.

As an individual or business, it is your responsibility to be aware of and to meet your tax filing/reporting deadlines. This calendar summarizes important federal tax reporting and filing data for individuals, businesses and other taxpayers for the month of October 2017.

October 4

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Sept 27–Sept 29.

October 6

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Sept 30, Oct 1–Oct 3.

October 10

Employees who work for tips. Employees who received $20 or more in tips during September must report them to their employer using Form 4070.

October 12

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 4–Oct 6.

October 13

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 7–Oct 10.

October 16

Individuals. Individuals with automatic 6-month extensions file Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due.

Corporations. Corporations who had timely requested an automatic six-month extension file calendar year income tax return (Form 1120) and pay any tax, interest and penalties due.

Employers. For those to whom the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit employment taxes and nonpayroll withholding for payments in September.

October 18

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 11–Oct 13.

October 20

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 14–Oct 17.

October 25

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 18–Oct 20.

October 27

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 21–Oct 24.

October 31

Employers. File Form 941 for third quarter of 2017 and deposit or pay any undeposited tax. Pay tax liability in full with timely filed return if less than $2,500. If the tax for the quarter was deposited timely, properly, and in full, deadline to file Form 941 is November 13.

Employers. Deposit federal unemployment tax owed through September if more than $500.

Certain Small Employers. Deposit any undeposited tax if tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2017 but less than $2,500 for the third quarter.

November 1

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 25–Oct 27.

November 3

Employers. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit employment taxes for Oct 28–Oct 31.

Although individual income tax returns don't have to be filed until April 15, taxpayers who file early get their refunds a lot sooner. The IRS begins accepting returns in January but does not start processing returns until February. Determining whether to file early depends on various personal and financial considerations. Filing early to somehow fly under the IRS's audit radar, however, has been ruled out long ago by experts as a viable strategy.

Although individual income tax returns don't have to be filed until April 15, taxpayers who file early get their refunds a lot sooner. The IRS begins accepting returns in January but does not start processing returns until February. Determining whether to file early depends on various personal and financial considerations. Filing early to somehow fly under the IRS's audit radar, however, has been ruled out long ago by experts as a viable strategy.

Required documents

Filing a return early may not make sense for many taxpayers because they do not yet have enough information to accurately fill out their return. If you have not received information returns, like Forms 1099, or other information you need to complete your return and/or accompanying forms, or if you are missing documents or other information you need to attach to your return, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to accurately complete your tax return. For example, employers do not have to provide wage statements to their employees until January 31 (although an employer can provide Form W-2 sooner if an employee terminates employment). The IRS requires this statement to be attached to your return (either in paper form or electronically when filing online).

Information returns do not have to be furnished until January 31. These include, among others, the 1099 forms for dividends, interest income, royalty income (Form 1099-MISC), stock sales (Form 1099-B), real estate sales (Form 1099-S), state tax refunds (Form 1099-G), and mortgage interest paid (Form 1098), and distributions from pension plans (Form 1099-R). Waiting until you receive all the information and forms necessary to complete your return accurately also lessens your chances of making mistakes, which can call attention to your return by the IRS. The IRS will not process your return until it is accurate.

Last year's return

You'll also want to take a look at your 2013 tax return. Did your circumstances change in 2014? Changes such as starting a new job, retiring, getting married, having a child, and so on, have important tax consequences. Congress extended, enhanced and created new tax incentives in 2014 that could generate a larger refund. Another important consideration is the current economic downturn, which has generated significant losses in many investment portfolios, IRAs, 401(k)s, and similar arrangements.

Refunds

If you have all the information you need to completely and accurately fill out your tax return, and are owed a refund, filing early is attractive. The sooner you file, the sooner you'll see your refund check from the IRS. If you file your return electronically and choose to have your refund direct deposited into your bank account, the IRS typically will issue your refund in as few as 10 days.

If you owe money, however, you may want to wait until April 15 to file or file early online and date your tax payment to be released on April 15. If you have the funds to pay what you owe and you pay early, you could lose out on keeping the money invested and earning interest on it until April 15.

The IRS expects to receive more than 150 million individual income tax returns during the 2015 filing season. Remember that the IRS does not start processing returns until February. Also, no matter how early you file your return before April 15, the three year statute of limitations during which the IRS can question your return and assess more tax doesn't start to run until April 15.

Please contact our office if you have any questions about filing early.

During economic downturns, many people often look for ways to supplement their regular employment compensation. Or, you may be engaging in an activity - such as gambling or selling items on an online auction - that is actually earning you income: taxable income. Many individuals may not understand the tax consequences of, and reporting requirements for, earning these types of miscellaneous income. This article discusses how you report certain types of miscellaneous income.

Reporting your miscellaneous taxable income

For most people, gambling winnings and hobby income are uncommon types of taxable income. Gambling winnings and hobby income, as well as prizes and awards, represent "miscellaneous income" and are reported on Line 21 of your Form 1040 as "other income."

Hobby income

Hobbies are generally considered under the tax law as activities that are not pursued "for profit." However, the tax law provides that if your hobby shows a profit in at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year, you are assumed to be trying to make money. However, you can rebut the assumption -- that you are not out to run a profitable business even if you regularly have losses -- with evidence to the contrary. Just because you love what you are doing in a sideline business does not mean it's a hobby for tax law purposes. In fact, one secret to business success is often enjoying your work. Profits you receive from an activity that is a hobby and not a for-profit business are reported as "other income" on Line 21 of your Form 1040.

Hobby losses and expenses

You cannot deduct your hobby expenses in excess of income you derived from the hobby, and you can only deduct qualifying expenses if you itemize your deductions. Expenses that you incurred in generating hobby income are generally deductible as miscellaneous itemized deductions, subject to the two-percent floor, on Schedule A. If you incurred losses in connection with your hobby activities, you may generally be able to deduct these "hobby losses" but only to the extent of income produced by the activity.

However, some expenses that are deductible whether or not they are incurred in connection with a hobby (such as taxes, interest and casualty losses) are deductible even if they exceed hobby income. These expenses, however, will reduce the amount of your hobby income against which your hobby expenses can be offset. Your hobby expenses then offset the reduced income in the following order:

1. Operating expenses, generally;

2. Depreciation and other basis adjustment items.

As mentioned above, your itemized deduction for hobby expenses is subject to the two-percent floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Gambling winnings

Gambling winnings, whether legal or illegal, are included in your gross income. If you have winnings from a lottery, raffle, or other types of gambling activities, you must report the full amount of your winnings on Line 21 of your Form 1040 as "other income." The taxable gains are the amount by which your winnings exceed the amount you wagered. If any taxes were withheld from your winnings, you should receive a Form W-2G showing the total paid to you in Box 1, and the amount of income taxes withheld in Box 2. You need to include the amount in Box 2 in the amount of taxes paid on Line 59 of your 1040.

Gambling losses

You can deduct your gambling losses as an itemized deduction for the year on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 28. However, you cannot deduct gambling losses that exceed your winnings. Thus, you can deduct losses from gambling up to the amount of your gambling winnings. You cannot reduce your gambling winnings by your gambling losses and report the difference. You must report the full amount of your winnings as income and claim your losses (up to the amount of winnings) as an itemized deduction. Therefore, your records should show your winnings separately from your losses.

You can reduce your gambling winnings by your wagering losses regardless of whether the underlying transactions are legal or illegal. Moreover, gambling losses may be offset against all gains arising out of wagering transactions, and not merely against gambling winnings. However, gambling losses can only be used to offset gambling gains during the same year.

Moreover, you cannot use your gambling losses to reduce taxable income from non-gambling sources, and they cannot be used as a carryover or carryback to reduce gambling income from other years. For example, the value of complimentary goods you might receive from a casino as an inducement to gamble are gains from which gambling losses can be deducted.

Casinos, lotteries and other payers of gambling winnings of $600 or more ($1,200 for bingo or slot machines and $1,500 for keno) report the winnings on Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings.

If you have any questions about tax and reporting requirements in connection with hobby activities and other sources of income, please call our office.

The end of the 2009 year will also spell the end of many tax breaks for both individuals and businesses. Some of these tax breaks are "temporary" credits and deductions that Congress typically extends for another year or two at the last moment. Other sunsetting provisions are relatively new, with no previous track record on their being extended. In either case, however, the unfamiliar economic climate in which our nation finds itself makes predicting whether Congress will find the funding necessary to extend any particular tax break this time around, beyond 2009, a matter of guesswork. The following is a list of important tax breaks expiring at the end of 2009.

A word to the wise: if you can take advantage of any tax break on this list before 2009 closes, do so. At this point, you cannot -and should not-- count on having any of them available in 2010.

Homebuyer tax credit. The first-time homebuyer tax credit expires sooner rather than later in 2009. That is, the credit expires November 30 - the credit provision requires that the residence be "purchased" by November 30, with "purchase" defined as taking place when title passes and the full purchase price is paid (that is, at the "closing") and not earlier when the contract of sale is executed and a down payment is escrowed. The credit is equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of a principal residence, up to $8,000. It applies to homes purchased after December 31, 2008, and before December 1, 2009.

Itemized state and local sales tax deduction. The ability to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes is available until December 31, 2009, when the itemized state and local sales tax deduction expires.

Higher education tuition deduction. The higher education tuition deduction, permitting taxpayers to take an above-the-line deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses, will expire this year. The maximum deductible amount is $4,000 for taxpayers with adjusted gross income not exceeding $65,000 ($130,000 for joint filers). Taxpayers whose income exceeds that limit but does not exceed $80,000 ($160,000 for joint filers) may deduct up to $2,000 in qualified expenses.

Additional standard deduction for real property taxes. If you claim the standard deduction and also have real estate taxes, you can take an increased deduction ($500 for individuals and $1,000 for married couples filing jointly) for your real estate taxes. This tax break is scheduled to expire at the end of 2009.

Teachers' classroom expense deduction. The $250 above-the-line deduction for qualified classroom expenses will expire at the end of 2009. The deduction benefits teachers and other educators, from teachers' aides to school principals, who used their own out-of-pocket money to purchase qualified classroom supplies, such as notebooks, scissors, paper, pens, markers and books. As an above-the-line deduction, the $250 tax break is available to non-itemizers as well.

Bonus depreciation. For businesses, bonus depreciation and enhanced "section 179 expensing," both designed to - temporarily - encourage business to make capital investments, are set to expire at the end of 2009. Bonus depreciation can be claimed for both regular tax and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability unless the taxpayer makes an election out.

Enhanced Code Sec. 179 expensing. Enhanced "section 179 expensing," is set to expire at the end of 2009 in addition to bonus depreciation, as mentioned above. Qualified taxpayers may deduct up to $250,000 of the cost of machinery, equipment, vehicles, furniture, and other qualifying property placed in service during 2009. The $250,000 amount is reduced if the cost of all Code Sec. 179 property placed in service by the taxpayer during the tax year exceeds $800,000.

Research and development credit. The research and development, or R&D credit, is set to expire at the end of 2009. The credit is available for businesses that increase their research expenses. The credit is 14 percent of qualified research expenses that exceed 50 percent of the average qualified research expenses for the three preceding tax years.

COBRA subsidy. The COBRA premium assistance provided as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (2009 Recovery Act) will not benefit individual involuntarily terminated from employment after December 31, 2009. The COBRA subsidy is only available to individuals involuntarily terminated from work between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 The COBRA subsidy under the 2009 Recovery Act provides for individuals to pay only 35 percent of their COBRA premiums with employers paying the remaining 65 percent, for nine months.

Unemployment compensation. Although unemployment compensation is typically taxable income, the 2009 tax year provides a respite from taxability for up to $2,400 of unemployment income. However, the exclusion from taxable income for unemployment compensation is only available for 2009, and will expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts to extend this benefit.

Motor vehicle sales tax deduction. The deduction for sales tax paid on the purchase a new motor vehicle is available for vehicles purchased between February 17, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Taxpayers can deduct state and local sales and use taxes paid on the first $49,500 of the purchase price of the vehicle. The deduction can be taken whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions. However, if you deduct state and local general sales taxes as an itemized deduction, you cannot "double dip" and take the deduction for new car sales taxes.

AMT exemption amounts. For 2009, the AMT exemption amounts increased to $46,700 for individuals and $70,950 for married taxpayers filing jointly. However, these exemption amounts will decrease in 2010 to $33,750 for single taxpayers and $45,000 married taxpayers filing jointly.

Health care reform continues to dominate Congress' fall agenda but lawmakers also have many other tax bills to address before the end of the year. On the table are bills to extend some popular but temporary tax breaks, estate tax reform and more. It is an ambitious agenda that has some lawmakers predicting that they will be working right up to the end of the year.

Health care reform

Health care reform is predicted to cost in the neighborhood of $1 trillion and lawmakers are looking for ways to pay for it. Some revenue will come from cost savings to Medicare and other federal government programs. Other revenues will be generated by new taxes.

The House Ways and Means Committee approved a gradual surtax on higher-income individuals. The Senate Finance Committee rejected that idea and instead is expected to impose a tax on high-cost health insurance plans. Many lawmakers in the House and Senate also support new limits on health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs).

One proposal has broad support in both the House and the Senate: mandatory individual health insurance coverage. Individuals who are not covered by employer-provided insurance would be responsible for obtaining coverage on their own. The House is likely to create a public option, similar to Medicare. There is less support for a public option in the Senate. Uninsured individuals would be liable for an additional tax. However, lower income individuals and senior citizens would be exempt.

Health care reform will likely impose new requirements on employers. The House Ways and Means bill includes a new eight percent tax on employers that do not provide health insurance coverage to their employees.  Employer-provided insurance would also have to meet certain minimum requirements. To help small employers, the House Ways and Means bill would allow them to claim new tax credits.

At this time, it is almost impossible to predict what a final health care reform bill will look like or when a bill will pass Congress. House leaders are working on drafting a bill to present to the full House, possibly for a vote in early November. The pace is slower in the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to continue writing its health care reform bill into October. The full Senate may not vote on a health care reform bill until November or December. If you have any questions about the tax proposals in health care reform, please contact our office.

Estate tax

Effective January 1, 2010, the current federal estate tax is eliminated as the law is now written. Congress actually passed this law in 2001 but delayed abolishing the estate tax until 2010 because of budget calculations. However, this treatment only applies to 2010. After 2010, the estate tax returns and at higher rates than in 2009.

The Obama administration has proposed extending the 2009 estate tax into 2010. This proposal would give Congress more time to make a permanent change. It would also give taxpayers some certainty in their estate planning. Many small business owners would like Congress to abolish the estate tax but this is very unlikely. Taxpayers should anticipate Congress retaining the estate tax; probably at rates similar to those effective for 2009.

Extenders

Every autumn, taxpayers and practitioners question if Congress will extend many popular but temporary tax incentives. Traditionally, Congress has extended them. In fact, they have been extended so many times that many taxpayers think they are permanent. They are not.

Some tax breaks scheduled to expire after 2009 are:

• Higher education tuition deduction;
• State and local sales tax deduction;
• Charitable contributions of IRA proceeds;
• Teachers' classroom expense deduction; and the
• Research tax credit.

Congress could extend these provisions in December or wait until next year and make them retroactive to January 1, 2010. Our office will keep you posted on developments.

Business taxes

The Obama administration has proposed a package of international tax reforms. The proposals, among other things, would reform the business entity classification rules, defer some foreign-source deductions, and limit income shifting through intangible property transfers.  Neither the House nor the Senate has taken up the proposals and it is unclear if they will before year-end.

Also uncertain is a cut in the U.S. corporate tax rate. The U.S. corporate tax rate is the second highest in the industrial world. President Obama has indicated he would support a reduction in the corporate tax rate in exchange for closing unspecified tax loopholes.

Retirement savings

The White House and many members of Congress back new measures to enroll more workers in retirement plans. Several pending bills would require employers to offer retirement plans or enroll their employees in IRAs. Many lawmakers also support automatic enrollment in retirement plans. Employees would automatically be enrolled in a 401(k) or similar plan unless they opt out. These and other retirement-related bills have been referred to various House and Senate committees. They could come up for a vote before 2010.

More proposals

Also on Congress' fall agenda are:

• Cap and trade legislation
• Fiscal Year 2010 IRS budget
• Energy tax incentives
• Education tax breaks
• Alternative minimum tax relief
• Tax simplification proposals
• Closing the tax gap
• Expanded information reporting

Please contact our office if you have any questions about pending legislation.

As the end of 2009 approaches, it is a good time to start year-end tax planning. Between now and December 31, 2009, there is time to put in place some tax saving strategies. Many of these strategies are familiar ones; others are tailored to these challenging economic times.

Individuals

One of the tried and tested year-end planning methods is income and expense shifting. Basically, you aim to smooth out taxable income between 2009 and 2010 by accelerating and postponing transactions that either produce income or yield deductible expenses. This technique works best if you can reasonably forecast your income and expense situation in the first few months of 2010.

One complicating factor this year is the recession. For many individuals, the end of 2009 is very different from the beginning of the year. Salaried workers and their spouses may have experienced a lay-off, furlough or reduction in hours at work. Self-employed individuals may be struggling with cash-flow problems. Many retired individuals are also having a hard time coping during the recession. Investment income is down and some retirees have re-entered the job market.

Fortunately, there are some provisions in the Tax Code that can help. For example, job hunting expenses may be deductible. The first $2,400 in unemployment benefits is tax-free. If you relocate to take a new job, moving expenses may also be deductible.

Besides employment, other life events have tax consequences. Marriage, divorce and children all impact your federal tax status. Some of the most overlooked tax incentives are targeted to children. If you paid someone to care for a child, spouse, or dependent, you may be able to reduce your tax by claiming the child and dependent care credit on your federal income tax return. This credit is separate from the child tax credit, which is $1,000 per qualifying child for 2009. There is also an adoption tax credit.  Many parents are using Coverdell Education Savings Accounts to put aside funds for a child's schooling. Although the contributions are not tax-free, the distributions, if used for qualified education expenses, are tax-free. There is also an expanded education tax credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which can help with college tuition costs.

For 2009, state and local sales taxes are also deductible (in lieu of state and local income taxes). This benefit may be especially valuable if you are planning a big-ticket purchase in the near future. Another popular tax incentive will expire before the end of 2009: the first-time homebuyer credit is set to expire after November 30, 2009. Several bills have been introduced in Congress to extend the credit another year. Our office will keep you posted on developments.

Wage-earners and pension recipients also need to plan for the Making Work Pay Credit. This payroll credit was enacted in early 2009. Employers and some pension plans are withholding less federal income tax. The impact of the Making Work Pay Credit varies significantly, depending on a taxpayer's earned income, filing status and number of withholding allowances. The credit phases out for a single taxpayer who has modified adjusted gross income (AGI) between $75,000 and $95,000, and for married couples filing jointly whose modified AGI is between $150,000 and $190,000. Individuals with more than one job and married couples with two incomes may be surprised when they file their taxes in 2010 to discover that they are receiving a smaller refund or owe money.  If you have not yet adjusted your withholding for 2009, now is the time to act.

IRA conversions

A lot of folks are talking about IRA conversions. Starting in 2010, anyone can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA regardless of their income and other current restrictions. You can choose to recognize income from the conversion in 2010 or average it out over 2011 and 2012. President Obama has proposed raising the top two individual marginal income tax rates after 2010. If you are considering an IRA conversion, you may want to do it next year and recognize the income in 2010. However, be cautious. The new IRA conversion rules are generous but not for everyone. Our office can help evaluate if an IRA conversion fits your savings strategy.

Small businesses

Small business expensing under Code Sec. 179 is at an all-time high this year ($250,000). The threshold for reducing the deduction is $800,000. The higher amounts are set to expire after 2009. Businesses that have been contemplating a purchase need to act soon if they want to take advantage of the more generous Code Sec. 179 expensing amount. The expensing amount will fall to $134,000 in 2010 unless Congress extends it.

Another business tax break - bonus depreciation - will also expire at the end of 2009. Fifty percent bonus depreciation is taken on top of the regular depreciation for the year the property is placed in service. Keep in mind that a larger current depreciation deduction results in smaller future deductions.

Many small business owners operate their businesses as sole proprietorships or partnerships. The expected increase in the top two marginal income tax rates after 2010 will also affect them. It is not too early to start planning for those anticipated rate hikes.

Small businesses should have a year-end retirement plan check-up. The Obama administration and the IRS recently announced some measures to encourage small businesses to offer a retirement plan or expand an existing plan. Our office can help you choose a retirement plan that is right for your small business.

Special considerations this year

Because of the recession, many individuals cannot meet their tax debts. The IRS is aware of how families are struggling and has promised to help. You may qualify for an installment agreement, which allows you to pay your taxes over time. The IRS might also accept an offer-in-compromise. Some individuals are uncomfortable by how the recession has impacted them. Don't be. If you have unresolved debts with the IRS, let our office know now. We can work with the IRS on your behalf.

The same is true for small business owners. Frankly, the IRS is less sympathetic to business owners that fall behind in their tax obligations, especially payroll taxes, than with individuals. It may be tempting to skip a payroll tax deposit. This is a dangerous tactic and will result in severe penalties. Again, our office can help you work with the IRS.

The saver's credit is a retirement savings tax credit that can save eligible individuals up to $1,000 in taxes just for contributing up to $2,000 to their retirement account. The saver's credit is an additional tax benefit on top of any other benefits available for your retirement contribution. It is a nonrefundable personal credit. Therefore, like other nonrefundable credits, it can be claimed against your combined regular tax liability and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liability.

Who qualifies for the saver's credit

To qualify for the credit, you must be 18 years old (as of the close of the tax year of the contribution), not a full-time student, and not claimed as a dependent on another's return. The calculation of the credit amount depends on a percentage of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

The credit can be claimed for contributions or deferrals made to a number of retirement plans, including: traditional and Roth IRAs (other then rollover contributions), voluntary "after-tax" employee contributions to Section 403(b) annuities and qualified retirement plans, qualified cash or deferred arrangements, including elective contributions made to 401(k) plans, tax sheltered annuities, SIMPLE plans, simplified employee pensions (SEPs), and eligible deferred compensation plans of governmental employers.

Determining your credit amount

IRS Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, is used to calculate the amount of the saver's credit, which is then reported on Line 51 of Form 1040. The credit is determined as a percentage of your "qualifying contribution." A taxpayer's qualifying contribution is limited to $2,000 per year. The percent varies depending on your adjusted gross income (AGI).

For 2009, the credit is 50 percent of the maximum $2,000 ceiling for married couples filing jointly with a combined AGI of $33,000 or less. For example, if each spouse makes the maximum $2,000 contribution for the credit, for a total of $4,000, they can claim a total saver's credit of $2,000 ($4,000 x 50 percent) on their joint return). If AGI for 2009 is above $33,000 but not over $36,000, the credit is 20 percent of qualifying contributions ($800 in the above example: $4,000 x 20 percent). If AGI for 2009 is above $36,000 but not over $55,500, the credit is 10 percent of qualifying contributions.

For single taxpayers, if AGI for 2009 is $16,500 or less, the percentage is 50 percent. If AGI for 2009 is above $16,500 but not over $18,000, the credit is 20 percent of qualifying contributions. If AGI for 2009 is above $18,000 but not over $27,750, the credit is 10 percent of qualifying contributions. For 2009, the credit is phased out when AGI exceeds $55,000 for joint return filers, $41,625 for heads of households, and $27,750 for single and married filing separately.

Contribution reductions

The amount of contributions to be taken into account in determining the credit, however, must be reduced by any distributions from such qualified retirement plans over a "test period." The test period includes the current tax year, two preceding tax years, and the following tax year up to the due date of the return including extensions. A qualifying contribution is also reduced by nontaxable distributions received from Roth IRAs during the testing period (unless you roll them over). The contribution reduction rule even applies to "special" distributions, such as those taken to pay first-time homebuyer expenses or higher education costs.

Exceptions apply for certain distributions, such as trustee-to-trustee transfers or rollover distributions to other qualified retirement accounts (for example, a rollover from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA).

Example. Jenny contributes $2,500 to her 401(k) during Year 4, but took a $1,000 taxable IRA withdrawal during Year 2. Her qualifying contribution for purposes of computing her saver's credit for Year 4 is $1,500 ($2,500-$1,000).

The saver's credit is available in addition to other benefits you receive contributing to a retirement plan. For example, if you make a $1,000 deductible contribution to a traditional IRA, you may also qualify to take the saver's credit for that contribution. In fact, since your deduction for the IRA contribution reduces AGI, you may even qualify for a higher credit percentage.

A consequence of the economic downturn for many investors has been significant losses on their investments in retirement accounts, including traditional and Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs). This article discusses when and how taxpayers can deduct losses suffered in Roth IRAs and traditional IRAs ...and when no deduction will be allowed.

Traditional IRAs

Losses on investments held in a traditional IRA, funded only by contributions that you deducted when you made them, are never deductible. Even when you cash out the IRA after retirement, losses cannot be deducted. The theory behind this rule is that you already received a tax benefit in your deduction for making contributions and any loss lowers the amount of taxable income you must realize when you make retirement withdrawals. The technical explanation is that you are presumed to have a zero basis in your account.

On the other hand, if you make nondeductible traditional IRA contributions, and liquidate all of the investments in your traditional IRA, a loss can be recognized if the amounts distributed are less than the remaining unrecovered basis in the traditional IRA. You claim a loss in a traditional IRA on Schedule A, Form 1040, as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the two percent AGI floor.

Example. During 2008, you made $2,000 in nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA. Your basis in the IRA at the end of 2008 is $2,000. During 2008, the IRA earned $400 in dividend income and you withdrew $600 from the account. As a result, at the end of 2008 the value of your IRA was $1,800 ($2,000 contributed plus $400 dividends minus $600 withdrawal). You compute and report the taxable portion of your $600 withdrawal and your remaining basis on Form 8606, Nondeductible IRA.

In 2009, the year you retired, your IRA lost $500 in value. At the end of 2009, your IRA balance was $1,300 ($1,800 balance at the end of 2008 minus the $500 loss). Your remaining basis at that time in your IRA is $1,500 ($2,000 nondeductible contributions minus the $500 basis in the prior withdrawal). You withdraw the $1,300 balance remaining in the IRA. You can claim a loss of $200 (your $1,500 basis minus the $1,300 withdrawn) on Form 1040, Schedule A. The allowable loss is further subject to the two percent adjusted gross income (AGI) floor on miscellaneous itemized deductions.

If you made significant nondeductible contributions to an IRA over the last few years, and may be considering withdrawing the entire balance in all of your traditional IRAs before the end of the year in order to recognize a loss, keep in mind doing so will mean losing the opportunity to defer gain if the value of your investments in the accounts increases. Those withdrawn amounts cannot be recontributed at a later date.

Roth IRA losses

When you experience losses on Roth IRA investments, you can only recognize the loss for income tax purposes, if and when all the amounts in the Roth IRA accounts have been distributed and the total distributions are less than your basis (e.g. regular and conversion contributions).

To report a loss in a Roth IRA, all the investments held in your Roth IRA (but not traditional IRAs) must be liquidated. Moreover, the loss is an ordinary loss for income tax purposes, not a capital loss, and can only be claimed as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the two percent of AGI floor that applies to miscellaneous itemized deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A.

Since all Roth IRAs must be completely liquidated to generate a loss deduction, it generally provides only a small comfort to investments gone sour. Closing all your Roth IRAs generally forgoes future appreciation on that amount.

Tax deadlines have long broken out of the mold of being exclusively set at April 15 for individuals and March 15 for businesses, generally with no important dates falling in between. From September through November of this year, recent tax legislation and IRS programs have created a handful of important new deadlines that may be easy to miss without a list. Some old dates, too, have a few new wrinkles.

Here is a checklist of upcoming deadlines, designed to alert you to opportunities or that are time sensitive. Please call our office immediately if you identify any deadline that may apply to your situation. We can help you avoid missing out on tax incentives or being subject to penalties if forms are not filed on time.

September 15/ October 15: NOL carryback deadline

The 2009 Recovery Act allows eligible small businesses (with average gross receipts of $15 million or less over three years) to elect a longer carryback period -- up to five years -- for 2008 losses. A small business that wants to take advantage of the three, four or five-year carryback period for 2008 losses must file an election with the IRS to use the longer period. Taxpayers can make the election on an original return (Forms 1040, 1041, 1065, and 1120) or an amended return (Forms 1040X, 1045, 1120X, or 1139).

Calendar year businesses. The filing deadline is September 15, 2009 for a corporation on the calendar year. The deadline is October 15, 2009 for an individual on the calendar year. The October 15 deadline includes a sole proprietor that qualifies as an eligible small business, an individual partner in a partnership that qualifies as an eligible small business and a shareholder in an S corporation that qualifies as an eligible small business.

Fiscal year businesses. A corporation on a fiscal year that ends March 31, 2009 must make the carryback election by December 15, 2009. An individual on a fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 could make the election by January 15, 2010.

September 15: Individual estimated tax payments due

Individuals who are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments must make payments on September 15. Failure to pay estimated tax in a timely manner may result in the IRS's assessment of penalties.

Thanks to another temporary relief provision in the 2009 Recovery Act, estimated tax payments of "qualified individuals" for tax years beginning in 2009 may be based on 90 percent of the individual's prior year's tax liability (rather than the usual 100 percent amount). An individual is a qualified individual if the adjusted gross income shown on the individual's return for the preceding tax year is less than $500,000 and more than 50 percent of the gross income shown on the return for the preceding tax year is from a business which employed fewer than 500 employees on average during the calendar year that ends with or within the preceding tax year of the individual.

September 23: FBAR reporting deadline

Taxpayers maintaining any type of financial account in a foreign country are required to report this information to the U.S. government. Taxpayers must used Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (known as the "FBAR"), if the aggregate value of these accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. While the deadline each year is usually June 30 of the following year, most taxpayers this year have been given an extension to complete and file the FBAR until September 23, 2009 (some with only "signature authority" have longer). Also under an IRS offshore compliance initiative, US taxpayers who disclose their secret bank accounts by September 23, 2009, will be given special consideration for leniency from criminal prosecution.

October 15: Due date for individual tax returns filed under an extension

Individuals have until October 15 to file their individual federal income tax return for 2008, Form 1040, if they are filing on an extension. Not only will missing this deadline mean incurring a failure to file penalty and interest, but certain valuable tax elections can be made only on a timely filed return.

October 15: Deadline for undoing Roth conversion

If you converted from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in 2008, but for one reason or another want to undo the conversion, you have until October 15, 2009 to do that as well. Especially if the value of your investments in your IRA has dropped significantly since you converted from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you may want to reconvert and then convert again at the lower value. This can save you from paying income tax on the amount by which your converted account has decreased.

Moreover, if you made a contribution to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA in 2008, but since determined that you should have contributed the money to the other type of account, you still can. If you act before October 15, 2009 you can recharacterize your IRA contribution.

Undoing your Roth IRA conversion, or a contribution to either account, must be made before October 15, 2009, and only if you have filed your 2008 return by April 15, 2009 (or, if you obtained a filing extension, by that extension due date). If you already filed your 2008 return, you will need to file an amended return for 2008.

November 26, 2009: Cancellation of indebtedness income deferral election

The 2009 Recovery Act gives businesses an election to defer cancellation of indebtedness income (COI) from the "reacquisition" or repurchase of debt in 2009 or 2010. The income is deferred until 2014 and only then must be reported ratably over five years, through 2018. An election will be treated by the IRS as effective if the taxpayer files an election with the taxpayer's federal income tax return filed on or before September 16, 2009. However, an election that does not comply with section 4 of Rev. Proc. 2009-37 (involving election procedures) will not be effective unless the taxpayer on or before November 16, 2009, files an amended return for the taxable year of the election.

A taxpayer who filed an election by the original September 16, 2009 deadline can modify the election (for instance, to change the amount deferred) by filing an amended return by November 16, 2009 with a revised election.  

November 30, 2009: First-time homebuyer tax credit

If you use your home computer for business purposes, knowing that you can deduct some or all of its costs can help ease the pain of the large initial and ongoing cash outlay. In today's economic climate, many individuals may be working more from home than commuting to the office. The deduction rules related to home computer costs can be complicated; some of the complexities are derived from situations in which the computer is used partly for personal use and partly for work purposes.

A tax deduction for all or part of the expense of a computer can still help lower the bottom-line price tag of a computer purchase. But despite both the widespread use of computers and the temptation to somehow "write them off" on a tax return, the business use of your home computer will need to fall within these standard rules if you want to take any related deductions.

Business reason

To claim a deduction for your home computer (and any peripheral equipment), you will need to prove that the expense occurred in connection with an active business - just as you would for any other business expense. An active business for purposes of a business expense related to a home computer will usually arise from one of two types of business activities: as a self-employed sole proprietor of an independently-run profit-making business; or as an employee doing work from home. Deductions from both types of activities are handled differently on an individual's income tax return and there are separate conditions that must be met for either scenario.

Employees. A miscellaneous itemized deduction on Schedule A is allowed for computer costs that are directly related to the "job" of being an employee. In order to claim a deduction for computer-related expenses as an employee, you must show a legitimate reason related to your employment for regularly using a computer at home. That is, you will need to demonstrate that the computer is used for the convenience of your employer and using the computer at home is a condition of your employment.

The availability of a computer in the office, the ability for you to keep your job without the home computer, the lack of telecommuting policy at work, or the lack of proof that your computer is used regularly for office work will make it more difficult to convince the IRS that a legitimate business reason exists for the deduction.

Note to employees. Computer-related business expenses taken as a miscellaneous itemized deduction are deductible only to the extent that your total miscellaneous itemized deductions exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income. For many taxpayers, a good strategy is to "bunch" purchases of computer equipment all in one year so that more of the cost will rise above the 2 percent floor.

Self-employed individuals. Self-employed persons generally have a less difficult time depreciating or expensing the cost of computers used exclusively in their businesses. In order for you as a self-employed person to deduct computer-related costs on Schedule C - whether for a home-based computer or one in a separate business location - it is required that your expenses relate to a profit-motivated business versus a "hobby". In the eyes of the IRS, a business will be deemed a hobby if there is no profit motive and the "business" is half-heartedly pursued simply to write off items or achieve some other personal purpose. If your Schedule C business shows a net loss year after year, you may be considerably more likely to have the IRS audit your return to inspect whether your purported business is actually legitimate under the tax law.

However, if you are self-employed and you also use the computer for personal purposes, be sure to use the computer more than 50 percent of the time for business purposes to gain the maximum deduction and to avoid recapture of prior computer-related deductions you have taken.

Other IRS considerations

Aside from applying the general rules discussed above for a for-profit business and miscellaneous itemized deductions to determine if you are able to deduct business-related computer costs, the IRS is likely to dust off other standard tax principles in evaluating whether your computer expense write off is acceptable:

• Depreciation. Business items that have a useful life beyond the current tax year generally must be written off, or depreciated, over its useful life. As technological equipment, computer equipment is assumed to have a 5-year life. Accelerated depreciation of those 5 years is allowed for all but "listed property" (see below). An exception to the mandatory 5-year write off involves items that qualify for "Section 179" expensing (see below). Keep in mind that only the cost associated with the business-use portion of your computer can be expensed.

• Section 179 deduction. Section 179 expensing allows you to deduct each year up to $250,000 in 2009 of the cost of otherwise depreciable business equipment, including computers. As with depreciation, keep in mind that only the cost associated with the business-use portion of your computer can be expensed.

"Listed property" exception. A computer used in the home is generally considered to be "listed property," which may limit the deductibility of associated costs and increase substantiation burdens on the taxpayer (unless the computer is used exclusively in your trade or business). A computer that is considered listed property may be depreciated only if you can prove that the computer is used for the convenience of your employer and is required as a condition of employment. This requires you to demonstrate that you cannot perform your job without the use of the computer.

The "listed property" exception will deny Section 179 expensing if a home computer is used only 50 percent or less for business purposes. If so, you must depreciate the computer evenly over 5 years. For example, if the business-use portion of a $10,000 computer is 80 percent, then $8,000 of its cost qualifies for direct expensing. If 45 percent is used for business, no part of the cost may be immediately expensed.

• Recordkeeping. Since most home computers are "listed property," listed property substantiation rules apply. These rules require you to keep a contemporaneous log every time you use your computer to prove the percentage of your business use.

• Internet connectivity. If you use a modem to connect your computer to the Internet, keep in mind that the first phone line to a home office is not deductible, even on a pro-rated basis. A second line, however, may be written off as a business expense. If you connect via DSL or incur other Internet-only access service costs, be aware that the IRS has not taken a position here but some experts predict that the IRS eventually may consider the potential for personal Internet use to compromise such a deduction.

• Computer software. Computer software generally may be amortized using the straight-line method over a 36-month period if the costs are separately stated from the hardware.

• Computer repairs. Repairs that don't upgrade the useful life of the machine may be deducted immediately. However, making significant system enhancements, such as adding additional memory, would generally need to be added to basis and capitalized.

Health care reform continues to elude Congress as lawmakers struggle to find ways to pay for its estimated $1 trillion cost. The House is poised to pass a massive health reform bill, America's Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200), which includes a surcharge on higher income individuals. The Senate, however, is unlikely to pass its version of health care reform before Congress' August recess.  A final bill is not expected to pass Congress until the fall or maybe later.

Individual coverage

One of the most far-reaching changes would be the mandate that all individuals obtain health care coverage. Individuals would be insured whether through their employer or by participating in a new national exchange (also referred to as a "gateway"). In the exchange, individuals would shop among private insurers and a possible public health insurance plan. Congress is expected to impose a tax on individuals who do not obtain insurance. Lower-income individuals, however, would receive a credit or voucher to help pay for the cost of coverage.

Employers

Employers would be required to offer health care coverage or pay for coverage. Employers that opt out of providing coverage would pay an additional tax. Employer-provided coverage would also have to meet certain minimum standards. Small employers would be eligible for tax credits to help offset the cost of coverage.

Surtax

President Obama has promised that health care reform will not add to the federal deficit. Very few revenue raisers would generate the amount of money needed to fund health care reform. The House version of health care reform includes a surcharge on higher income individuals. The surcharge is estimated to raise more than $500 billion over 10 years.

For married couples filing jointly, a surtax of one percent would apply to the couple's modified AGI that exceeds $350,000 but does not exceed $500,000; a 1.5 percent rate would apply to the couple's modified AGI that exceeds $500,000 but does not exceed $1 million; and a 5.4 percent rate would apply to the couple's modified AGI that exceeds $1 million.

For single individuals and heads of household, the dollar amounts would be 80 percent of the above-mentioned amounts. For married couples filing separately, the dollar amounts would be 50 percent of the above amounts. Moreover, the one and 1.5 percent rates would be increased to two and three percent if certain health care cost savings are not achieved by 2013.

Possible revenue raisers

The $1 trillion price tag of health care reform has lawmakers looking at every option to generate revenue. Some of the proposals being debated are:

• Delaying the effective date of worldwide allocation of interest rules;
• Codifying the economic substance doctrine;
• Limiting treaty benefits involving foreign multinational corporations;
• Modifying or repealing the itemized deduction for medical expenses;
• Limiting the student FICA exception;
• Extending Medicare payroll tax to all states and local government employees;
• Modifying or repealing the exclusion for employer-provided reimbursement of expenses under FSAs and similar arrangements;
• Imposing an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages;
• Heightening requirements for a hospital to keep its tax-exempt status; and
• Reducing the special deduction for non-profit "Blues."

You may have done some spring cleaning and found that you have a lot of clothes that you no longer wear or want, and would like to donate to charity. Used clothing that you want to donate to charity and take a charitable deduction for, however, is subject to a few rules and requirements.

Under IRS guidelines, clothing, furniture, and other household items must be in good used condition or better, to be deductible. Shirts with stains or pants with frayed hems just won't cut it. Furthermore, if the item(s) of used clothing are not in good used condition or better, and you wish to deduct more than $500 for a single piece of clothing, the IRS requires a professional appraisal.

For donations of less than $250, you must obtain a receipt from the charity, reflecting the donor's name, date and location of the contribution, and a reasonably detailed description of the donation. It is your responsibility to obtain this written acknowledgement of your donation.

Used clothing contributions worth more than $500

If you are deducting more than $500 with respect to one piece of used clothing you donate, you must file Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions, with the IRS. For donated items of used clothing worth more than $500 each, you must attach a qualified appraisal report is to your tax return. The Form 8283 asks you to include information such as the date you acquired the item(s) and how you acquired the item(s) (for example, were the clothes a holiday gift or did you buy the items at the store).

Determining the fair market value of used clothing

You may also need to include the method you used to determine the value of the used clothing. According to the IRS, the valuation of used clothing does not necessarily lend itself to the use of fixed formulas or methods. Typically, the value of used clothing that you donate, is going to be much less than you when first paid for the item. A rule of thumb, is that for items such as used clothing, fair market value is generally the price at which buyers of used items pay for used clothing in consignment or thrift stores, such as the Salvation Army.

To substantiate your deduction, ask for a receipt from the donor that attests to the fact that the clothing you donated with in good, used condition, or better. Moreover, you may want to take pictures of the clothing.

If you need have questions about valuing and substantiating your charitable donations, please contact our office.

Employers commonly use per-diem allowance arrangements to reimburse employees for business expenses incurred while traveling away from home on business. Each year, the IRS publishes per-diem rates for travel within the continental U.S. The per-diem rates for meals, lodging and incidental expenses can be used instead of using your actual expenses. There are two approved methods for substantiating your per-diem expenses, including the "high-low" method (found in IRS Publication 1542). This article is intended to help you calculate your per-diem travel expenses under the "high-low" method.

What is required under a per-diem plan?

Per diems require only that your employee substantiate the time, place, and business purpose of these expenses. When you use the "high-low" method for calculating the per-diem rate allowance, your expenses under this method will be deemed substantiated as long as it does not exceed IRS-established federal per diem rates for two categories:

1. Lodging; and

2. Meals.

The federal per-diem rates for these two categories are listed in IRS Publication 1542.

The high-low method

As mentioned, one of the two approved methods for using the per-diem rates is the "high-low" method. The high-low method is a simplified method for figuring your lodging, meals and incidental expenses. This method requires employers to use only two per-diem rates to reimburse employee travel expenses--one for high-cost locations and one for low-cost locations. For 2009, the per-diem rate for travel to a "high-cost" locality is $296 ($198 for lodging and $58 for meals and incidental expenses). The 2009 per-diem rate for travel to "low-cost" areas is $158 ($113 for lodging and $45 for meals and incidental expenses).

Under the high-low method, there are a significant number of localities (published n Publication 1542) that qualify for a "high" 2009 per diem rate of $296. Any locality not listed as "high" is automatically considered "low cost" and qualifies for a per diem rate of $158. The federal per-diem rates are deemed substantiated as long as they do not exceed the high or low cost set by the IRS for the area.

There are a number of advantages for starting a Roth IRA account, the most important being that all the investment earnings grow tax-free, and qualified distributions are tax-free. Additionally, you can continue to make contributions to your Roth after you turn 70 ½ and are not subject to the required minimum distribution rules. Currently, only individuals who have a modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $100,000 and/or who do not file their return as "married filing separately" can convert their traditional IRA to a Roth.

However, beginning in 2010, everyone, no matter what their income level or filing status, will be able to have a Roth IRA. The question that remains to determine is when you should convert, if at all.

Spreading out your tax liability

A conversion is treated as a taxable distribution, but is not subject to the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. However, taxpayers who convert to a Roth IRA in 2010 (and 2010, only) have the ability to pay taxes on the converted amount ratably over two years, in 2011 and 2012. Therefore, if you convert to a Roth in 2009, you must recognize the entire converted amount in income on your 2009 tax return.

Changes for 2010

In 2010, the $100,000 modified AGI cap that has prevented many individuals from converting from their traditional IRA to a Roth, is completely eliminated. Moreover, the filing status limitation will also be done away with, meaning that married couples filing separately will be able to convert to a Roth IRA as well. However, all other rules continue to apply, and any amount you convert to a Roth IRA will still be taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate. The exception for 2010, of course is that you will have the choice of recognizing the conversion income in 2010 or averaging it over 2011 and 2012.

Example 1. You have $28,000 in a traditional IRA, which consists of deductible contributions and earnings. In 2010, you convert the entire amount to a Roth IRA. You do not take any distributions in 2010. As a result of the conversion, you have $28,000 in gross income. Unless you elect otherwise, $14,000 of the income is included in income in 2011 and $14,000 is included in income in 2012.

Example 2. On the other hand, if you currently meet the AGI and filing status requirements to convert to a Roth IRA (that is, your AGI for 2009 will be less than $100,000 and your filing status is not "married filing separately" you can also convert this year. But, you will recognize all the conversion income in 2009 instead of having it spread over two years. Therefore, if in the example above you convert the entire $28,000 to a Roth IRA in 2009, you will pay tax on the entire $28,000 conversion amount in 2009.

Taking advantage of lower tax rates

Currently, the income tax rates are at a historic low. But these rates are scheduled to revert to previously higher levels (and rise further for some taxpayers) after 2010. The Obama administration has proposed extending the lower individual marginal income tax rates but raising the two highest income tax brackets to 36- and 39.6-percent after 2010. This should be considered in your decision of when (and if) to convert to a Roth in 2010, or now in order to take advantage of the lower income tax rates, especially if you expect to be in one of the two highest income tax brackets after 2010.

Conversions in years after 2010 will be included in your income during the tax year in which you completed the conversion to a Roth IRA. While deferring tax is a traditional and beneficial part of tax planning, if you convert in 2010 the tax will be spread out ratably in 2011 and 2012, and therefore taxed at the rates in effect for 2011 and 2012 (which as mentioned could be higher for some taxpayers). Thus, if income tax rates go up, which they are anticipated to do, you may end up paying much more tax. Therefore, if you do not want to take this chance that your income rate will be higher in 2011 and 2012, you may want to elect to pay the full tax on the Roth conversion in your 2010 income tax return, at 2010 income tax rates.

So why would you accelerate a conversion? If you believe your IRA assets are currently valued on the low side, you might opt for a conversion if you are below the $100,000 AGI level for 2009. This reduces your tax liability on the conversion. Similarly, if you converted within the past year and the value of the assets has declined since then, you can elect to "undo" the conversion. Otherwise, you will have paid tax on the conversion when the assets were at a higher value.

Undoing the conversion later

If you convert to a Roth IRA, but later change your mind, you have until Oct. 15 of the year after the year of conversion to undue the transaction and go back to your traditional IRA. For example, if you convert in 2009, you will generally have until October 15, 2010 to recharacterize the transaction. However, to do this you must have filed your individual tax return by the normal filing deadline (April 15, generally) or if you obtained an extension, the extension due date.

For example, if the value of your Roth drastically declines after the conversion, and leaves you essentially with a Roth IRA value that is even less than the tax you paid to convert, this would be a good reason to undo the transaction. Recharacterizing the conversion would undo the tax consequences and therefore you'd get back the tax you paid on the larger amount that was converted to the Roth IRA.

Can you afford the conversion tax?

You will have to pay a conversion tax on the transaction, which can be a significant sum. In spite of all the advantages of a Roth IRA, a conversion is generally advisable if you can readily pay the tax generated in the year of the conversion. If the tax is paid out of a distribution from the converted IRA, that amount is also taxed; and if the distribution counts as an early withdrawal, it is also subject to an additional 10 percent penalty. For those planning to convert who may not already have the funds available, saving now in a regular bank or brokerage account to cover the amount of the tax in 2010 can return an unusually high yield if it enables a Roth IRA conversion in 2010 that might not otherwise take place.

No. Many individuals may be considering buying a new home in 2009 as home prices continue to drop in many areas across the country. They may also be wondering if they can claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit before actually purchasing the home. Although this might generate a refund you could use as a down payment, the IRS will not allow you to claim the credit in advance of a purchase.

Homebuyer credit

The first-time homebuyer credit is a temporary tax incentive. As its name implies, it is targeted to first-time homebuyers.

Congress created the first-time homebuyer credit in 2008. At that time, the maximum credit was $7,500 and it had to be repaid. The credit was more like a loan than a true credit even though repayment was interest-free. In the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress increased the maximum credit to $8,000. Congress also removed the repayment requirement for homes purchased between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. With repayment no longer required, more taxpayers are expected to take advantage of the credit.

No advance claims

You cannot claim the first-time homebuyer credit in anticipation of a home purchase that has yet to happen. Taxpayers qualify for the credit when they finalize the purchase of their home, which for most purchasers occurs at the time of closing, the IRS explained.

Individuals constructing a new home may be eligible for the first-time homebuyer credit. Like purchasers of existing homes, they cannot claim the credit in advance. For new construction, the IRS explained that the purchase date is the first date that the taxpayer occupies the home.

Taxpayers claim the credit on Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, which clearly asks for "date acquired" (past tense). A similar credit, the District of Columbia homebuyer credit, requires an actual purchase. Effectively, such language and the IRS's decision to prohibit the credit to be used in anticipation of a purchase, precludes taxpayers from using a refund from the credit as a down payment.

Amended returns

Individuals may claim the $8,000 credit for 2009 purchases on their 2008 or 2009 returns. If you filed your 2008 return without claiming the credit, you may want to consider filing an amended return. Alternatively, you can wait and claim the credit on your 2009 return, which you will file in 2010.

Other criteria

Not everyone can claim the first-time homebuyer credit. There are income limitations. Additionally, a taxpayer cannot have owned and used a home as his or her principal residence in the past three years. However, there are some exceptions. The credit also may be allocated among unmarried taxpayers. Domestic partners and family members who purchase a home together may generally allocate the credit using any reasonable method.

If you are purchasing a home in 2009, please contact our office. You may be eligible for this valuable tax break.

You've just filed your 2008 tax return and the last thing you likely want to think about is the next filing season. However, it never hurts to have a leg up, and with the end of filing season and the 2009 tax year well underway, now is a great time to take a look back and learn some lessons from this filing season that can undoubtedly help you next year. The following is a list of top lessons individuals can learn from this year's filing season in anticipation of filing their 2009 returns for next year.

Sell losing stocks

If the stock market continues to batter your portfolio, consider selling off your losing stock if you did not do so in 2008. You can use up to $3,000 in net capital losses to offset your ordinary income. And if your net capital losses for the 2009 tax year exceed $3,000, you can carry the excess forward. These carried-over losses can be used to reduce any future capital gains, and can be carried-forward until they are all used.

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to increase the $3,000 limit. One bill would double the limit to $6,000; another would raise it to $10,000. However, with Congress looking to reduce the huge federal budget deficit, it's unlikely that these proposals will be enacted soon so it's best to plan for the immediate future using the $3,000 limit. Our office will keep you posted of developments.

Fine-tune withholding

If you paid too much in withholding, or not enough, you should adjust your withholding. If you received a large tax refund, you probably had too much withheld from your paycheck. Don't use your money to make Uncle Sam an interest-free loan, especially when your money could be put to better use during these economic times.

This year taxpayers have an additional reason to review their withholding. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 created the Making Work Pay credit. This refundable tax credit is being delivered to many workers through reduced withholding in their paychecks. You do not have to submit a revised Form W-4 to receive the credit. However, you may want to submit a revised Form W-4 if you have more than one job. Married couples with two incomes should also review their withholding as should pension recipients. Our office can help you determine if you should adjust your withholding to offset the Making Work Pay credit.

Adjust estimated tax payments

If you didn't pay enough through estimated tax (or withholding) for 2008, carefully do the math this year to ensure you do not face significant penalties and interest. Not paying enough in estimated tax can hurt financially, since penalties and interest for failing to make estimated tax payments can be high. The penalty for underpayment of estimated tax is calculated by multiplying the current interest rate for underpayments by the amount of any underpayment for the period of the underpayment.

Retirement savings and required minimum distributions

Although it may be difficult in light of the current state of the economy, contribute to your retirement plan, or consider starting one if you have not already. The contribution limit to an Individual Retirement Account (traditional or Roth), is $5,000 for 2009. Individuals aged 50 and above can make "catch-up" contributions for 2009 up to $6,000.

The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 suspended required minimum distributions (RMDs) from qualified retirement accounts for 2009 only. For qualified participants, this may required careful financial and tax planning.

Coping with unemployment

The loss of a job creates new tax issues. Unemployment compensation is taxable income although there is a temporary exclusion for the first $2,400 of unemployment compensation received in 2009. Severance pay and payments for accumulated vacation or sick time are also taxable.

Many individuals are tempted to tap retirement savings while unemployed. If you withdraw funds from an IRA before age 59 1/2, you may have to pay a penalty and include the amount in your income. There are some exceptions to the penalty, such as using IRA finds to pay for medical insurance premiums while unemployed. You may also qualify for a temporary subsidy for COBRA continuation coverage. Higher-income individuals may have to repay the subsidy so it's important to weigh the costs and benefits of the subsidy before taking it.

If you are looking for work in 2009, make sure you carefully track your job search costs. Various expenses you incur to look for work are deductible. It is not necessary for the job search to be successful for the expenses to be deductible.

Depreciation and expensing

Bonus depreciation and small business expensing under Code Sec. 179, both extended through 2009, require careful planning. However, not every business needs to use these incentives. Businesses have through 2009 to take advantage of enhanced and extended first-year 50 percent bonus deprecation and small business expensing under Code Sec. 179.

Credits and deductions

Do your homework carefully. If your income drops in 2009 you may be eligible for existing and modified deductions and credits that you may not have been entitled to in 2008, or may have been reduced because of your higher income. Consider tax credits and deductions that will expire at the end of 2009, such as the first-time homebuyer credit and the new car sales and use tax deduction.

While the past year has not been stellar for most investors, the tax law in many instances can step in to help salvage some of your losses by offsetting both present and future taxable gains and other income. Knowing how net capital gains and losses are computed, and how carryover capital losses may be used to maximum tax advantage, should form an important part of an investor's portfolio management program during these challenging times.

Net capital losses

Capital assets yield short-term gains or losses if the holding period is one year or less, and long-term gains or losses if the holding period exceeds one year. The excess of net long-term gains over net short-term losses is net capital gain.

Short-term capital losses, including short-term capital loss carryovers, are applied first against short-term capital gains. If the losses exceed the gains the net short-term capital loss is applied first against any net long-term capital gain from the 28-percent group (collectibles), then against the 25-percent group (recapture property), and last against the 15- (or zero) percent group. Long-term capital losses are similarly netted and then applied against the most highly taxed net gains that a taxpayer has.

If an investor's capital losses exceed capital gains for the year, he or she may offset losses against ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of: the excess capital loss; or $3,000 ($1,500 for married persons filing separate returns). Although several bills have been introduced to raise these dollar levels, which have not been adjusted for inflation for decades, none has yet to see the light of day.

Carryovers

Individuals may carry net capital losses to future tax years but not back to prior years. There is no limit on the number of years to which net capital losses may be carried over as there is with corporate taxpayers. Short-term and long-term capital losses are carried forward and retain their character. Capital loss carryovers that originate in several years are applied in the order in which incurred.

Dividend offsets. While qualified dividends are taxed at the net capital gains rate, they do not take part in the general computation of net capital gains and, therefore, are not reduced by capital losses, either in the same year or in carried forward years. Although your overall portfolio may have experienced a loss for the year, you must still pay tax on your dividend income.

If you need any advice on how to structure your portfolio over the next year to take advantage of current losses while protecting future gains from as much income tax as possible, please do not hesitate to call this office.

The IRS has released the numbers behind its activities from October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008 in a publication called the 2008 IRS Data Book. This annually released information provides statistics on returns filed, taxes collected, and the IRS's enforcement efforts.

Examinations Data

For example, the IRS reported that its examinations totaled over 1.54 million during FY 2008, or 0.8 percent of the total returns filed during the previous calendar year. This amount was a 0.65-percent drop from returns examined during FY 2007. Of all the returns examined, a little over one-percent were individual income tax returns, a 0.507-percent increase from FY 2007.  

Within the category of individual income tax returns, the IRS examined 0.93-percent less taxpayers with under $200,000 of total positive income than the previous year; i.e. a total of all sources of income, excluding losses. This figure increased by 33.23-percent for taxpayers with total positive income between $200,000 and $1 million, but decreased by 30.3-percent for individuals with total positive income over $1 million from the previous year. Also, for the first time, the IRS delineated examination percentages during FY 2008 for individual income tax returns according to adjusted gross income as follows:

Decreased Tax Collection

The IRS also reported that, while it received over $2.7 trillion in gross collections during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, its net tax collections (after refunds) actually decreased by 3.34-percent from FY 2007. The IRS distributed more than 237 million total refunds in FY 2008 with over 118 million going to individual tax payers. Total FY 2008 tax refunds rose to over $425 billion, while over $270 billion (63.52-percent) alone went to individual filers. The IRS also reported that $95.7 billion in economic stimulus payments were made during the year, as mandated by the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

One major reason for these large refunds was the large increase in individual income tax returns filed during FY 2008 as a result of the one-time economic stimulus payments under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. While the number of individual income tax returns received by the IRS only increased by 3.7-percent for FY 2007, it increased 11.1-percent for FY 2008. The increase was even greater for Forms 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040PR, 1040-SS, and 1040CC; which increased by 36-percent for FY 2008 (as compared to 2.3-percent for FY 2007).

The IRS also reported that the economic stimulus payments generated an increase in electronically filed income tax returns as well. During FY 2008, taxpayers electronically filed over 101.5 million returns, 89.5 million of which were individual income tax returns. Of all individual income tax returns filed, 58-percent were filed electronically during the year.

The IRS is moving quickly to issue guidance on the many tax incentives for individuals and businesses in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (2009 Recovery Act). Since Congress passed the multi-billion dollar stimulus package in February, the IRS has released guidance on the extended net operating loss (NOL) carryback for small businesses, the new Making Work Pay credit, the enhanced first-time homebuyer tax credit, the new COBRA subsidy, and the new sales tax deduction for motor vehicles.

Net operating losses

One of the most valuable tax breaks in the 2009 Recovery Act is the extended NOL carryback. Small businesses with an NOL in 2008 can offset this loss against income earned in up to five prior years. This special treatment will accelerate refunds and generate an immediate infusion of cash into a struggling business. The IRS expects record numbers of small businesses to be eligible for the carryback and has promised to expedite refunds.

To qualify for the new five-year carryback provision, a small business must have no greater than an average of $15 million in gross receipts over a three-year period ending with the tax year of the NOL. Businesses with more than $15 million in gross receipts can carry back their 2008 NOL for two years.

Generally small businesses that are not corporations (including sole proprietorships filing schedule C with their Form 1040) may accelerate a refund by using Form 1045, Application for Tentative Refund. Corporations with NOLs may accelerate a refund by using Form 1139, Corporation Application for Tentative Refund.

If your small business is in a loss position this year, the extended NOL carryback should not be overlooked. The requirements for the extended carryback are complex. Our office can help you elect this special treatment and maximize your refund.

Making Work Pay credit

Many employers have already implemented the new Making Work Pay credit. The credit reaches $400 for single individuals and $800 for married couples filing jointly. Like other incentives, the Making Work Pay credit phases out for higher income taxpayers (single individuals with modified AGI above $75,000 and married couples filing jointly with modified AGI above $150,000).

Taxpayers do not have to submit a new Form W-4 to their employers; the credit is automatic. However, an employee with multiple jobs or married couples whose combined incomes place them in a higher tax bracket may want to submit a revised W-4 to ensure sufficient withholding. Our office can determine if you need to adjust your withholding.

First-time homebuyer credit

The 2009 Recovery Act raised the maximum first-time homebuyer credit from $7,500 to $8,000 ($4,000 for married couples filing separately) for qualified homes purchased before December 1, 2009. Congress also removed the repayment requirement for homes purchased in 2009. Like other tax incentives, the first-time homebuyer credit has income restrictions. The credit begins to phase out for single individuals with modified AGI above $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples filing jointly).

The IRS recently announced that taxpayers can claim the $8,000 credit on their 2008 tax returns due April 15, 2009 or on their 2009 tax returns next year. Consequently, taxpayers have several filing options.

Taxpayers purchasing a home in the near future and who have already filed their 2008 returns may want to file an amended return. This will allow them to claim the credit almost immediately. However, some individuals may want to wait and take the credit in 2009.

Taxpayers purchasing a home who have not yet filed their 2008 returns may want to request a six-month extension (until October 15, 2009). Alternatively, they can file as planned and then file an amended return to take the credit.

If you are a first-time homebuyer in 2009, don't miss out on this valuable credit. Our office can recommend the best time to take the credit.

Economic recovery payment

Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and retired government employees may be eligible for one-time economic recovery payments of $250. These payments are in lieu of the Making Work Pay credit. However, the economic recovery payment will be a reduction to any Making Work Pay credit for which the recipient qualifies.

The IRS will not be distributing the economic recovery payments. Individuals will receive them from the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, or other agency. The SSA expects to start making the payments in May.

COBRA subsidy

Individuals who are involuntarily terminated from employment between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 may qualify for a 65 percent COBRA premium subsidy for up to nine months. Family members may also be eligible for the subsidy. Eligible individuals will pay 35 percent of the COBRA premium and employers will pay the remaining 65 percent. The COBRA subsidy, however, phases out for individuals whose modified AGI exceeds $125,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly). Individuals with modified AGI exceeding $145,000 ($290,000 for married couples filing jointly) do not qualify for the subsidy.

Employers will recover their share through a payroll tax credit. The IRS has instructed employers to use Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, to report their COBRA premium assistance payments. In some cases, such as multi-employer plans, the plan provides the subsidy and will be reimbursed by taking a credit on Form 941.

Sales tax deduction for vehicle purchases

Congress created a temporary deduction in the 2009 Recovery Act for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new motor vehicles. Cars, light trucks, motor homes, and motorcycles are eligible for the deduction. The deduction is limited to the tax on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of an eligible motor vehicle. Because this is an above-the-line deduction, taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions can also take advantage of it.

Similar to other incentives, there are income limitations. The deduction phase out for single individuals with modified AGI between $125,000 and $135,000 and married couples with modified AGI between $250,000 and $260,000.

We've covered a lot of material in a short time. As always, please contact our office if you have any questions about these valuable tax incentives.

If you have completed your tax return and you owe more money than you can afford to pay in full, do not worry, you have many options. While it is in your best interest to pay off as much of your tax liability as you can, there are many payment options you can utilize to help pay off your outstanding debt to Uncle Sam. This article discusses a few of your payment options.

Pay Uncle Sam as much as you can

First and foremost, if you cannot pay the full amount of taxes due, you should nevertheless file your return by the April 15 deadline. Moreover, you should send in as much money as you can with your return. The IRS assesses failure-to-file penalties so you should file your return despite being unable to pay the full amount with the return. As such, it's to your benefit to file your return by its due date and pay off any outstanding balance as soon as you can in order to minimize interest and penalties.

Payment options

If you are not able to pay the full amount of tax you owe, you have options. While you can obtain an automatic six-month extension of time to file, the IRS will still assess interest on the outstanding unpaid tax liability. To do so, you must file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Income Tax Return, by the due date for filing your calendar year return (typically April 15) or fiscal year return. However, an extension of time to file is not an extension of the time to pay your taxes. Penalties and interest continue to accrue during the extension.

Second, consider paying some or all of your tax liability by credit card or obtaining a cash advance on your credit card. The interest rate your credit card or bank charges (plus applicable fees) may be lower than the total amount of interest and penalties imposed by the IRS under the Tax Code.

You may also be eligible to take advantage of the IRS's monthly installment agreement option. This option allows eligible taxpayers to pay off their tax bill over a period of time - in monthly installments - to the IRS. However, if you have entered into an installment agreement during the preceding 5 years you cannot use this option. Additionally, even while you are making payments through an installment agreement, penalties and interest continue on the unpaid portion of that debt. To request an installment plan, you can use Form 9465, Request For Installment Agreement. Or, you can use the Online Payment Agreement (OPA) application.

There are many options for paying off your tax debt. Our office can discuss the payment options that will work best in your specific circumstances. Please don't hesitate to call our office with questions.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (ARRTA) provides more than $75 billion worth of tax benefits for business for 2009 and 2010, in addition to numerous individual tax breaks. This article highlights some of the valuable tax breaks for businesses in the new law.

Bonus Depreciation. The ARRTA extends bonus depreciation under the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act, allowing businesses to immediately write-off an additional 50-percent of the cost of qualifying depreciable property placed in service before 2010. The additional 50-percent first-year bonus depreciation applies retroactively to capital expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2009. Qualified property includes most types of new property, including equipment, computers, tractors, wind turbines and solar panels.

The ARRTA also extends through 2010 additional first-year bonus depreciation for property with a recovery period of 10 years or longer, for transportation property (for example, tangible personal property used to transport people or property, and for certain aircraft).

Note. Effective January 1, 2009, the ARRTA law also increases the regular dollar caps for new passenger vehicles placed in service after 2008 and before 2010 by $8,000 when bonus depreciation is claimed.

Code Sec. 179 Expensing. For 2009, the ARRTA extends the Code Sec. 179 expensing amounts, which had been increased by the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act. For 2009, the Code Sec. 179 expensing amount is $250,000 and the investment ceiling is $800,000.

Five-Year NOL Carryback. The ARRTA allows certain small businesses to elect a five-year carryback of net operating losses (NOLs) arising in 2008. Only qualified small businesses with average gross receipts of $15 million or less qualify for the longer carryback. Eligible businesses can elect to carryback 2008 NOLs three, four or five years. The new carryback treatment applies only to NOLs arising in tax years beginning or ending in 2008. Quick refunds apply if your business qualifies.

AMT/R&D Credits Election. Through 2009, the ARRTA temporarily extends the ability of businesses to accelerate the recognition of a portion of their accumulated AMT and research and development (R&D) credits instead of taking bonus depreciation. In effect, this allows an immediate cash refund for these credits.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Businesses can claim a Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) generally equal to 40 percent of the first $6,000 of wages paid to employees who are in one of nine targeted groups. The ARRTA adds (1) unemployed veterans and (2) disconnected youth to the list of targeted groups. The new categories apply to individuals who are hired and begin work in 2009 or 2010.

Cancellation of Debt Income. Under the ARRTA, eligible businesses can make an (irrevocable) election to recognize certain cancellation of debt income (CODI) ratably over a five-year period, beginning in 2014. The election applies to certain types of business debt repurchased by the business during 2009 and 2010.

S Corp Built-In Gain Period. Current law provides that if a C corporation converts to an S corporation the conversion is not a taxable event. However, the S corporation usually must hold its assets for 10 years after the conversion in order to avoid being taxed on any built-in gains that existed at the time of the conversion. For S corp sales of their C corp assets  in 2009 and 2010, however, the ARRTA temporarily shortens the holding period, from 10 to seven years, for sales of assets subject to the built-in gains tax imposed after such a conversion.

Qualified Small Business Stock. Pre-ARRTA law allowed noncorporate investors to exclude 50 percent of the gain from the sale of certain qualified small business stock (QSBS) held for more than five years. The ARRTA increases the exclusion to 75 percent for QSBS acquired after February 17, 2009 and before 2011. A "qualified small business" is one that does not have more than $50 million in assets and conducts an active trade or business.

Estimated Tax Payments. For individual taxpayers with income from small businesses, the ARRTA temporarily reduces 2009 required estimated tax payments for certain small businesses. Under the new law, 2009 quarterly estimated tax payments may now be based on 90 percent - instead of 100 percent - of the taxpayer's 2008 returns. For purposes of the new provision, a "small business" is one that does not employ more than an average of 500 people, and the individual's adjusted gross income is less than $500,000. The individual also must certify that at least 50 percent of the gross income shown on his or her return for the preceding tax year was income from a "small trade or business."

Energy Incentives. A number of the energy tax incentives in the ARRTA are targeted to businesses. The ARRTA:

• Extends and modifies the Code Sec. 45 renewable production tax credit.
• Expands the Code Sec. 48 energy investment credit to include qualified small wind energy property.
• Allows the Code Sec. 48 investment tax credit to be claimed in lieu of the Code Sec. 45 production tax credit.
• Removes the individual dollar limits on certain energy tax credits for qualified small wind energy property, qualified solar water heating property, and qualified geothermal heat pumps.

If you have any questions about the business incentives in the ARRTA, please contact our office.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (ARRTA) is loaded with various tax incentives for individuals for 2009 and 2010. Among the individual tax breaks in the new law are incentives for homeownership, help for the unemployed and employed, as well as education assistance and tax breaks for taxpayers with children. This article provides an overview of the major individual tax incentives provided by the ARRTA.

Making Work Pay Credit. The Making Work Pay credit is a new but temporary refundable credit. Qualified taxpayers will either take the credit through a reduction in the amount of income tax withheld from their paycheck by allowing a credit against income tax in an amount equal to the lesser of 6.2 percent of the individual's earned income or $400 ($800 for married couples filing jointly), or in a lump sum when filing their income tax return for the tax year.

Note. Individuals who are self-employed may qualify for the credit as well, to the extent earnings from self-employment are taken into account in computing taxable income.

The credit applies retroactively to the start of 2009 and extends through 2010. Up to the maximum $400/$800 credit amount is allowed for each year.  The credit begins to phase out for individuals with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeding $75,000 ($150,000 in the case of married couples filing jointly). The credit will be phased out at a rate of 2 percent above the MAGI limits.

$250 Economic Recovery Payment. The ARRTA also provides a one-time payment of $250 to individuals on a fixed income, including railroad retirement beneficiaries, Social Security recipients, disabled veterans, as well as retired government workers who are not eligible for Social Security benefits. The $250 payment will reduce the individual's otherwise allowable Making Work Pay credit to which they may be entitled. This payment will only be made in 2009, likely around mid-year.

New Car Deduction. Both itemizers and non-itemizers can take advantage of a new but temporary above-the-line deduction for state and local sales taxes or excise taxes paid on the purchase of a new (qualifying) motor vehicle. Both domestic and foreign vehicles qualify as well as motor homes, SUVs, light trucks and motorcycles weighing no more than 8,500 gross pounds.

The deduction is allowed in computing AMT, but is not available to taxpayers who elect to deduct state and local sales and use taxes in lieu of income taxes as an itemized deduction. The deduction begins to phase-out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeding $125,000 ($250,000 for joint filers). Additionally, deductible sales/excise taxes cannot exceed the portion of tax attributable to the first $49,500 of the purchase price.

Enhanced First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. The ARRTA raises the maximum amount of the first-time homebuyer tax credit to $8,000 (up from $7,500) and extends the credit through December 1, 2009. The ARRTA also completely eliminates any repayment requirement for purchases made after January 1, 2009 if the taxpayer does not sell or otherwise dispose of the property within 36 months from the date of purchase. However, if the taxpayer does dispose of the residence within this time, pre-ARRTA rules for recapture apply, requiring the homebuyer to repay any credit amount received to the government over 15 years in equal installments. Purchases on or after April 9, 2008 and before January 1, 2009 are still governed by the original first-time homebuyer tax credit rules enacted last year in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.

Education Credit. The ARRTA temporarily enhances and expands the Hope education tax credit (renaming it the American Opportunity education tax credit) for 2009 and 2010. The credit is increased in amount, to a maximum of $2,500 per year and extended to all four years of college education. Additionally, the credit is subject to more generous phase-out levels of $80,000 of AGI for individuals and $160,000 for joint filers. For 2009 and 2010, up to 40 percent of the American Opportunity credit is refundable.

Qualified Tuition Programs ("529 plans"). Distributions from qualified tuition programs (also known as "529 plans") used to pay a beneficiary's qualified higher education expenses are tax-free. For 2009 and 2010, ARRTA allows beneficiaries to use distributions from QTPs to pay for computers, laptops and computer technology, including internet access.

Child Tax Credit. The ARRTA increases the refundable portion of the child tax credit for both 2009 and 2010. For 2009 and 2010, the child tax credit is refundable to the extent of 15 percent of the taxpayer's earned income in excess of $3,000.

Enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit. For 2009 and 2010, the ARRTA temporarily increases the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working families with three or more children. The new law (1) increases the credit to 45 percent of a family's first $12,570 of earned income for families with three or more children and (2) adjusts the start of the EITC phase-out range upwards by $1,880 for joint filers, regardless of the number of children.

AMT Patch. The ARRTA boosts alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts for 2009. The new amounts are slightly higher than last year's exemptions but much higher than the amounts they had been set to revert to had this remedial provision not been passed.

The 2009 exemption amounts are:

• $46,700 for individuals and heads of household; and
• $70,950 for joint filers and surviving spouses.

The new law also provides that for 2009 nonrefundable personal credits may offset both regular tax and the AMT.

Partial Exclusion of Unemployment Benefits. The ARRTA temporarily excludes up to $2,400 of unemployment compensation from a recipient's gross income for 2009. Unemployment benefits are otherwise includible in a recipient's gross income for tax purposes. As such, any unemployment benefits over $2,400 in 2009 will be subject to federal income tax.

Increased Transit Benefits For Workers. Beginning in March 2009, and effective for 2009 and 2010, the ARRTA increases the income exclusion for transit passes and van pooling to $230 per month.

Energy Incentives. Code Sec. 25C provides a tax credit for energy efficient improvements made to a taxpayer's home. The ARRTA increases the Code Sec. 25C residential energy property credit to 30 percent (up from 10 percent), raises the maximum cap to a $1,500 aggregate amount for 2009 and 2010 installations, eliminates the pre-2008 $500 lifetime cap, and makes other modifications to the credit. Taxpayers can use the credit for insulation materials, exterior windows and doors, skylights, central air conditioning, and hot water boilers, among many other energy efficient improvements.

The ARRTA also removes the individual dollar caps under the Code Sec. 25D residential energy efficient property credit for solar hot water property, wind energy property and geothermal heat pumps. Moreover, if you are interested in an environmentally-friendly car, the ARRTA modifies the credit for plug-in electric vehicles, although they are not yet on the market.

If you have any questions about the individual tax incentives in the ARRTA, please contact our office.

Even though gas prices have gone down from their record highs six-months ago, many people are looking for ways to save on their energy costs. The Tax Code provides a number of energy tax incentives to encourage individuals and businesses to invest in energy-efficient property and also in alternative sources of energy. One of those incentives is the Code Sec. 25C residential energy property tax credit for individuals.

Improvements

If you make an eligible energy-related improvement to your home, the expenditure may qualify for the Code Sec. 25C credit. Eligible improvements include:

• Insulation materials; 
• Exterior windows, including skylights;
• Exterior doors; 
• Metal roofs with special pigmented coatings (including certain asphalt roofs);
• Electric heat pump water heaters;
• Central air conditioners;
• Natural gas, propane or oil water heaters or furnaces;
• Hot water boilers;
• Stoves using renewable plant-derived fuel; and
• Advanced main air circulating fans.

 As you can see, the list of improvements is extensive. Moreover, the qualification of some types of improvements may not be readily apparent. For example, skylights and windows installed in a new location, not only replacement skylights and windows, appear to qualify for the credit. Another example is insulated garage door replacements, which qualify as exterior doors and, if sufficiently insulated, are an energy efficiency improvement.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Many products with the ENERGY STAR label qualify for the Code Sec. 25C credit. For example, ENERGY STAR labeled windows and skylights are eligible for the credit.  

Residence

To qualify for the credit, the improvement must be installed on, or in connection with, a dwelling unit located in the U.S. that is owned and used by you as your principal residence.  The Code Sec. 25C credit is only available for existing homes. It cannot be used for new homes (however, other tax incentives may apply to new homes).

Amount

First, you need to keep receipts of all your qualifying purchases. Second, if you made any qualifying purchases in 2005 or 2006, and you claimed some but not all of the credit, you can use the unused portion in 2009.

The Code Sec. 25C residential energy property credit is 10 percent of the amount paid up to certain maximums. The general lifetime maximum is $500 for qualifying improvements. There is a $200 maximum for qualifying windows. Taxpayers cannot carry forward the credit. Generally, the amount of the credit will be limited by the amount of any nonbusiness energy property credit taken in 2006 or 2007.

2009 only

You need to act soon to take advantage of the Code Sec. 25C tax credit. Last year, Congress reinstated the credit but only for qualified energy property placed in service in 2009. Unfortunately, if you installed qualifying property in 2008, you cannot claim the credit. The previous credit expired as to property placed in service after December 31, 2007.

If you are considering the purchase of energy improvement property in 2009, please contact our office. Don't miss out on this potentially valuable tax break. We can review the credit in more detail as it applies to your situation.

Many taxpayers are looking for additional sources of cash during these tough economic times. For many individuals, their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is one source of cash. You can withdraw ("borrow") money from your IRA, tax and penalty free, for up to 60 days. However, the ability to take a short-term "loan" from your IRA should only be taken in dire financial situations in light of the serious tax consequences that can result from an improper withdrawal or untimely rollover of the funds back into an IRA.

The funds must be returned, or rolled back into, an IRA within 60 days from the day after the date of the withdrawal, or income and penalty taxes are imposed on the amount withdrawn and not returned. These tax consequences can be serious. Therefore, it is imperative that you return the withdrawn funds back into an IRA within 60 days.

Tax and interest imposed

If the funds are not returned within 60 days, the withdrawal will not only be treated as a taxable distribution for individuals who are under the age of 59 1/2, but you will also face an additional 10 percent penalty tax, as well as possible state income tax.

Example

You withdraw $10,000 from your IRA on March 2. The 60-day period begins on March 3. To avoid income taxes as a result of early withdrawal treatment and an additional 10 percent penalty tax, the amounts must be returned to an IRA on May 2. Although May 2 falls on a Saturday, there is no extension as a result of weekends (or holidays).

Income tax reporting

If you decide to take the short-term, 60 day "loan" from an IRA you must report the entire amount of the withdrawal. The withdrawal is reported on line 15a of your Form 1040 for the tax year in which you took the withdrawal. If you have returned the withdrawn funds within the 60 day period, you will enter "zero" as the taxable amount of line 15b of Form 1040.

One-year rule

You can only take a "60 day loan" from a specific IRA account and return the funds to that IRA or a different account once during a one-year period. If you make a withdrawal from the same IRA more than once during a one-year period, the second withdrawal is treated by the IRS as a taxable IRA distribution, again generally subject to income taxes and a 10-percent early withdrawal penalty tax.

Moreover, if you redeposit funds back into a particular IRA account and withdraw money from that same account within the one-year period, again the withdrawn funds are again treated as a premature withdrawal subject to income taxes and the 10-percent penalty tax.

For those struggling in these economic times and looking for additional sources of cash, there are other options in addition to a 60-day loan from your IRA. Our office can discuss your options and the potential tax consequences of each. 

Happy New Year! As 2009 gets underway, and you prepare for the 2008 filing season, it's important not to overlook a number of valuable tax planning opportunities that apply right away to the 2009 tax year. Here are 10 considerations for tax planning as 2009 starts.

2009 is shaping up to be a tumultuous and pivotal year for taxes. If you have any questions on the tax strategies in this article, please contact our office. Remember, that as 2009 unfolds, other tax strategies may come into play depending on the size and scope of the expected economic stimulus plan under President Barack Obama. We will follow these developments and stand ready to advise our clients appropriately.  

1. Retirement account strategies

2008 has been a year in which many retirement savings accounts have been hit hard by the current stock market meltdown. Whether you are retired, about to retire, or many years away from those golden years, now is not the time to either panic or ignore taking action about the current economic collapse. Sticking to a plan balancing tax-deferred and taxable accounts with proper asset allocations based on your current position makes good sense, now more than ever. Recessions always end and not planning now for our cyclical markets would be a mistake. This office can recommend many strategies, depending upon your current circumstances.

Taxpayers can reduce their taxable income by contributing to a 401(k) or other salary reduction plan, or contributing to a traditional IRA. If you have a traditional IRA and are interested in converting to a Roth IRA, but are prohibited currently from contributing, get ready for 2010, when the income restrictions on converting to a Roth IRA disappear.

For seniors whose 401(k)s, IRAs and other qualified retirement savings have been hard hit by the stock market collapse, some relief is available in 2009. The new Worker, Retiree, and Employee Recovery Act of 2008 allows retirees to suspend required minimum distributions from these arrangements for 2009 so that they hopefully earn back some of their losses by keeping that money in their accounts.

2. Invest in education

The tax law encourages individuals to save for education costs through qualified tuition programs (QTP) (also called 529 plans), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) as well as providing for credits and deductions. The escalating price tag of education means it is never too early to start saving and understanding all your options is vital.

Education does not stop, however, once you pass college age; it is a continuing adventure in today's changing workplace. No better time than in challenging financial times to realize the value of additional education and job training. The tax law should not be forgotten as a partner in this pursuit:

-- An "above-the-line" deduction is available for qualifying tuition and related expenses paid for enrollment or attendance by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's spouse or dependent at any accredited post-secondary institution. The maximum deductible amount is $4,000 for taxpayers with AGI at or below $65,000 ($130,000 for joint filers).

-- A taxpayer's own education expenses may be deducted as a business expense (even if they lead to a degree) if the education: (1) maintains or improves a skill required in the taxpayer's employment or other trade or business or (2) meets the express requirements of the taxpayer's employer, laws or regulations, imposed as a condition to the taxpayer's retention of an established employment relationship, status, or rate of compensation.

-- Up to $5,250 of payments received by an employee from an employer for tuition, fees, books, supplies, etc., under an employer's educational assistance program may be excluded from gross income. These courses may only be covered if they involve the employer's business or are required as part of a degree program.

3. Understand the implications of life changes

Irrespective of what economic or tax law changes are taking place on the national level, what changes in your personal life of course is what's most important to you. Often, there can be many tax benefits and pitfalls associated with these "life changes." Perhaps 2009 is the year that you plan to get married, expect the birth of a child, change jobs, retire, move, start or end a business, or finalize a divorce. Each of these life changes has tax implications - some good, some not so good or maybe both - that you should understand and address.

4. Install energy saving property

Individuals and businesses can take advantage of a host of energy tax incentives in 2009. The energy tax incentive that benefits most individuals is the Code Sec. 25C residential energy property credit, which Congress recently reinstated for 2009. The Code Sec. 25C credit is worth up to $500 and is available for nonbusiness energy property that meets the requirements for qualified energy efficiency improvements or qualified residential energy property expenses. For example, eligible improvements include insulation materials and exterior windows, such as exterior doors and skylights.

Additionally, many energy incentives have been extended through 2009 to encourage businesses to produce renewable energy or make energy saving improvements. The Code Sec. 25D residential energy efficient property credit is extended through December 31, 2016. Taxpayers can also use the Code Sec. 25D credit to offset alternative minimum tax liability. Congress also extended the credit for producing electricity from qualified wind facilities through December 31, 2009, and the credits for producing electricity through biomass and other qualifying renewable sources through September 30, 2011.

5. Take advantage of lower rates on long-term capital gains and dividends

Under current law, taxpayers in the 10 and 15 percent tax brackets benefit from a zero percent long-term capital gains tax rate in 2009 (through 2010). The zero percent tax rate also applies to qualifying dividends paid to taxpayers in the 10 and 15 percent tax brackets. Taxpayers in higher brackets are subject to a maximum rate of 15 percent on long-term capital gains and qualifying dividends in 2009 (through 2010). However, the rates could go up in light of the current economic crisis. Higher rates may come either in mid-year 2009 or not until 2011. Investors should keep these contingencies in mind in connection with ongoing buy and sell strategies, along with carefully keeping track of any capital loss carryforwards that may be available from recent stock transactions in 2008.

6. Take advantage of foreclosure help

When a lender forecloses on a home, sells the property for less than the borrower's outstanding mortgage, and forgives all or part of the unpaid mortgage debt, the homeowner recognizes cancellation of debt income, which is taxable income to the individual under the Tax Code. Through December 31, 2009, the tax law excludes from income tax discharges of up to $2 million ($1 million for a married taxpayer filing a separate return) of debt if the debt is secured by a principal residence and it was incurred in the acquisition, construction or substantial improvement of the principal residence.

In addition, the IRS is expediting requests for subordination or discharge of tax liens on properties that can otherwise be saved by mortgage refinancing or short sales. Many distressed homeowners overlook this potentially valuable help.

7. Consider the first-time homebuyer tax credit

If instead of being on the foreclosure end of the housing crisis, you are looking to take advantage of lower housing prices, consider the tax advantages of the new first-time homebuyer tax credit. For those facing foreclosure, too, this new tax credit may help sell their homes in a short sale situation that may salvage more of their equity.

The first-time homebuyer tax credit may be one of the biggest tax breaks now available for homebuyers, but it is only temporary. The first-time homebuyer tax credit is a temporary, refundable tax credit equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of a home, up to $7,500 ($3,750 for married individuals filing separately). The credit is effective for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. It phases out for individual taxpayers with adjusted gross income exceeding $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers). The credit must be repaid in equal installments over a 15-year period. However, the repayments are interest-free. As mortgage money begins to be freed up and housing prices stabilize, the first-time homebuyer tax credit promises to help buyers swing a purchase and sellers swing the sale.

8. Prepare for the reduced homesale exclusion

For those with a vacation home or rental property, strategies for the eventual sale of those properties need to be revised due to a change in the law. Beginning in 2009, homeowners will not be able to exclude from gross income gain from the sale of a principal residence attributable to periods that the home was not used as a "principal residence" ("non-qualifying" use). This rule especially impacts owners of vacation homes or rental properties who later make those properties their permanent residence.

The new rule, which was part of the 2008 Housing Act, applies to home sales that occur after December 31, 2008, but is based only on non-qualified use periods that begin on or after January 1, 2009. The 2008 Housing Act provides the formula for determining how excluded appreciation attributable to nonqualified use is calculated. Gain will be allocated to periods of nonqualified use on a pro-rata basis under the law.

9. Make a business contribution to charity

Businesses with excess inventory may be eligible for a tax deduction if they donate books, computers or food. Through December 31, 2009, qualifying businesses can take advantage of enhanced deductions for contributions of food to a charitable organization, or books to a school and computer equipment to a school or library. The business must operate as a C corporation for donations of computers and books. A C corporation may also deduct basis plus half of the appreciation attributable to inventory (or stock in trade or real or depreciable personal property used in their trade or business) donated to a charitable organization for use in caring for the ill, needy or infants.  A C corporation may also deduct basis plus half of the appreciation when it donates scientific property to a college, university or tax-exempt research institution for use in research.

Additionally, S corporation shareholders are also eligible for special tax treatment for charitable contributions of qualifying property through 2009. For businesses that are looking for ways to give back to their communities, yet preserve their bottom lines during tough economic times, these charitable contribution opportunities might prove a perfect fit.

10. Don't forget the tax "extenders"

Many popular individual and business tax incentives, referred to as "extenders" because Congress typically renews them every year or two, are available through 2009. For 2009, individuals can again take advantage of the state and local sales tax deduction (in lieu of the state and local income tax deduction), the $500 additional standard deduction for real property taxes ($1,000 for joint filers), and the higher education tuition deduction. Teachers and other education professionals can also deduct, above the line, up to $250 of certain out-of-pocket classroom expenses in 2009.

Business tax incentives extended through 2009 include the research tax credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the deduction for certain charitable contributions, and the 15-year cost recovery period for qualifying restaurant and leasehold improvements.

Please contact our office if you have any questions about these 10 tax planning areas. We'll be happy to discuss them in more detail and craft a tax strategy that fits you.

If you are finally ready to part with those old gold coins, baseball cards, artwork, or jewelry your grandmother gave you, and want to sell the item, you may be wondering what the tax consequences will be on the disposition of the item (or items). This article explains some of the basic tax consequences of the sale of a collectible, such as that antique vase or gold coin collection.

Collectibles

You must pay tax on any gain you realize from the sale of a collectible item (or the entire collection), such as a gold watch or other jewelry, antique coins, artwork, figurines, and even baseball cards. Capital gains on collectibles are taxed at a rate of 28 percent, rather than the regular long-term capital gains rate, currently at 15 percent (zero for those in the 10 or 15 percent income tax brackets). Gain on collectibles is reported on Schedule D of Form 1040. To calculate capital gains on the sale or other disposition you need to determine what your basis in the item is.

If you purchased the item, your basis is generally what you paid for the item as well as certain expenses related to the purchase. Fees related to the sale itself should also be included, such as a broker's or auctioneer's fee or an appraisal or authentication fee.

If you inherited the item, then your basis is the item's fair market value (FMV) at the time you inherited it. There are two principal methods for determining FMV: an appraisal, such as used for estate purposes, or valuing the item based on contemporaneous sales of comparable items. However, this can be tricky because the condition of a collectible item plays significantly into its value.

If the item was a gift, then your basis is the same as the basis of the person who gave you the item.

If you buy and sell collectibles on a regular basis, devote a substantial amount of time and effort to the activity and have developed a degree of skill in identifying profitable transactions, you may be engaged in a trade or business. In this case, you may be engaged in a trade or business in the eyes of the IRS, and therefore your stock of collectibles may be "inventory" and your profits taxable as ordinary income.

Precious metals

Gold and silver, like stamps and coins, are treated by the IRS as capital assets except when they are held for sale by a dealer. Any gain or loss from their sale or exchange is generally a capital gain or loss. If you are a dealer, the amount received from the sale is ordinary business income. However, metals like gold and silver are classified by the Internal Revenue Code as collectibles, and gain recognized from the sale of gold or silver held for more than one year - whether or not in the form of jewelry or sold simply for its market content - is taxed at the maximum rate of 28 percent.

For all sales of more than $600, an information return generally must be filed with the IRS.

790

With the economic downturn taking its toll on almost all facets of everyday living, from employment to personal and business expenditures, your business may be losing money as well. As a result, your business may have a net operating loss (NOL). Although no business wants to suffer losses, there are tax benefits to having an NOL for tax purposes. Your business can use the NOL in future years to offset its taxable income. Your business can also use an NOL to offset income from the prior two years; in this type of "carryback" situation, it can mean an immediate tax refund to help with current operating expenses.

NOLs, generally

A trade or business has an NOL when its allowable deductions exceed its gross income for the tax year. A business can have an NOL whether it is a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship. For example, NOLs can be generated if you operate a trade or business as a sole proprietorship that is taxed to the individual.

Note. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (2009 Recovery Act) temporarily increases the carryback period to five years for small businesses (defined by the new law as businesses with average gross receipts of $15 million or less). These businesses can elect to carryback NOLs three, four or five years. However, this treatment applies only to NOLs beginning or ending in 2008. Businesses that qualify can apply for an immediate refund of taxes paid during the extended carryback period. Forms 1045, Application for Tentative Refund, and Form 1139, Corporate Application for Tentative Refund, must generally be filed within one year after the end of the tax year of the NOL.

Deductible expenses for computing NOLs

Generally, business deductions are those deductions related to a taxpayer's trade or business or employment. For this purpose, the following types of losses are considered business deductions that can be used to compute an NOL:

• Losses from the sale or exchange of depreciable or real property used in the taxpayer's trade or business, including Code Sec. 1231 property;
• Losses attributable to rental property;
• Losses incurred from the sale of stock in a small business corporation or from the sale or exchange of stock in a small business investment company, to the extent that these types of losses qualify as ordinary losses;
• Losses on the sale of accounts receivable (but only if the taxpayer uses the accrual method of accounting); and
• Business losses from a partnership or S corporation.

In addition, the following expenses are considered business deductions for purposes of computing an NOL:

• Personal casualty and theft losses and nonbusiness casualty and theft losses from a transaction entered into for profit;
• Moving expenses;
• State income tax on business profits;
• Litigation expenses and interest on state and federal income taxes related to a taxpayer's business income;
• The deductible portion of employee expenses, such as travel, transportation, uniforms, and union dues;
• Payments by a federal employee to buy back sick leave used in an earlier year;
• Unrecovered investment in a pension or annuity claimed on a decedent's final return; and
• Deduction for one-half of the self-employment tax.

Carryback and carryforward rules

Generally, an NOL must be carried back and deducted against taxable income in the two tax years before the NOL year before it can be carried forward and applied against taxable income, up to 20 years after the NOL year. An NOL must be used in the earliest year available; however, you can waive the use of the carryback period and immediately carry the NOL forward. To claim an NOL carryback, an individual or a corporation must file an amended return within three years of the year the NOL was incurred.

Generally, the carryback and carryforward periods cannot be extended. Any NOL remaining after the 20-year carryforward period will be lost. However, you may be able to use an expiring NOL in the final year by accelerating the recognition of income.

Comment. There are certain exceptions to the two-year carryback period. The carryback period is three years for an NOL from a casualty or theft, and also three years for losses from a Presidentially-declared disaster affecting a small business or a farmer. A "farming loss" can be carried back five years and a 10-year period is available for product liability losses and environmental claims.

Partnerships and S corporations

If your business operates as a partnership or an S corporation, the NOL flows through to the partners or shareholders who can use the NOL to offset other business and personal income. The partnership or S corporation itself cannot use the NOL.

Note. Shareholders may not deduct a C corporation's NOLs. Moreover, because a corporation is a separate taxpayer, NOLs do not automatically flow between the corporation and another entity that takes over the corporation.

Individuals

Individuals may have an NOL not only from business losses but from other expenses, although this is less common. In addition to business losses, an individual includes in his or her NOL computation the following deductions:

• Employee business expenses;
• Casualty and theft;
• Moving expenses for a job relocation; and
• Expenses of rental property held for the production of income.

If you would like to discuss whether you have an NOL and how you might use it, please contact our office.

In a period of declining stock prices, tax benefits may not be foremost in your mind. Nevertheless, you may be able to salvage some benefits from the drop in values. Not only can you reduce your taxable income, but you may be able to move out of unfavorable investments and shift your portfolio to investments that you are more comfortable with.

First, you should keep in mind that gain and loss on a sale of stock or mutual fund shares depends on the fair market value of the shares when sold or disposed of, compared to the cost basis of the stock. Your investments may have lost substantial value over recent periods. Nevertheless, if the stock's value when sold is higher than the basis, you still have a gain.

Example. You purchased X Corp stock in 2004, when it cost $5. At the end of 2007, the stock is worth $12. In November, 2008, you sell the stock when its value is $8 a share. Even though your investment has declined in value by 33 percent, you have a gain of $3 a share on the sale ($8 sales price less $5 cost).

The same tax-basis situation that may cause capital gain on the sale of shares that have dropped significantly in value over the past year also is causing many owners of mutual funds that have declined in value to be surprised with a capital gains distribution notice from their fund managers. If you own the mutual fund shares at the time of the capital gain distribution date, you must recognize the gain. Of course, that gain may be netted against your losses from stock or other capital asset sales.

If you realize a profit on a stock sale, the long-term capital gains tax is a maximum of 15 percent, while taxes on wages and other ordinary income can be taxed as high as 35 percent. For taxpayers in the 10 or 15 percent rate brackets, there is no capital gains tax. These reduced capital gains rates are scheduled to expire after 2010. Short-term capital gains (investments held for one year or less) are taxed at ordinary income rates up to 35 percent.

Capital losses can offset capital gains and ordinary income dollar for dollar. Capital gains can be offset in full, whether short-term or long-term. Ordinary income can be offset up to $3,000. If net capital losses (capital losses minus capital gains) exceed $3,000, the excess can be carried forward without limit and can offset capital gains and $3,000 of ordinary income in each subsequent year.

Because a capital loss can offset income taxed at the 35 percent rate, it can be advantageous to sell stock that yields capital gains in one year, while delaying the realization of capital losses until the following year.

Example. Mary has two assets. One asset would yield a $6,000 long-term capital loss when sold. The other would yield a $6,000 long-term capital gain. If Mary sells both assets in the same year, she has a net capital gain of zero. If she realizes the gain in 2008 and the loss in 2009 (by selling the assets in different years), she will increase her 2008 taxes by a maximum of $900 ($6,000 X 15 percent), but will reduce her taxes in 2009 and 2010 by a maximum of $2,100 ($3,000 X 35 percent X 2 years). She will reduce her taxes by $1,200 merely by shifting the timing of the sales.

Worthless securities. You can write off the cost of totally worthless securities as a capital loss, but cannot take a deduction for securities that have lost most of their value from stock market fluctuations or other causes if you still own them and they still have a recognizable value. You do not have to sell, abandon or dispose of the security to take a worthless stock deduction, but worthlessness must be evidenced by an identifiable event. An event includes cessation of the corporation's business, commencement of liquidation, actual foreclosure and bankruptcy. Securities become worthless if the corporation becomes worthless, even if the corporation has not dissolved, liquidated or ceased doing business.

If you would like to discuss these issues, please contact our office. We can help you consider your options.

With the U.S. and world financial markets in turmoil, many individual investors may be watching the value of their stock seesaw, or have seen it plummet in value. If the value of your shares are trading at very low prices, or have no value at all, you may be wondering if you can claim a worthless securities deduction for the stock on your 2008 tax return.

Capital or ordinary loss treatment

When stock you own in a corporation becomes totally worthless during the tax year, you may be able to report a loss in the stock equal to its tax basis. Generally, a worthless stock loss is characterized as a capital loss because securities like stock that become worthless are usually treated as capital assets. When a security that is not a capital asset becomes wholly worthless, the loss is deductible as an ordinary loss. For example, if worthless stock is Code Sec. 1244 stock, ordinary loss treatment applies. Worthless stock is treated as if it was sold on the last day of the tax year.

Note. You may only deduct a loss on worthless securities if the loss is incurred in a trade or business, in a transaction entered into for profit, or as the result of a fire, storm, shipwreck, another casualty, or theft. It is generally assumed that an individual acquires securities for profit (although this assumption may be refuted).

Your stock is trading at $1.08 a share: Is it "worthlessness?"

A worthless stock deduction may only be taken when your securities have become totally worthless. You can not take the deduction for stock that has become only partially worthless. The Internal Revenue Code, however, does not define "worthlessness." Nonetheless, in the IRS's eyes, a company's stock is not going to be automatically considered worthless simply because the stock or security has plummeted in value and is now trading at mere dollars and cents.

With the current market turmoil, many stocks have taken big hits and dropped significantly in value, perhaps even trading for a $1.08 per share, but are nonetheless still alive and trading on an exchange. Therefore, you can not take a worthless stock deduction for a mere decline in value of stock caused by a fluctuation in market price or other similar cause, no matter how steep the decline, if your stock has any recognizable value on the date you claim as the date of loss. Even if a company in which you have stock files for bankruptcy, or lawsuits are filed against it, does not automatically qualify the stock or securities as worthlessness.

More hurdles to overcome

Even if you can establish that the stock you own has become totally worthless, the loss must be (1) evidenced by a closed and completed transaction, (2) fixed by identifiable events and (3) actually sustained during the tax year. First, you may only claim the deduction on your return for the tax year in which the stock has become completely worthless, and you must be able to show that the year in which you are claiming the loss is the appropriate tax year.

Generally, a worthless stock loss deduction can be taken in the year in which you abandon the stock. To abandon a security, you must permanently surrender and relinquish all rights in the security and receive no consideration in exchange for the security. But, whether the transaction qualifies as abandonment, and not an actual sale or exchange, is a facts and circumstances test.

If you would like to know whether the stock or other securities you own have become worthless, please contact our office. We can help you navigate these complex rules.

Education continues to become increasingly expensive. The Tax Code provides a variety of significant tax breaks to help pay for the rising costs of education, from elementary and secondary school to college. Some people are surprised at what is available these days, as the dust settles on tax rules that have been in transition now for a number of years. A good place to start educating yourself on these education-related tax incentives - to help yourself or a member of your family better tackle the rising expense of education - is right here.

Education continues to become increasingly expensive. The Tax Code provides a variety of significant tax breaks to help pay for the rising costs of education, from elementary and secondary school to college. Some people are surprised at what is available these days, as the dust settles on tax rules that have been in transition now for a number of years. A good place to start educating yourself on these education-related tax incentives - to help yourself or a member of your family better tackle the rising expense of education - is right here.

Hope scholarship and Lifetime Learning credits

The Hope (temporarily enhanced and renamed the "American Opportunity Tax Credit" for 2009 and 2010 by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) and Lifetime Learning credits can be claimed for qualified tuition and fees paid by an individual for his or her (or a spouse's or dependent's) enrollment or attendance at any college, university, vocational school or postgraduate school. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, just like the Hope credit, and Lifetime Learning credit can not both be taken for the same student in the same year.

If you pay the qualified education expenses of more than one student in the same year, however, you can choose to take the credits on a per-student for that year. Expenses that do not count towards the Lifetime Learning credit are those incurred to purchase books, supplies and other equipment, and charges and fees associated with meals and lodging. However, the American Opportunity Tax Credit can be claimed for course materials for 2009 and 2010 only.

Moreover, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (unlike the Hope credit) is available for expenses incurred during all four years of college, as provided under the 2009 Recovery Act. The Hope credit is only available for the first two years of college). However, the Lifetime Learning credit can be claimed for all years of postsecondary school (as well as for courses to acquire or improve job skills). In effect, the Lifetime Learning credit can pick up where the Hope credit left off.

The maximum American Opportunity Credit that can be claimed in 2009 and 2010 is $2,500 (previously $1,800 under the Hope credit) of qualified education expenses per student. Under the new credit, the maximum $2,500 per year would be allowed on $4,000 in qualifying payments (100 percent of the first $2,000 and 25 percent of the next $2,000).

For 2009 and 2010, the American Opportunity Tax Credit begins to phase-out when modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) reaches $80,000 for individuals (and $160,00 for joint filers). For 2009, the amount of the Lifetime learning credit phases out for individuals when MAGI reaches $50,000 for individuals and $100,00 for joint filers.

Coverdell Education Savings accounts

Individuals can contribute up to $2,000 a year to a Coverdell Education Savings account, which is established to help pay for the costs of education of an account beneficiary. A beneficiary is someone who is under age 18 or with special needs.

Although contributions to a Coverdell account are not deductible, earnings grow tax-free, and distributions are also tax free if used for qualified education expenses, including tuition and fees, required books, supplies and equipment, as well as qualified expenses for room and board. The account can help pay for the costs of attending an elementary or secondary school, whether public, private or religious, as well as a college or university.

As with the education credits, there are contribution limits based on the taxpayer/contributor's modified AGI.  

Student loan interest

Eligible individuals can take an above-the-line deduction for up to $2,500 of interest paid on student loans used to pay for the cost of attending any college, university, vocational school, or graduate school. A student loan, for purposes of the deduction, is a loan you took out and is designated solely to pay your (or your spouse's or dependent's) qualified education expenses. For example, if you take out a home equity loan to pay for college tuition, the interest may be deductible as mortgage interest, but it is not considered above-the-line interest for a student loan since the lender did not specifically restrict the proceeds to education expenses.

Good news on student loan interest, however, is that qualified education expenses in this case include not only tuition and fees, but also room and board, books, supplies and equipment, and other necessary expenses such as transportation. Interest paid on a loan that is made to you by a related person, such as parents or grandparents, or from a qualified employer plan do not qualify for the deduction.

The deduction is available regardless of whether or not you itemize. For 2009, the amount of the deduction begins to phase out when an individual's modified AGI exceeds $60,000 a year (or $120,000 for married couples filing jointly). The deduction is completely eliminated once an individual's modified AGI reaches $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers). For all other taxpayers, the deduction phases out when AGI reaches $60,000 (and is eliminated completely at AGI of $75,000). If you are claimed as a dependent on another's tax return, you can not take the deduction, however.

IRA and 401(k) withdrawals for education expenses

Generally, if you take a distribution from your IRA before you reach age 59 1/2, you must pay a 10 percent additional tax on the early distribution, as well as income tax on the amount distributed. This applies to any IRA you own, whether it is a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA or a SIMPLE IRA. However, you can take a distribution from your IRA before you reach age 59 1/2 and not be subject to the 10 percent additional tax, if the distribution is used to pay the qualified education expenses for:

• Yourself;
• Your spouse; or
• Your or your spouse's child, grandchild or foster child.

Qualified education expenses include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for enrollment or attendance at any college, university, vocational school or other post-secondary educational institution. In addition, if the student is at least a part-time student, room and board are generally qualified education expenses, subject to certain limitation.

If you have a 401(k) plan that allows "hardship withdrawals" to be taken to pay for certain higher education expenses, such as tuition and other education expenses, you may consider taking such a distribution to pay for the education expenses for yourself, or your spouse or your children.  

Section 529 college savings plans

An often touted way to pay for college is through a state college savings plan (aka Section 529 plans, or qualified tuition plans). Section 529 plans allow you to save money, tax-free, to pay for qualified education expenses for college. Although contributions are not deductible for federal tax purposes, many states allow residents to deduct contributions on their state return. Moreover, distributions from a 529 plan are tax-free unless the amount distributed is greater than the account beneficiary's adjusted qualified education expenses. Qualified education expenses include amounts paid for tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment, as well as reasonable costs of room and board for individuals are at least part-time students.

For 2009 and 2010, beneficiaries of qualified tuition plans can use tax-free distributions to pay for computers and computer technology, including internet access. This is courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Special needs education

The cost for a mentally or physically handicapped individual to attend a special school may be deductible as a medical expense if the principal reason for the individual attending the school is to help overcome or alleviate his or her disability. To qualify for the deduction, the individual does not have to attend a "special school." According to the IRS, the costs of a special education program at any school may be deductible if the program is primarily targeted to the individual's disability. Other deductible medical expenses may include the costs of transportation for the special education, summer school, tutoring, and meals and lodging at the school.

However, remember that medical expenses are only deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent of your income, as an itemized deduction. Individuals with special needs children might also consider Coverdell Education Savings accounts as a vehicle for saving and paying for their children's special education expenses.

Private secondary and nursery school expenses

Private secondary expenses are generally not deductible. Furthermore, the IRS has ruled that any expenses allocated to high school tuition related to advance-placement college credit courses are still considered secondary tuition expenses and will not be counted toward the Hope or Lifetime learning credits.

"After-school" or "extended-day" programs, however, may be deductible if taken toward the child and dependent care credit for a child under age 13 to enable both spouses to work.  Expenses incurred to send a child to nursery school, pre-school or similar programs for children below the kindergarten level qualify fully for the child and dependent care credit without any requirement to separate by time or otherwise the educational portion of the expenses from the child care expenses.

The child and dependent care tax credit is a popular credit that, in part, enables you and your spouse (if married) to reduce your taxes by the cost of certain qualifying expenses you incur to have someone care for your child or childrenwho are under the age of 13 so that you can work or look for work. For 2009, you can generally claim up to $3,000 of expenses paid in the year for one qualifying individual, or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals, under the dependent and child care credit. Additional income and eligibility limitations apply.

If you have any questions on how these rules apply to your education expenses, please do not hesitate to call our offices.

The IRS allows taxpayers with a charitable inclination to take a deduction for a wide range of donated items. However, the IRS does provide specific guidelines for those taxpayers contributing non-cash items, from the type of charity you can donate to in order to take a deduction to the quality of the goods you contribute and how to value them for deduction purposes. If your summer cleaning has led, or may lead, you to set aside clothes and other items for charity, and you would like to know how to value these items for tax purposes, read on.

Household items that can be donated to charitable, and for which a deduction is allowed, include:

• Furniture;
• Furnishings;
• Electronics;
• Appliances;
• Linens; and
• Similar items.

The following are not considered household items for charitable deduction purposes:

• Food;
• Paintings, antiques, and other art objects;
• Jewelry; and
• Collections.

Valuing clothing and household items

Many people give clothing, household goods and other items they no longer need to charity. If you contribute property to a qualified organization, the amount of your charitable contribution is generally the fair market value (FMV) of the property at the time of the contribution. However, if the property has increased in value since you purchased it, you may have to make some adjustments to the amount of your deduction.

You can not deduct donations of used clothing and used household goods unless you can prove the items are in "good," or better, condition; and in the case of equipment, working. However, the IRS has not specifically set out what qualifies as "good" condition.

Fair market value is the amount that the item could be sold for now; what you originally paid for the clothing or household item is completely irrelevant. For example, if you paid $500 for a sofa that would only get you $50 at a yard sale, your deduction for charitable donation purposes is $50 (the sofa's current FMV). You cannot claim a deduction for the difference in the price you paid for the item and its current FMV.

To determine the FMV of used clothing, you should generally claim as the value the price that a buyer of used clothes would pay at a thrift shop or consignment store.

Comment. In the rare event that the household item (or items) you are donating to charity has actually increased in value, you will need to make adjustments to the value of the item in order to calculate the correct deductible amount. You may have to reduce the FMV of the item by the amount of appreciation (increase in value) when calculating your deduction.

Good faith estimate

All non-cash donations require a receipt from the charitable organization to which they are donated, and it is your responsibility as the taxpayer, not the charity's, to make a good faith estimate of the item's (or items') FMV at the time of donation. The emphasis on valuation should be on "good faith." The IRS recognizes some abuse in this area, yet needs to balance its public ire with its duty to encourage legitimate donations. While the audit rate on charitable deductions is not high, it also is not non-existent. You must be prepared with reasonable estimates for used clothing and household goods, high enough so as not to shortchange yourself, yet low enough to prevent an IRS auditor from threatening a penalty.

In any event, if the FMV of any item is more than $5,000, you will need to obtain an appraisal by a qualified appraiser to accompany your tax form (which is Form 8283, Noncash Charitable Contributions). When dealing with valuables, an appraisal helps protect you as well as the IRS.

If you have questions about the types of items that you can donate to charity, limits on deductibility, or other general inquiries about charitable donations and deductions, please contact out office.

If you've made, or are planning to make, a big gift before the end of 2009, you may be wondering what your gift tax liability, if any, may be. You may have to file a federal tax return even if you do not owe any gift tax. Read on to learn more about when to file a federal gift tax return.

When you must file

Most gifts you make are not subject to the gift tax. Generally, you must file a gift tax return, Form 709, U.S. Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, if any of the following apply to gifts you have made, or will make, in 2009:

• Gifts you give to another person (other than your spouse) exceed the $13,000 annual gift tax exclusion for 2009.
• You and your spouse are splitting a gift.
• You gave someone (other than your spouse) a gift of a future interest that he or she cannot actually possess, enjoy or receive income from until some time in the future.

Remember, filing a gift tax return does not necessarily mean you will owe gift tax.

Gifts that do not require a tax return

You do not have to file a gift tax return to report three types of gifts: (1) transfers to political organizations, (2) gift payments that qualify for the educational exclusion, or (3) gift payments that qualify for the medical payment exclusion. Although medical expenses and tuition paid for another person are considered gifts for federal gift tax purposes, if you make the gift directly to the medical or educational institution, the payment will be non-taxable. This applies to any amount you directly transfer to the provider as long as the payments go directly to them, not to the person on whose behalf the gift is made.

Unified credit

Even if the gift tax applies to your gifts, it may be completely eliminated by the unified credit, also referred to as the applicable credit amount, which can eliminate or reduce your gift (as well as estate) taxes. You must subtract the unified credit from any gift tax you owe; any unified credit you use against your gift tax in one year will reduce the amount of the credit you can apply against your gift tax liability in a later year. Keep in mind that the total credit amount that you use against your gift tax liability during your life reduces the credit available to use against your estate tax.

Let's take a look at an example:

In 2009, you give your nephew Ben a cash gift of $8,000. You also pay the $20,000 college tuition of your friend, Sam. You give your 30-year-old daughter, Mary, $25,000. You also give your 27-year-old son, Michael, $25,000. Before 2009, you had never given a taxable gift. You apply the exceptions to the gift tax and the unified credit as follows:

• The qualified education tuition exclusion applies to the gift to Sam, as payment of tuition expenses is not subject to the gift tax. Therefore, the gift to Sam is not a taxable gift.
• The 2009 annual exclusion applies to the first $13,000 of your gift to Ben, Mary and Michael, since the first $13,000 of your gift to any one individual in 2009 is not taxable. Therefore, your $8,000 gift to Ben, the first $13,000 of your gift to Mary, and the first $13,000 of your gift to Michael are not taxable gifts.
• Finally, apply the unified credit. The gift tax will apply to $24,000 of the above transfers ($12,000 remaining from your gift to Mary, plus $12,000 remaining from your gift to Michael). The amount of the tax on the $24,000 is computed using IRS tables for computing the gift tax, which is located in the Instructions for Form 709. You would subtract the tax owe on these gifts from your unified credit of $345,800 for 2009. The unified credit that you can use against the gift tax in a later year (and against any estate tax) will thus be reduced. If you apply the unified credit to the amount of gift tax owe in 2009, you may not have to pay any gift tax for the year. Nevertheless, you will have to file a Form 709.

Filing a gift tax return

You must report the amount of a taxable gift on Form 709. For gifts made in 2009, the maximum gift tax rate is 45 percent. You can make an unlimited number of tax-free gifts in 2009, as long as the gifts are not more than $13,000 to each person or entity in 2009 (or $26,000 if you and your spouse make a gift jointly), without having to pay gift taxes on the transfers.

Like the Internet itself, the correct deductibility of a business's website development costs is still in its formative stages. What is fairly clear, however, is that it is highly unlikely that any single tax treatment will apply to all of the costs incurred in designing an internet site because the process encompasses many different types of expenses.

Figuring out how to treat website costs is not a simple matter of treating all website design costs as current advertising expenses. Instead, based on the IRS response so far to taxpayers in similar situations, business owners should be prepared to separate their costs into three appropriate tax categories: planning, construction and content.

Planning

Before developing a website, the taxpayer must decide whether it needs an internet presence and, if so, how its website should operate. If the website will expand the taxpayer's current operations, expenses incurred as part of this decision-making process should be currently deductible as costs related to the expansion of an existing business. Other planning costs, however, may benefit the business for at least several years and, as such, may be required to be capitalized and deducted over that period.

Construction

Construction costs are those related to getting a website up and running. Many website construction costs will involve the acquisition of computer hardware and associated software. Other construction costs include those related to a domain name to serve as the website's address on the internet and employee training. Each component has its own strict capitalization and depreciation rules that must be followed.

Content

Every website contains content consisting of text, digitized photographs, artwork, video, and/or audio. While content is part of a website, content files are generally separate from the website's software; they are data files, not software, that reside on and are called up from the web server. Unlike the elements of website construction, content can be easily removed or changed without affecting the basic architecture of the site.

Material for a website may be purchased or licensed from third parties, or it may be created by the taxpayer. Some content consists of advertising, particularly in catalog or banner ad formats. Other content may be noncommercial. Most good websites are continually updated to reflect new information. Few of these updates will have a useful life of more than one year; thus, the cost of providing them should be a currently deductible business expense.

If you are thinking of launching a website for your business or have plans to expand a website that you already have up and running, structuring your related expenses with the tax laws in mind might help offset some of the costs. Please contact this office if you have any questions.

Only "qualified moving expenses" under the tax law are generally deductible. Qualified moving expenses are incurred to move the taxpayer, members of the taxpayer's household, and their personal belongings. For moving expenses to be deductible, however, a move must:

(1) Be closely related to the beginning of employment;

(2) Satisfy the time test; and

(3) Satisfy the distance test.

The purpose of the move must be employment. The worker must be moving to a new job. However, the worker need not have obtained the job before moving.

The time test requires that the individual work full time for at least 39 weeks in the first 12 months following the move. Self-employed persons must work full-time for at least 30 weeks in the first 12 months following the move, and at least 78 weeks in the 24 months following the move. Full-time employment is determined by the time customary in the worker's trade or business. Employment and self-employment may be aggregated. With respect to married couples, only one spouse must satisfy this requirement.

Even if the time test is not satisfied at the end of the first tax year ending after the move, the qualified moving expenses may be deducted in the move year. If the time test is ultimately not satisfied, an amended return must be filed in the subsequent year using Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

The distance test must also be satisfied. The new principal place of employment must be at least 50 miles further from the old residence than the prior principal place of employment. If the worker has multiple places of employment, the principal place of employment must be determined. This test is satisfied if the individual is moving to his or her first principal place of employment.

Special rules apply to moving expenses of active duty military personnel and their families. There are also special rules that apply to moves outside the United States.

If you are planning a move and would like advice on how to structure expenses to maximize your tax savings, please give this office a call.

The small business corporation (S corp) is one of the most popular business entities today, offering its shareholders the flow-through tax treatment of a partnership and the limited liability of a corporation. The S corp has become an even more prominent entity in the small business community, in part, because the IRS has relaxed certain requirements for electing S corp status. A small business corporation does not need to elect to be treated as an S corp each year to maintain S corp status.

Special election

To be treated as an S corp, a small business must make a special election under subchapter S of the Tax Code. This special election requires the proper and timely filing of Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, under Code Sec. 1362. An S corp election is valid only if all shareholders on the date of the election consent to it. For example, if the election is made prior to the start of the tax year for which it is effective, new shareholders between the date of the election and the beginning of the tax year need not also consent to maintain S corp status.

Once a small business corporation properly and timely elects to be treated as an S corp, however, the election remains valid and does not need to be made every year, even if new shareholders do not consent. An S corp election remains effective unless, or until, the election is formally revoked by the shareholders or S corp status is terminated because the corporation no longer meets all requirements necessary to maintain S corp status (for example, there are more than 100 shareholders of the S corp or the S corp has more than one class of stock outstanding).

Filing timeline

An initial S corp election must be made on or before the 15^th day of the third month (i.e. March 15) of the taxable year in order for the election to be effective for that year. If the election is not made until after the 15th day of the third month of the tax year, the election is effective for the following year. A newly formed corporation, on the other hand, that has missed the March 15^th deadline may file Form 2553 any time during its tax year as long as the filing is made no later than 75 days after the corporation has begun conducting business as a corporation, acquired assets, or issued stock to shareholders (whichever is earlier). If an untimely election causes an S corp election to terminate, the IRS possesses discretionary authority to retroactively waive the timely failing requirement.

If you would like more information about electing S corp status, or about the benefits and drawbacks of other business entities, please call our office. We would be glad to assist you.

If you use your car for business purposes, you may have learned that keeping track and properly logging the variety of expenses you incur for tax purposes is not always easy. Practically speaking, how often and how you choose to track expenses associated with the business use of your car depends on your personality; whether you are a meticulous note-taker or you simply abhor recordkeeping. However, by taking a few minutes each day in your car to log your expenses, you may be able to write-off a larger percentage of your business-related automobile costs.

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If you use your car for business purposes, you may have learned that keeping track and properly logging the variety of expenses you incur for tax purposes is not always easy. Practically speaking, how often and how you choose to track expenses associated with the business use of your car depends on your personality; whether you are a meticulous note-taker or you simply abhor recordkeeping. However, by taking a few minutes each day in your car to log your expenses, you may be able to write-off a larger percentage of your business-related automobile costs.

Regardless of the type of record keeper you consider yourself to be, there are numerous ways to simplify the burden of logging your automobile expenses for tax purposes. This article explains the types of expenses you need to track and the methods you can use to properly and accurately track your car expenses, thereby maximizing your deduction and saving taxes.

Expense methods

The two general methods allowed by the IRS to calculate expenses associated with the business use of a car include the standard mileage rate method or the actual expense method. The standard mileage rate for 2017 is 53.5 cents per mile. In addition, you can deduct parking expenses and tolls paid for business. Personal property taxes are also deductible, either as a personal or a business expense. While you are not required to substantiate expense amounts under the standard mileage rate method, you must still substantiate the amount, time, place and business purpose of the travel.

The actual expense method requires the tracking of all your vehicle-related expenses. Actual car expenses that may be deducted under this method include: oil, gas, depreciation, principal lease payments (but not interest), tolls, parking fees, garage rent, registration fees, licenses, insurance, maintenance and repairs, supplies and equipment, and tires. These are the operating costs that the IRS permits you to write-off. For newly-purchased vehicles in years in which bonus depreciation is available, opting for the actual expense method may make particularly good sense since the standard mileage rate only builds in a modest amount of depreciation each year. For example, for 2017, when 50 percent bonus depreciation is allowed, maximum first year depreciation is capped at $11,160 (as compared to $3,160 for vehicles that do not qualify). In general, the actual expense method usually results in a greater deduction amount than the standard mileage rate. However, this must be balanced against the increased substantiation burden associated with tracking actual expenses. If you qualify for both methods, estimate your deductions under each to determine which method provides you with a larger deduction.

Substantiation requirements

Taxpayers who deduct automobile expenses associated with the business use of their car should keep an account book, diary, statement of expenses, or similar record. This is not only recommended by the IRS, but essential to accurate expense tracking. Moreover, if you use your car for both business and personal errands, allocations must be made between the personal and business use of the automobile. In general, adequate substantiation for deduction purposes requires that you record the following:

• The amount of the expense;
• The amount of use (i.e. the number of miles driven for business purposes);
• The date of the expenditure or use; and
• The business purpose of the expenditure or use.

Suggested recordkeeping: Actual expense method

An expense log is a necessity for taxpayers who choose to use the actual expense method for deducting their car expenses. First and foremost, always keep your receipts, copies of cancelled checks and bills paid. Maintaining receipts, bills paid and copies of cancelled checks is imperative (even receipts from toll booths). These receipts and documents show the date and amount of the purchase and can support your expenditures if the IRS comes knocking. Moreover, if you fail to log these expenses on the day you incurred them, you can look back at the receipt for all the essentials (i.e. time, date, and amount of the expense).

Types of Logs. Where you decide to record your expenses depends in large part on your personal preferences. While an expense log is a necessity, there are a variety of options available to track your car expenditures - from a simple notebook, expense log or diary for those less technologically inclined (and which can be easily stored in your glove compartment) - to the use of a smartphone or computer. Apps specifically designed to help track your car expenses can be easily downloaded onto your iPhone or Android device.

Timeliness. Although maintaining a daily log of your expenses is ideal - since it cuts down on the time you may later have to spend sorting through your receipts and organizing your expenses - this may not always be the case for many taxpayers. According to the IRS, however, you do not need to record your expenses on the very day they are incurred. If you maintain a log on a weekly basis and it accounts for your use of the automobile and expenses during the week, the log is considered a timely-kept record. Moreover, the IRS also allows taxpayers to maintain records of expenses for only a portion of the tax year, and then use those records to substantiate expenses for the entire year if he or she can show that the records are representative of the entire year. This is referred to as the sampling method of substantiation. For example, if you keep a record of your expenses over a 90-day period, this is considered an adequate representation of the entire year.

Suggested Recordkeeping: Standard mileage rate method

If you loathe recordkeeping and cannot see yourself adequately maintaining records and tracking your expenses (even on a weekly basis), strongly consider using the standard mileage rate method. However, taking the standard mileage rate does not mean that you are given a pass by the IRS to maintaining any sort of records. To claim the standard mileage rate, appropriate records would include a daily log showing miles traveled, destination and business purpose. If you incur mileage on one day that includes both personal and business, allocate the miles between the two uses. A mileage record log, whether recorded in a notebook, log or handheld device, is a necessity if you choose to use the standard mileage rate.

If you have any questions about how to properly track your automobile expenses for tax purposes, please call our office. We would be happy to explain your responsibilities and the tax consequences and benefits of adequately logging your car expenses.

In order to be tax deductible, compensation must be a reasonable payment for services. Smaller companies, whose employees frequently hold significant ownership interests, are particularly vulnerable to IRS attack on their compensation deductions.

In order to be tax deductible, compensation must be a reasonable payment for services. Smaller companies, whose employees frequently hold significant ownership interests, are particularly vulnerable to IRS attack on their compensation deductions.

Reasonable compensation is generally defined as the amount that would ordinarily be paid for like services by like enterprises under like circumstances. This broad definition is supplemented, for purposes of determining whether compensation is deductible as an ordinary and necessary expense, by a number of more specific factors expressed in varying forms by the IRS, the Tax Court and the Circuit Courts of Appeal, and generally relating to the type and extent of services provided, the financial concerns of the company, and the nature of the relationship between the employee and the employer.

Why IRS Is Interested

A chief concern behind the IRS's keen interest in what a company calls "compensation" is the possibility that what is being labeled compensation is in fact a constructive dividend. If employees with ownership interests are being paid excessive amounts by the company, the IRS may challenge compensation deductions on the grounds that what is being called deductible compensation is, in fact, a nondeductible dividend.

Another area of concern for the IRS is the payment of personal expenses of an employee that are disguised as businesses expenses. There, the business is trying to obtain a business expense deduction without the offsetting tax paid by the employee in recognizing income. In such cases, a business and its owners can end up with a triple loss after an IRS audit: taxable income to the individual, no deduction to the business and a tax penalty due from both parties.

Factors Examined

The factors most often examined by the IRS in deciding whether payments are reasonable compensation for services or are, instead, disguised dividend payments, include:

1. The salary history of the individual employee
2. Compensation paid by comparable employers to comparable employees
3. The salary history of other employees of the company
4. Special employee expertise or efforts
5. Year-end payments
6. Independent inactive investor analysis
7. Deferred compensation plan contributions
8. Independence of the board of directors
9. Viewpoint of a hypothetical investor contemplating purchase of the company as to whether such potential investor would be willing to pay the compensation.

Failure to pass the reasonable compensation test will result in the company's loss of all or part of its deduction. Analysis and examination of a company's compensation deductions in light of the relevant listed factors can provide the company with the assurance that the compensation it pays will be treated as reasonable -- and may in the process prevent the loss of its deductions.

Note: In the case of publicly held corporations, a separate $1 million dollar per person cap is also placed on deductible compensation paid to the CEO and each of the four other highest-paid officers identified for SEC purposes. (Certain types of compensation, including performance-based compensation approved by outside directors, are not included in the $1 million limitation.)

The S Corp Enigma

The opposite side of the reasonable compensation coin is present in the case of some S corporations. By characterizing compensation payments as dividends, the owners of these corporations seek to reduce employment taxes due on amounts paid to them by their companies. In these cases, the IRS attempts to recharacterize dividends as salary if the amounts were, in fact, paid to the shareholders for services rendered to the corporation.

Caution. In the course of performing the compensation-dividend analysis, watch out for contingent compensation arrangements and for compensation that is proportional to stock ownership. While not always indicators that payments are distributions of dividends instead of compensation for services, their presence does suggest the possibility. Compensation plans should not be keyed to ownership interests. Contingent and incentive arrangements are also scrutinized by the IRS. The courts have frequently ruled that a shareholder has a built-in interest in seeing that the company is successful and rewarding him for increasing the value of his own property is inappropriate. Similar to the reasonable compensation test, however, this rule is not hard and fast. Accordingly, the rules followed in each jurisdiction will control there.

Conclusions

Determining whether a shareholder-employee's compensation is reasonable depends upon many variables, such as the contributions that employee makes to your business, the compensation levels within your industry, and whether an independent investor in your company would accept the employee's compensation as reasonable.

Please call our office for a more customized analysis of how your particular compensation package fits into the various rules and guidelines. Further examination of your practices not only may help your business better sustain its compensation deductions; it may also help you take advantage of other compensation arrangements and opportunities.

If someone told you that you could exchange an apartment house for a store building without recognizing a taxable gain or loss, you might not believe him or her. You might already know about a very valuable business planning and tax tool: a like-kind exchange. In some cases, if you trade business property for other business property of the same asset class, you do not need to recognize a taxable gain or loss.

Not a sale

An exchange is a transfer that is not a sale. Essentially, it is a trade of like property.

In an exchange, property is relinquished and property is received. If the transaction includes money or property that is not of a like kind (referred to as "boot"), the transaction does not automatically become a sale. Any gain realized in the transaction, however, is recognized in that tax year to the extent of boot received.

In a like-kind exchange, the basis in the property received is the same as the basis in the property relinquished, with some adjustments. Any unrecognized gain or loss on the relinquished property is carried over to the replacement property. At a future time, the gain or loss will be recognized. If there is boot in the exchange and the gain is recognized, basis is increased by the amount of recognized gain.

The like-kind rules also require that property must be business or investment property. The taxpayer must hold both the property traded and the property received for productive use in its trade or business or for investment. Additionally, most stocks, bonds and other securities are not eligible.

Example

Jesse owns an office supply company and wants to expand his business. Carmen owns a restaurant and also wants to expand her business. Both individuals own parcels of land for investment that would benefit their respective expansion plans. The adjusted basis of both properties is $250,000. The fair market value of both properties is $400,000. Jesse and Carmen engage in a like-kind exchange. Neither Jesse nor Carmen would report any gain or loss.

More than two properties

Like-kind exchanges can involve more than two properties. While the rules are complicated, the basic approach is to combine properties into groups consisting of the same kind or class. If you are interested in a like-kind exchange involving more than two properties, we can help you.

Timing

The exchange does not have to take place at a given moment. If property is relinquished, the replacement property can be identified and received anytime within a specific period. Replacement property must be identified within 45 days after property is relinquished. The replacement property has to be received within 180 days after the transfer but sooner if the tax return is due before the 180 days are over (although the due date takes into account any extension that is permitted).

Reporting

A like-kind exchange must be reported to the IRS. The report must be made even if no gain is recognized in the transaction.  Again, our office can help you make sure that everything that needs to be reported to the IRS is reported.