2012

Showing 49–64 of 717 results

  • Can’t afford estate taxes? Get an intrafamily loan

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Estate Planner

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 918

    Abstract: If an estate consists primarily of closely held business interests, real estate or other illiquid assets, it may not have the liquidity it needs to pay estate taxes and other expenses. Life insurance is one option, but another is to borrow the necessary funds. This article shows how borrowing can reduce estate taxes, and notes the requirements for an estate to be able to deduct interest. It also shows how to ensure that an intrafamily loan is a bona fide loan in the view of the IRS. A sidebar offers a real-life example of a loan that did not pass muster.

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  • Tax Tips

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Tax Impact

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 485

    Abstract: This issue’s “Tax Tips” discusses defined-value gifts, which can be used to gift illiquid assets to take advantage of this year’s expiring $5.12 million gift tax exemption, even though it may be too late to obtain an appraisal. Other items show how to make the most of S corporation losses; note a Tax Court clarification of the age-55 exception to the early withdrawal penalty; and warn against overlooking the potential tax implications of company wellness programs.

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  • Keep on the good side of the IRS — Make sure you classify workers properly

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Tax Impact

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 755

    Abstract: There are tax and other advantages for a business that retains independent contractors (ICs). If, however, the IRS determines that an employee has been misclassified as an IC, the employer could be subject to back taxes and penalties not only for the taxes it should have paid but didn’t, but also for the taxes it should have withheld. That’s why knowing the difference between an employee and an IC is critical to a business’s bottom line. This article discusses the factors that determine this difference and how to establish procedures for determining worker classification.

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  • Donating property? — Don’t skimp on the appraisal

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Tax Impact

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 624

    Abstract: When donating property to charity, it’s critical to comply with tax rules for substantiating the value of the gift. Otherwise, the IRS may deny the entire charitable deduction, even if the valuation is spot-on. This article shows that, with most large donations of property, the property must be appraised by a qualified appraiser. It explains what constitutes a “qualified appraiser” and what must be involved in the appraisal itself. Citation: T.C. Memo. 2012-152, 5/29/12

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  • Investors: Before you sell, know the basics of basis

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Tax Impact

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 1067

    Abstract: Investors who are selling shares of stock, mutual funds or other investments need to familiarize themselves with the cost basis rules before they call their broker. They also need to understand the different accounting methods available for determining which shares to sell; the method they choose can have a big impact on their tax bill. This article discusses basis and the wash sale rule and examines the tax implications of three specific accounting methods. It also discusses new reporting rules; a sidebar chart shows which securities are subject to these rules.

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  • Ask the Advisor — Should I invest in triple-net lease property?

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 501

    Abstract: Properties with triple-net leases can be quite attractive to real estate investors, but they aren’t as straightforward as they might seem. This article explains what a triple-net lease is and the advantages it can offer (appreciation, tax benefits, a steady stream of income) — but also notes that inflation could create a nightmare if rent doesn’t keep pace with market rates. Due diligence is critical, as changes often can’t be made once the lease has been signed.

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  • The pros and cons of leveraging — How to use other people’s money to invest in real estate

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 802

    Abstract: Investors can make a lot of money by leveraging other people’s money to invest in real estate. But it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, as many are discovering in the wake of the credit crisis. Lower property appraisals, combined with the tightening of loan-to-value ratios, have made cash much harder to come by. This article shows how to avoid overleveraging.

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  • IRS clarifies capitalization of leasehold improvements

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 585

    Abstract: Leasehold improvements can pose some tricky tax issues for all parties involved. In a recent legal memorandum, the IRS addressed one such issue — the proper capitalization treatment of indirect costs incurred by a lessee to construct real property it then leased. This article takes a look at a case involving Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 263A, Capitalization and Inclusion in Inventory Costs of Certain Expenses, and IRC Sec. 263(a), Capital Expenditures, in which the lessee lost the battle.

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  • What not to do when donating property

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 914

    Abstract: Charitable donations can provide real estate owners with valuable tax deductions — if the donors meet IRS requirements for taking such deductions. This article discusses a case in which the U.S. Tax Court disallowed a couple’s charitable deductions for their donations due to their failure to comply with IRS appraisal requirements — despite the fact that they likely undervalued the donations on their income tax returns. The article shows where the couple went wrong, and thus underscores the importance of obtaining appraisals from qualified appraisers before donating real estate. A sidebar lists the requirements for an appraiser to be “qualified.” Citation: T.C. Memo. 2012-152, 5/29/12

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  • Procrastinate no more! — Follow these retention guidelines when organizing tax records

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 367

    Abstract: Even though next year’s tax return deadline is several months away, it’s important to not procrastinate any longer — it’s time to get tax records organized. This brief article explains which records should be kept and for how long.

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  • Commodities can help protect against corrosive effects of inflation

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 671

    Abstract: It’s difficult to avoid the damaging effects of inflation on the purchasing power of retirement savings. That’s why some investors allocate a portion of their retirement savings to assets such as commodities, which have the potential to provide attractive “real returns.” This article defines both “commodities” and “real returns,” shows how to gain exposure to commodities, and describes the factors that drive commodity prices.

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  • Join together — Buying a home jointly with a family member can reduce estate tax liability

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 806

    Abstract: Many homeowners aren’t aware that buying a home jointly with a family member can remove a house’s value from one’s taxable estate. But it’s important to not confuse a joint purchase with joint tenancy. This article explains the difference between the two, and shows the effects that a joint purchase can have on both estate taxes and income taxes.

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  • Leaving your job? — Don’t forget your retirement savings

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Planning for Prosperity / Wealth Management Advisor

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 932

    Abstract: Leaving a job can be an exciting or an unsettling time, or both. But, amid the tumult, it’s important to consider one’s options for managing retirement savings that have accrued under the current employer’s traditional 401(k), 403(b) or 457(a) plan. These may be combined with employer contributions to a pension or profit-sharing plan. Whatever the case, this article discusses four options for handling such retirement savings. A sidebar looks at why shares of appreciated company stock within a retirement plan may require special treatment.

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  • Use your best (business) judgment — Equal Pay Act’s burden of proof put to the test

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Employment Law Briefing

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 735

    Abstract: Claiming that she was being paid less than a male co-worker who performed nearly identical duties, a nurse sued her employer under the Equal Pay Act of 1963. At trial, the judge gave the jury a "business-judgment" instruction that the plaintiff felt was inappropriate for an EPA case. This article notes that the Eighth Circuit agreed, but still affirmed the district court’s decision. Citation: Bauer v. Curators of the University of Missouri, No. 11-2758, June 6, 2012 (8th Cir.)

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  • Does Title VII apply to the spouse of an illegal immigrant?

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Employment Law Briefing

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 923

    Abstract: Not long after a bank learned that one of its employees had joint accounts at the bank with a known undocumented alien — her husband — it fired her, concerned that fraudulent documentation may have been involved. She sued under Title VII, claiming national origin discrimination. The Seventh Circuit agreed with the lower court that it was the husband’s undocumented status, and not his national origin, that led to her discharge. The question then became whether Title VII protects against "alienage-based" discrimination. This article explains the court’s decision that it does not. Citation: Cortezano v. Salin Bank and Trust Company, No. 11-1631, May 21, 2012 (7th Cir.); Espinoza v. Farah Manufacturing Company, No. 414 U.S. 86, Nov. 19, 1973 (Supreme Court)

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  • Temp to perm — ADA case turns on severity of employee’s injury

    November / December 2012
    Newsletter: Employment Law Briefing

    Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50

    Word count: 1128

    Abstract: After injuring her knee, a drugstore employee accepted an offer to return as a store manager — but with the understanding that she had some physical limitations. When her doctor decided that they were permanent, she was fired because she could "no longer perform the essential functions" of her job. She sued, alleging discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The First Circuit examined whether these functions were indeed essential, and, if so, whether she could perform them with or without a reasonable accommodation. The Court decided against her, but a sidebar to this article discusses a case with a different outcome. Citation: Jones v. Walgreen Co., No. 11-1917, May 10, 2012 (1st Cir.); Valle-Arce v. Puerto Rico Ports Authority, No. 10-1102, July 8, 2011 (1st Cir.)

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