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Latest Articles

  • Rev. Proc. 2016-49: QTIP Elections Designed to Take Advantage of Portability of the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion Amount Will Not Be Disregarded

    By:
    Kevin Matz, Esq., CPA, LLM (Taxation)
    |
    Feb 1, 2017

    Revenue Procedure 2016-49 answers in the affirmative the question of whether the IRS will respect a qualified terminable interest property (“QTIP”) election where the executor has elected portability of the deceased spousal unused exclusion (“DSUE”) amount under IRC section 2010(c)(5)(A).  

  • Tax Implications of Purchasing Real Estate from a Foreign Person—What You Need to Know

    By:
    Linda M. Bruckner, CPA
    |
    Feb 1, 2017

    Many tax clients think that the tax withholding rules apply only to those in business. They are familiar with withholding on employee wages and may have even needed to withhold tax on income allocated or paid to a foreign investor in their company; however, most clients do not expect a federal tax withholding requirement when making payments for personal purposes—which is why the rules surrounding the purchase of a home may come as a surprise.

  • Pre- and Post-Mortem Planning

    By:
    Elana S. Bronson, Esq.
    |
    Jan 1, 2017
    When a client is nearing the end of his or her life, advisors should be aware of both pre- and post-mortem planning opportunities. While the majority of this article will focus on tax planning techniques, there are also practical considerations. This article is not exhaustive, but is intended to serve as a helpful guide for practitioners.  
  • Federal Tax Planning Strategies for Individuals and Small Businesses

    By:
    Warren M. Bergstein, CPA, AEP
    |
    Jan 1, 2017
    Every year, to minimize their overall liability, taxpayers should start giving consideration to moves that may either lower their current year tax bill or equalize their tax liability over a two-year period. 
  • Planning for the Stars: Financial & Investment Planning for Entertainers and Professional Athletes

    By:
    K. Eli Akhavan, Esq., and Jonathan I. Shenkman
    |
    Jan 1, 2017

    Financial and legal advisors representing entertainers and professional athletes—“celebrities”—confront unique circumstances not usually present when working with more traditional clients. These challenges include the “sudden wealth” effect, short earnings horizon, inconsistent cash flow, unrestrained spending habits, limited financial literacy, and incompetent advising.

  • The Life Insurance Policy Lapse and Litigation Crisis: What CPAs Need to Know in Order to Avoid a Client Crisis and Create a Glide Path to Safety

    By:
    E. Randolph Whitelaw, AEP Distinguished, and Henry Montag, CFP, CLTC
    |
    Jan 1, 2017

    After more than 35 years of “buyer beware” warnings, why do consumers continue to purchase flexible premium non-guaranteed death benefit life insurance products for a 10 to 50 year planning duration period, assume policy performance risk without knowing the risks to be managed, and forego annual policy performance monitoring—all while knowing there is a high probability that the policy will lapse without value during their lifetimes? 

  • Taxpayer Advocate Service: A Resource for Tax Professionals

    By:
    Kim E. Randle, Acting Local Taxpayer Advocate (LTA)
    |
    Jan 1, 2017

    The IRS's Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) can help you help your clients. If your client is having a tax problem that you haven’t been able to resolve on your own, our advocates may be able to help. Your client may be eligible for our help if his or her IRS problem is causing financial difficulty, or if you believe an IRS procedure just isn't working as it should.

  • Deconstructing Hedge Fund Schedule K-1s for Individuals

    By:
    Suzy Lee, CPA, MST and Stacy L. Palmer, CPA, MBA, MST
    |
    Dec 1, 2016

    Hedge fund K-1s can be voluminous and difficult when determining how to handle the tax treatment of the income and deductions at the individual level. This article will help you navigate K-1s to understand how certain items would impact the tax treatment at the individual level. The first step in determining the proper treatment of income and expense items is to identify whether the partnership is a trader fund, investor fund, or fund of funds.

  • Straddle Identifications: Making the Best out of a Bad Situation

    By:
    Mark Fichtenbaum CPA, JD, LLM
    |
    Dec 1, 2016

    Straddles are defined in IRC section 1092(c) as two or more offsetting positions in personal property. A taxpayer holds offsetting positions with respect to personal property if the taxpayer’s risk of loss from holding any position is substantially reduced by reason of their holding one or more other positions with respect to personal property—whether or not of the same kind. 

  • State Residency for Professional Athletes: Overview and Traps for the Unwary

    By:
    Corey L. Rosenthal, JD
    |
    Dec 1, 2016

    Fall is an amazing time of the year for sports fans. The NFL season is in full swing, the NBA and NHL seasons are beginning, and—of course—baseball’s World Series is played. As both sports enthusiasts and state and local tax professionals, we also focus on how professional athletes must report their taxes to various states.  

Tax Jokes
  

What sort of taxes are there on trash bags? Hefty ones, and no one is Glad about it.

https://parade.com/1317763/jessicasager/accounting-jokes/

*Outside the Box is a new addition to the TaxStringer featuring important articles on financial and investment management topics by top authors who have expertise both inside and outside the realm of taxation.

 

 

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Views expressed in articles published in Tax Stringer are the authors' only and are not to be attributed to the publication, its editors, the NYSSCPA or FAE, or their directors, officers, or employees, unless expressly so stated. Articles contain information believed by the authors to be accurate, but the publisher, editors and authors are not engaged in redering legal, accounting or other professional services. If specific professional advice or assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought.