At Around the Tax World, you can find out all about what’s going on in the wonderful, worldwide world of tax. Every month, we’ll feature a few mini-articles on what’s been going on in the world when it comes to tax, and fully available for viewing even if you don’t have a subscription.
If you wish to subscribe and gain access to all articles on the site, be sure to check out the benefits of doing so here!
Check out what’s happening all around the world of tax!
In The Headlines
- Beyoncé is in the business of helping her fans smell great—with the release of her newest perfume. After a 10-year pause in additions to her fragrance line, the famed singer announced a new scent that will cost $160 a bottle. The star first launched her perfume business in 2004, around the same time as other entrepreneurial pop stars like Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Jessica Simpson.
- The investigation of Hunter Biden will tap two senior IRS officials for their testimony. The officials will be questioned about a meeting where a previous attorney investigating Hunter Biden allegedly said he did not have the authority to bring charges against the president’s son. An IRS whistleblower claimed that the Department of Justice would not allow Hunter Biden to be charged in Washington D.C. or California, his most recent places of residence. This development comes after a Delaware judge recently dismissed misdemeanor charges against Hunter Biden.
- Celebrities are now seeking your endorsement… on LinkedIn. The Financial Times reports that more stars are looking to build a business-centered social media following. Ryan Reynolds was recently highlighted as a stand-out account with over 2.5 million followers. Jennifer Lopez is also active on the platform with 400,000 followers. Within the past five years, there has also been a 37% increase in professional sports players joining the networking site, likely looking to distinguish themselves as influencers.
What's New In The Tax World?
Tax code revamps are a key talking point for 2024 presidential candidates
Even tax laws can have expiration dates—and a major one is drawing near in 2025 as the changes introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 come to an end. This means that the next U.S. president will likely take office amid fervent budget debates as Congress decides whether to extend certain tax breaks or revise them altogether. As the current individual tax rates expire, lawmakers will also be revisiting the debt limit and deciding whether to raise it.
As 2024 campaign efforts ramp up, President Joe Biden has repeated his promise from 2020 that no taxpayers earning less than $400,000 will see a tax hike. Moves to tax the wealthy have generally received support from both Democrats and Republicans, according to recent polls. Biden most recently proposed reverting the top individual tax rate back to the 2017 rate of 39.6%, up from the current rate of 37%. Other measures to reduce the national deficit may include increasing corporate tax rates and capital gains taxes and eliminating tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. The “billionaire tax” has also been a talking point for President Biden. This 25% minimum tax would be applied to unrealized capital gains for taxpayers with a net worth of $100 million or higher.
On the other side of the aisle, Republican candidates mostly agree that extending the 2017 tax cuts is a priority. Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, and Mike Pence have all spoken in favor of this. In order to extend these cuts, Republican presidential hopefuls will need a plan for reducing federal spending to cover the cost, which is estimated to total $3.6 trillion over the next 10 years. Candidates will also have to answer to their constituents, since about 43% of Republican voters feel that wealthier Americans do not pay their fair share of taxes, according to a recent poll.
One topic liberals and conservatives seem to agree on is preserving Medicare and Social Security payments. Most other issues continue to be divided along party lines, such as setting amounts for the Child Tax Credit and the standard deduction.
State-By-State Updates
- A new tax in Jacksonville, Florida would raise funds for homeless and domestic violence victims. To fund these social services, the bill introduces a 1% tax on food and beverage sold at all restaurants that serve alcohol. The proposal would also impose a 2% tax on food and beverage sold at hotels and motels, which would fund tourism promotion for Jacksonville. A similar tax exists in Miami-Dade County and currently generates $40 million a year. Some restaurant owners have expressed concern about the new tax given ongoing inflation, labor shortages, and the after-effects of COVID-19.
- Minnesota residents are receiving a happy tax surprise in the form of income tax rebates. The rebates are part of a plan to return some of the state’s $17.6 billion budget surplus to lower and middle income taxpayers. Single filers with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less received rebates of $260 each, while married couples filing jointly who earned less than $150,000 received $520. Families received up to $1,300 depending on the number of dependents in their household. The state is still awaiting a final ruling from the IRS on whether the rebates will be taxable.
- As many as 140,000 Maryland taxpayers may be eligible for overlooked tax credits. These “forgotten” credits include the Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit program and the Renters’ Property Tax Credit. To qualify, homeowners and renters must meet certain age, income, or other legal requirements. In 2021, over 37,000 homeowners received an average tax credit of $1,501, and renters received an average of $450. Taxpayers must apply every year to receive the credit, and the credit will come via a refund check. This year’s deadline is October 1st.
- North Dakota’s FARGODOME could receive a $131 million facelift if taxpayers vote on “yes” on a tax increase. The stadium hosts around 3,000 events per year, such as NDSU football, major concerts, and regional sporting events. Proposed renovations on the 31-year-old building include more restrooms, meeting rooms, elevators, and accessible seating, as well as expanded space on the concourse. To enable these changes, $30 million will be taken from the FARGODOME’s permanent fund, and the rest would be funded by an increase to the city’s sales tax and lodging tax—if this measure is approved in the special election on December 5th.
Tax Planning Tips
The new 1% stock buyback tax adds up to $3.5 billion for the largest U.S. companies. Implemented at the start of 2023, the stock buyback tax was a late addition to the Inflation Reduction Act. The levy applies to net buybacks, which is equal to the total shares a company repurchases minus new shares issued during the year. The underlying goal is to make taxation for buybacks more comparable to dividends and other means of returning investments to shareholders.
So far, the tax has not significantly slowed down company buybacks. In the first quarter of 2023, the tax collected $1.98 billion from S&P 500 companies. That number dropped in the second quarter to $1.6 billion, but this still amounts to 0.34% of companies’ collective operating income. Over the next decade, the tax is projected to raise $74 billion that will go toward expanded federal programs.
For now, the IRS has suspended reporting and payment requirements related to this tax until the agency is ready to publish guidance. This means companies will owe the 1% tax but will not have to pay it until the IRS provides more information. By the time this happens, the buyback tax could see an increase. President Biden has already suggested quadrupling the rate, and a group of Democratic senators proposed a bill in this vein. However, analysts say that given the divisions in Congress, a compromise of around 2% is more likely to be approved.
When should taxpayers have to report Venmo and PayPal payments? The debate continues. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 significantly changed the threshold for reporting. Previously, taxpayers only had to report yearly totals over $20,000 and more than 200 transactions—now total payments over $600 must be reported, even if that amounts to a single transaction. Companies like Venmo, PayPal, and ecommerce sites like eBay or Etsy will have to send 1099-K forms to all taxpayers who meet this threshold.
A number of lawmakers are proposing changes to this rule, hoping to get a new threshold approved before the end of the tax year. The House Ways and Means Committee has put forth legislation to shift the thresholds back to the 2022 levels, and a bill introduced in the Senate would lower the reporting amount to $10,000.
With the rise of the gig economy, form 1099-K has come under increased scrutiny. Though the reporting requirements do not apply to personal transfers, such as sending a friend or family member money, many have expressed concern that taxpayers could easily receive a 1099-K by mistake and have to spend time untangling messes. The American Institute of CPAs issued a statement agreeing that the new, lower threshold could cause undue stress and confusion and supporting a higher threshold.
Even amid the pushback, tax laws may not change before 2024, so experts recommend preparing your tax documentation if you are likely to receive a 1099-K. Regardless of the rules for third-party payments, business transactions overall remain taxable.
NOT A MEMBER YET?
SUBSCRIBE TO GET ALL OF OUR
GREAT ARTICLES AND RESOURCES!
CURRENT EDITION
The Hidden Benefits of Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) for High-Net-Worth Families
For wealthy families, the world of finance can feel like a high-stakes chess game. With increasing state and federal income tax rates, new tax laws on the horizon, and the complexities of private investments like hedge funds, finding ways to grow and transfer wealth efficiently is more important than ever. Enter life insurance—a tool not just for its traditional role of providing death benefits but as a strategic ally in tax-efficient wealth management. In particular, Private Placement Life Insurance (PPLI) offers unique advantages that make it a worthy consideration for those with sophisticated financial needs and significant liquidity.
The Cryptocurrency Basis Day of Reckoning is Upon Us
Late on a Friday afternoon at the end of June 2024, the IRS dropped nearly 400 pages of new Digital Asset (née Cryptocurrency) Guidance. Most of it related to the forthcoming form 1099-DA. Along with the massive tome of terrible bedside reading, the service also published two new Notices and a Revenue Procedure. The Notices were about boring stuff, like temporary penalty abatement for backup withholding on digital asset transactions. This Revenue Procedure, however, will impact nearly every taxpayer that owned crypto prior to January 1, 2025. This procedure, RP 2024-28, has gone largely unnoticed thus far. On the surface, it seems like a godsend to taxpayers. Below the surface though, it is a ticking time bomb.
Reflecting On Syndicated Conservation Easements
In late June, IRS announced it would be mailing out a time-limited settlement offer that would allow taxpayers who are haunted by an investment in a syndicated conservation easement to settle. As I write this, the terms of the settlement have leaked. They strike me as overly generous. It does seem that the syndicated easement campaign of the IRS is coming to a close.