There are times when I really would like to know the story behind the story. And that is the case with CCA 202352018. The only good thing about not knowing the story behind the story is that I get to make one up. The CCA is about one of the funniest oxymorons in the tax field. It concerns an intentionally defective grantor trust (IDGT). That is serious competition for my favorite tax oxymoron – passive activities. Let’s start out with some background on IDGT. This piece is mainly for the income tax preparers who have to deal with the implications of this fancy planning rather than the fancy planners.
Lessons Learned from the Tax Court: An Olive Branch in Tax Court
Matt Metras, EA
“Everything is deductible until the audit” is an adage frequently repeated in the tax preparation industry. Generally, it’s mentioned tongue-in-cheek, but today’s taxpayer (and her tax pro boyfriend) may have taken it a bit too literally. Additionally, cutting corners may seem like a time-saving strategy in the moment, but the potential to backfire can’t be ignored. In this case, the taxpayer is about to learn things the hard way.
