Edition 95

On December 3, 2024, a U.S. District Court judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction prohibiting FinCEN from enforcing the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its associated Reporting Rule. This injunction halts the January 1, 2025, deadline for Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting, leaving many tax professionals and business entities questioning their compliance obligations. However, this pause is temporary. The government has already filed an appeal, and the injunction could be modified or overturned at any time. FinCEN has acknowledged that reporting companies are not currently required to file BOI reports but may do so voluntarily.

There are roughly 42.7 million federal student loan borrowers as of Q4 2024, creating an opportunity to provide additional insight to your clients beyond tax preparation. By leveraging certain tax and repayment strategies, you can help your clients reduce their tax liability and lower their student loan payments in one strategic swoop. Here’s how.

When people reach out to me about reducing their tax bill, there are two things that they bring up. The first is starting an LLC, and the second is converting their business to an S-Corp. When I ask why they think an S-Corp will help, the common knee jerk reaction response is to eliminate self-employment tax. It is true that their net income will no longer be subject to self- employment tax and neither will their distributions. However, what they fail to learn in their S-Corp online class from YouTube university is that they need to be on payroll if they are working in the business. Not only that, but they also need to receive reasonable compensation while on payroll. So, what happens if they go a year or two without being on payroll before they find this out? The TFRP is the biggest ouch a business owner can face and threatens to close businesses each year. It's the penalty that business owners pay for stealing from their employees and the IRS. To better understand it, let's look at what the trust fund is, how the IRS calculates the penalty, and who is responsible.

Just a few new developments out of United States Tax Court in November. Technical issues predominate in this short working month.

Tax scams come in many shapes and sizes. Some schemes aim to steal money or identities, while others present as legitimate-looking investment opportunities with promises of reducing tax bills. These offers often come from law firms, investment groups, financial advisors, and even sophisticated organizations. They tempt taxpayers with strategies like inflated art donation deductions, film investments, and even Native American Tax Credits. The IRS advises taxpayers to consult independent tax or legal professionals to avoid falling prey to aggressive promoters. But as tax planners, how do we determine if a strategy is legitimate? Who do we consult so we can understand the difference between a scam and a scheme? Think Outside the Tax Box of course! One popular scheme being whispered about in tax conferences this year is the so-called "Tribal Tax Credits." It’s been a hot topic, with many professionals asking about its legitimacy. Let's dive into the details to better understand this intriguing yet questionable opportunity.