Jason Dinesen, CPA, Author at Think Outside the Tax Box

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Jason Dinesen, CPA

Jason Dinesen is an enrolled agent and a licensed public accountant in Iowa. Jason prepares around 225 tax returns every year, so he sees a lot of different things in his practice. Jason is a CPE presenter to other accountants, presenting almost every day on dozens of tax topics. Jason is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, and has served as president of the Iowa Society of Enrolled Agents multiple times, including right now. Prior to starting his own practice in 2009, Jason worked for a third-party administrator of retirement plans, where he worked with terminations of qualified plans. In his free time, Jason tinkers with the audio equipment and software in his in-home studio he presents from. Jason is a native Iowan, an Iowa Hawkeye football fan, and an aficionado of the Battle of the Little Bighorn (Custer’s Last Stand). He and his wife have two boys in 7th grade and 4th grade, who keep him plenty busy when not dealing with taxes.

READ MORE BY Jason Dinesen, CPA

To Lease or to Buy: What is the Best Option with Business Vehicles?

Buying a vehicle is a way to potentially receive a large tax deduction, but is it always the best thing to do? What about buying versus leasing? The tax code treats vehicles differently from other types of assets and business expenses, so it helps to make sure you’re informed when thinking about using your vehicle to reduce your tax liability.

Background

A vehicle purchase by a business is treated as the purchase of an asset. This means you can deduct part of the expense each year in the form of depreciation deductions. Vehicles also might qualify for accelerated depreciation methods. In this current era of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and 100% bonus depreciation, that means a 100% deduction when you buy a vehicle … right? Not so fast.

Section 280F of the Tax Code places restrictions on depreciation deductions for vehicles. The terminology used in this section of the Code is “luxury vehicle” (in fact the title of §280F is “Limitation on depreciation for luxury automobiles”), but this is a misleading term.

When we think of “luxury vehicle” we likely think of a high-end vehicle. But the reality is, the tax law defines such a vehicle as any 4-wheeled vehicle with an unloaded gross vehicle weight of 6,000 pounds or less. I bet you didn’t think your 5 year old minivan with high mileage falls into the “luxury vehicle category,” but it can! This means you may be limited in how much you can write off against your taxable income.

Can leasing a vehicle work as a way to get around the §280F limitations? The IRS has thought about that too. But keep reading – we’ll give you some loopholes that work around the luxury auto limitation and help you decide if leasing or buying your next vehicle will help you pay less in tax.

Read More

Net Operating Loss Changes and the CARES Act: Planning Opportunities for 2020 Returns

One bright side to losing money in your business is your ability to at least use those losses as a tax deduction against other income you may have. Unfortunately due to tax reform it shredded your ability to claim NOLs after 2017 to 80% of taxable income – it all eliminated the opportunity to carry back these losses to get refunds. We’ve still been reeling from both of these changes.

The CARES Act changed net operating losses (NOLs) in a major way to make usage of an NOL more taxpayer friendly … for a limited time. Because the changes are retroactive to 2018, this gives you the opportunity for 3 years of losses to provide much needed relief. The Treasury even provided a fast track to cash – keep reading to find out how.

Read More

CURRENT EDITION

OBBBA Rundown: Provisions Affecting Individuals for 2025

Enacted into law on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the biggest set of tax law changes since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The provisions discussed in this article impact individual taxpayers for tax year 2025 and must be considered immediately for proactive tax planning purposes, future tax withholding, and estimated tax payment calculations. Clients have questions, and we can generally give them the answers they seek; however, some will require future IRS guidance for complete clarity.

OBBBA Rundown: Provisions Affecting Businesses for 2025

Enacted into law on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is the biggest set of tax law changes since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The provisions discussed in this article impact business taxpayers for tax year 2025 and must be considered immediately for proactive tax planning purposes, future tax withholding, and estimated tax payment calculations. Clients have questions, and we can generally give them the answers they seek; however, some will require future IRS guidance for complete clarity.

Big, Beautiful, and Oh So Salty: SALT and the OBBBA

The SALT cap has been one of the most argued pieces of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as it has been making its way toward passage. Actually, tax professionals and politicians have been talking about the SALT cap (and looking for ways around it) since it was enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As most of you are aware, most TCJA provisions were set to expire at the end of 2025, including the SALT cap. We take a look at where they stand now.

  • NOT A MEMBER YET?

    SUBSCRIBE TO GET ALL OF OUR
    GREAT ARTICLES AND RESOURCES!

  • 2025 Spring Fling Webinar Event

    As we prepared our 4th Annual Summer Education Series, our friends at Sandy Bay challenged us to go bigger and do even more live events than we originally planned. So, we did! We are proud to present Think Outside the Tax Box's first ever “Spring Fling” live webinar event. As a monthly or annual subscriber, this webinar is 100% exclusive, and free to you! Every webinar comes with free continuing education credits for those who qualify! Keep reading for more details...

    Read More

    2025 Summer Education Series Event Calendar

    We are thrilled to bring you the 2025 Summer Education Series, sponsored by Vistia! All summer long we will be bringing our loyal subscribers monthly webinars featuring some of the brightest minds in tax. Each webinar will feature our usual blend of high-quality education and entertainment and include continuing education credits for those who qualify. All of this is included in your regular subscription! Continue reading to see what we have in store...

    Read More

    TAX COURT ROUNDUP – May 2025

    Once again, Tax Court provides slices of life as well as hyper-technical drilldowns into convoluted legal conundrums. To any who say that tax law is dull, I refer them to the annals of 400 Second Street, NW, where anything goes.

    Read More

    The Rise of Post-Cognitive Tax Accounting: Embracing a New Frontier in 2027 (or Sooner!)

    The year is 2027, and the landscape of tax accounting has undergone a dramatic transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has automated many traditional tasks once considered the bedrock of the profession. Yet, contrary to fears of widespread job losses among tax preparers, this technological revolution has ushered in a new era – Post-Cognitive Tax Accounting. This paradigm shift is redefining the role of tax professionals, opening opportunities to explore uncharted territories that leverage human intuition, creativity, and strategic insight.

    Read More

    How to Help Your Clients Maximize College Financial Aid

    College tuition continues to climb, and for many families, financial aid can make or break their ability to afford their child’s higher education dreams. What most don’t realize is that their tax return — filed long before students even begin applying for college — plays a major role in determining how much financial aid they’ll receive. This is where you come in. Tax professionals and financial planners are uniquely positioned to help clients qualify for more college financial aid. But only if you know what to look for.

    Read More

    Freelancer Deductions: What You Might Be Missing and What You Need to Remember

    Even savvy freelancers often miss deductions that could significantly reduce tax liability. The IRS offers legitimate ways for freelancers to deduct business-related costs, but it’s not always obvious which expenses qualify and which ones cross the line into nondeductible territory. This confusion is made worse when we see some of the terrible advice from so-called “experts” on social media. In this article, we’ll explore the most commonly missed deductions for freelancers, highlight real-world examples, and review what tax professionals need to keep in mind when advising these clients.

    Read More
    Client Alert

    What You Need to Know About the Proposed Trump Savings Accounts

    Tucked inside the narrowly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending package, is a provision that’s drawing media attention: the creation of a new tax-deferred investment account called a Trump Account. A proposed $1,000 “baby bonus” tied to the account only adds to the intrigue. While the reconciliation bill primarily focuses on extending the 2017 tax cuts and reshuffling federal spending priorities, this unexpected addition could offer new planning opportunities for taxpayers.

    Read More

    The Rise of Post-Cognitive Tax: Unlocking Enterprise Potential: How Post-Cognitive Accountants Transform Business Tax Forms into Strategic Masterpieces

    In the transformative landscape of 2027, the role of the accountant has transcended traditional boundaries. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) shouldering the burden of routine calculations and compliance checks, the Post-Cognitive Accountant emerges as a strategic visionary. No longer confined to the mechanics of number crunching, these professionals reimagine business tax forms—such as the Form 1120 for corporations—into dynamic portals that unlock untapped enterprise potential. Let's embark on an exploratory journey through a corporate tax return, revealing how each line item becomes a gateway to innovation, growth, and holistic success.

    Read More
    1 55 56 57 58 59
    error: <b>Alert:</b> Content is protected !!