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The Dealer Vs Investor Problem for Real Estate Capital Gains
I remember trying to explain the dealer versus investor concept to a would-be real estate entrepreneur. I asked him whether he was holding the property for sale. He kind of looked at me and smiled and said “Everything is for sale. It just depends on how much.”. If there is any ambiguity it is easy to know what the answer is after the fact. If there was a big gain relative to expenses then you were an investor. If there was a loss, then you were a dealer. Unfortunately, you really are not supposed to practice that way. I am going to assume that you want investor status and that you are blessed with a gain. What can you do to make sure the IRS respects your investor status?
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CURRENT EDITION
Worrisome Messages Subtly Delivered Via Recent Tax Developments
Tax professionals are inundated with tax developments from all branches of the government and from all levels of government on a daily basis. Our technical tax knowledge expands weekly. Given the immensity of tax law changes in P.L. 119-21 (July 4, 2025), informally named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and the guidance we’ll continue to get over the next few years along with non-OBBBA updates, we might run out of time and bandwidth to step back and ask what additional relevance this guidance, as well as various reports issued by the government every day, mean for the well-being of our tax system. This article unpacks select tax law changes and government documents to offer four subtle messages within them. Generally, the messages don’t bode well for an effective tax and revenue system. The article ends with some suggestions on what can help improve our tax system.
Sirius Solutions and the S Corp or Partnership Choice
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion in Sirius Solutions L.L.L.P. v. Commissioner may change our views of entity choice. If the decision holds up, partnerships will be able to effectively make the portion of limited partner income subject to self-employment tax whatever they want, including zero. This contrasts with the IRS position upheld by the Tax Court in Soroban Capital that treated all of the income of limited partners who were active in the business as self-employment income.
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Get a taste of our comprehensive tax planning insights with four featured articles, free for everyone.
2026 Summer Education Series Event Calendar
Think Outside the Tax Box is thrilled to bring you the 2026 Summer Education Series, sponsored by Sandy Bay! The fifth installment of this beloved annual series, we will be bringing our loyal subscribers monthly webinars featuring some of the brightest minds in tax all summer long. Each webinar will
Contracts, Signing Bonuses, and the Substantial Presence Test
In tighter job markets, recruits are often offered signing bonuses (and sometimes moving expenses) to join a firm. Sometimes construction workers temporarily relocate to jobs in other states while they are employed by the company that hired them in their home state. This article reviews some of the foundational tax
Start the Year Right: Your WISP Doesn’t Have to Be a Tax Season Nightmare
The mere mention of a WISP makes most tax professionals want to suddenly lose their internet connection. It sounds bureaucratic, technical, and deeply unfun. But here’s the good news: creating and maintaining a WISP does not have to feel like a compliance root canal. And ignoring it can turn into
The Corporate Vault: How to Use a C Corporation to Stockpile Cash for the Future
When most people think about saving for the future, their minds jump to retirement accounts—401(k)s, IRAs, maybe even defined benefit plans. But business owners have another option that often goes overlooked: using a C corporation as a strategic savings vehicle. By leveraging the flat 21% corporate tax rate, smart income
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Inventory Expensing and The Cash Method: Changes from the TCJA
Join Lucien P. Gauthier as we discuss these two changes made by the TCJA in depth.
Taking the Mystery Out of Revised Energy Credits for Individuals
Learn valuable tips to help your clients claim the new residential energy and electric vehicle credits.
Tax Season 911
Your preparedness plan to create tax savings and survive the busiest of times without falling into old habits!
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Featured Authors
Amber Gray-Fenner is an Enrolled Agent and tax practitioner specializing in tax returns, planning, and representation for individuals and small businesses. She owns Tax Therapy, LLC in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Matt Metras, EA, owns MDM Financial Services in NY, specializing in bookkeeping and taxation for cryptocurrency clients. He’s an educator on cryptocurrency taxation and actively engages in community advocacy.
Jeff Stimpson, has been a tax and finance writer for 25 years. Hee contributes to publications like Accounting Today and Financial Advisor. His other credits include sales tax, technology, and practice management, residing in New York.
Annette Nellen is a professor and tax program director at San José State University, with extensive involvement in tax organizations and a focus on tax policy, cryptocurrency, and education.
Peter J Reilly graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, worked in CPA firms like Joseph B Cohan and Associates and CCR LLP, and now runs a tax practice while writing for Forbes.com.
Thomas Gorczynski, EA USTCP CTP, is a tax expert known for speaking and educating on federal tax law. He’s editor-in-chief of EA Journal, co-author of the PassKey Learning Systems EA Review Series, and runs a tax practice in Phoenix, Arizona.
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