Well over half say they would back Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s plan to tax those with more than $50 million in assets, a survey finds. To read the full article in CNBC, click: Millionaires Support Proposed Tax on Large Wealth: Tax Strategy Scan. ...

The Internal Revenue Service has announced it is lowering to 80% from 85% the amount taxpayers must have paid to escape an underpayment of estimated income tax penalty for 2018. The usual rule requires at least a 90% payment of tax shown on the return. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: IRS Expands Relief from Underpayment Penalty. ...

The IRS posted a draft of a form that affected taxpayers will submit with their 2019 tax returns showing how they computed their qualified business income (QBI) deduction under Sec. 199A. Taxpayers who have QBI, qualified real estate investment trust (REIT) dividends, or qualified income from a publicly traded partnership (PTP) will use Form 8995, Qualified Business Income Deduction Simplified Computation, ...

Tax planning is a constant consideration for wealthy individuals, not a once-a-year process, said Lisa Featherngill, CPA, PFS. Wealthy clients can use several strategies to manage their tax bills, including creating conservation easements, setting up LLCs to manage investments, and using defined-benefit plans. Looking for more tax strategies for your clients? Use this checklist to help find tax and financia ...

There’s an acronym few financial advisors are familiar with—but they absolutely should get to know.  DAPTs, the abbreviation for self-settled domestic asset protection trusts, can play an important role in planning for both income and estate taxes. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: The Vital Tax Planning Tool Few Advisors Know. ...

Some planners are adding language to grantor trusts that allows trustees to pay taxes directly or to reimburse grantors.  This can dissuade grantors from turning off grantor trust status entirely, but there are certain IRS rules to consider. To read the full article in WealthManagement, click: Where are all the Grantor Trust Reimbursement Statutes? ...

Try this Tactic to Minimize Generation-Skipping Taxes Generation-skipping taxes and other issues can complicate the process of transferring wealth from one generation to another.  William Kriesel, CPA, PFS, explains how giving relatives a partnership interest in a family business can overcome some of these challenges. To read the full article in The CPA Journal, click: Accomplishing Estate Planning Goals th ...

When helping clients claim Social Security benefits, past planning strategies may act as the best guides.  Over the last several months, we published dozens of stories including insight from advisers and analysts on Social Security planning tips and strategies.  Some of these include insight related to long-term funding issues, clients working abroad, evaluating the impact of taxes as well as tips for deali ...

Knowing what to do when your client receives a notice from the Internal Revenue Service can be a useful skill.  Here are 13 pointers, from what to do when the IRS sends a notice of deficiency to whether to extend the statute of limitation. To read the full article in The Tax Adviser, click: IRS Notice Response Tips Everyone Should Know. ...

How to Get Ready for the 2016 Filing Season As taxes get more complex, the to-do list to prepare for next year gets longer.  Annette Nellen, Esq., CPA, CGMA, looks at recent developments and discusses what tax practitioners can do to get ready. To read the full article in The Tax Adviser, click: Preparing for the 2016 Filing Season. ...

Plus: Bishop v. Commissioner Rules on When and Whether a Bad Debt Loss Can Be a Claimed Deduction In Schwab v. Commissioner, a case turns on when a variable universal life insurance policy is a taxable event.  In Boone Operations Co., LLC v. Commissioner, find out when contributing fill dirt to the city of Tucson is or isn’t a charitable or taxable event. ...