The IRS recently signaled an increase in scrutiny of attorneys, releasing a comprehensive Attorneys Audit Technique Guide (ATG) for IRS auditors when reviewing attorneys’ returns. The guide pinpoints potential problem areas, as well as procedures, that IRS agents must focus upon when auditing attorney returns. Key areas include: [Read more…] about Attorneys Beware:IRS Targeting You!
Reduce your NJ Unemployment Rates!
All New Jersey employers received this week a Notice of Employer Contribution Rates. It clearly states, “This is not a bill”, but rather a summary of the manner in which the NJ Department of Labor calculates your employer contribution rate for unemployment and disability. Furthermore, this form enables you to determine whether a voluntary contribution would save you, or your clients, money in the subsequent year. A voluntary contribution increases the reserve balance and may reduce your contribution rate. [Read more…] about Reduce your NJ Unemployment Rates!
NJ Office of Taxpayer Advocate Taking Sales & Use Tax Cases
Beginning, Aug. 1, 2011, the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate (OTA) will start considering cases involving sales and use tax. Previously, the OTA had only considered cases that involved gross income tax. To be deemed eligible for OTA assistance, the following conditions must be met:
- You face a threat of immediate adverse action for a disputed liability, or believe that you did not receive adequate notification of the Division’s actions or that the Division’s actions are unwarranted, unfair, or illegal.
- You have experienced a delay of more than 120 days to resolve a tax account problem or in receiving a response to an inquiry to the Division.
- You are experiencing undue hardship or are about to experience undue hardship, which is defined as undue economic harm resulting from the way in which the tax laws, regulations or policies are being administered by the Division of Taxation. Personal or economic inconvenience is not considered undue hardship. [Read more…] about NJ Office of Taxpayer Advocate Taking Sales & Use Tax Cases
Judge Invalidates Tax-Affecting in Estate Business Valuation
Estate of Gallagher V. Commissioner
A recent decision from the U.S. Tax court tackles a myriad of issues pertaining to private company appraisal, most notably the issue of tax-affecting. The case involves the business valuation of a decedent’s minority interest in a privately held newspaper publishing company. The taxpayer’s expert made tax affected adjustments by assuming a 39-percent income tax rate in calculating the company’s future cash flows before discounting the company’s future earnings to their present value. He also assumed a 40 percent marginal tax rate in calculating the applicable discount rate. [Read more…] about Judge Invalidates Tax-Affecting in Estate Business Valuation
Tax Fraud in NJ Divorce Case Reported to IRS
What began as a motion in a divorce case by defendant Chinelo Onyiuke to relocate her children to Maryland resulted in the discovery of fictitious child care expenses deducted on her ex-husband’s personal tax returns. David and Chinelo were divorced in May 2007 with two children. In June 2009, Chinelo filed a motion to relocate with her children to Maryland for both financial and personal reasons. [Read more…] about Tax Fraud in NJ Divorce Case Reported to IRS
Estate Deduction for Caretaker Expense Disallowed by IRS
Estate of Emilia W. Olivo
In a recent estate case, the US Tax Court held that an unrecorded caretaker expense was not deductable from the estate. Mr. Olivia had taken care of Emilia Olivo, his elderly mother, who had numerous health issues and required assistance in the performance of daily tasks for about ten years until her death in April, 2003. Mr. Oliver subsequently became the estate administrator and claimed a deduction of $1,240,000 as a debt that the estate owed him for the care he provided. According to his testimony, his mother agreed to pay him $400 per day with payment deferred until after her death. Mr. Oliver failed, however, to record the agreement in writing, and the deduction was therefore disallowed by the Court. [Read more…] about Estate Deduction for Caretaker Expense Disallowed by IRS