Tax Archives

Section 1031 Exchange Into Jointly-Held Partnership Property

The Section 1031 exchange rules can help real estate investors defer paying tax on the transfer of property. Many real estate investors use these rules to upgrade their real estate portfolio over time. This tax deferral can be helpful as monies that would have been paid to the IRS in taxes can be rolled into…

When is Real Estate Placed in Service?

Several tax laws are triggered by when property is purchased. Other tax laws are triggered when property is placed in service. Depreciation on real estate is a good example. It is triggered when property is purchased and placed in service. The capitalized costs are then expensed, usually. These dates raise questions about whether property is…

Reporting Illegal Income to the IRS (It’s All About Choices)

Assume you commit a crime and receive a financial windfall. Then you get caught and have to repay the windfall in the form of restitution. Further assume that you have three options when it comes to reporting and paying tax on the illegal income: (1) you file tax returns to report the income and you…

Divorce Planning for Those With IRS Back Taxes

The IRS often audits tax years where there is some change. This includes mergers, significant asset transfers, deaths or even divorces. The reason why it does this is that these transitions create opportunities for savvy taxpayers or pitfalls for the unwary. These transitions also create motives and introduce new parties to income or assets that…

IRS Documentation for Travel Expenses

Business travel expenses are deductible. These are expenses for business trips and work trips, such as car and truck expenses, airfare and hotels and lodging. It can also include travel meals. Those looking to deduct business trip expenses are running a risk as the IRS frequently disallows these expenses on audit. It does so even…

Do Vacation Rentals Trigger Self-Employment Tax?

Short-term rental or vacation rental properties have increased in popularity. They are also popular investments. This includes real estate rented on Airbnb and its competitors, such as Vrbo, Booking.com, Tripadvisor, Agoda, Expedia, TUI Villas, TravelStaytion, HomeToGo, Plum Guide, and Google. Taxes are one reason for the increase in popularity. Short-term rentals can provide a number…

Defining Real Estate Activities Broadly

There are quite a few uses for raw land. It can be used for just about any type of business activity. If someone purchases raw land and starts to take steps to prepare the land for a business, how one characterizes the intended business use can allow or limit the deductions related to the property.…

S Corporation Election Not Signed by Community Property Spouse is Valid

There are tax implications for just about everything we do. Even simple business transactions present tax opportunities and pitfalls. While we prefer to focus on tax opportunities, we also spend a lot of time fixing tax problems. We are in Texas, which is a community property state. So one issue we see over and over…

Can a Self-Directed IRA Hold Gold Coins?

Precious metals IRAs are popular. This includes silver IRAs, gold Roth IRAs, and even gold-backed IRAs. These accounts allow investors to invest in these alternative assets. This in turn allows the investors to diversify their exposure to stocks and bonds. For those with special interests and knowledge to make these investments, they can also allow…

Business Condo Association Denied Non-Profit Status

Non-profits do not pay Federal income taxes. Many states also exempt these entities from state income taxes. The local tax assessor may also exempt the entity from property taxes. The IRS regulates non-profits by denying non-profit status to entities. It also has a whole regime of penalties and excise taxes to deter for-profit entities from…