The Stock Sale as a Sham Transaction

Taxpayers are continually seeking ways to avoid or minimize their tax liabilities. And rightfully so, as taxes take a significant amount of profit or gain from any deal or effort. Take the case of a lawsuit award. You sue someone and settle or win the case. There are nuances, but generally, you are usually taxed…

The Broad Reach of the Economic Substance Doctrine

Avoiding Hobby Loss Limits For Long-term Projects

Congress provides tax incentives to change taxpayer behavior. If a taxpayer changes their behavior to take advantage of the incentive, they have to do so carefully. The IRS and the courts can apply the economic substance doctrine to take away the tax benefit. This doctrine can apply to more transactions than what one would consider…

Intercompany Fee Arrangement Lacks Economic Substance

Line Of Credit Standby Fees, To Deduct Or To Capitalize?

If the employees and owners of a profitable C corporation set up a related entity and lease the employee-owner’s services back to the C corporation, can the C corporation deduct the payments?  Taking it a step further, what if the related entity is owned by a retirement plan so that most of the payments by…

Court Considers Economic Substance in S Corp Transactions

Subchapter S Corporation Losses Limited By Tax Basis

The IRS challenges some tax positions by asserting that the transactions lack economic substance. This can allow the government to unwind or ignore transactions that comply with our tax laws if there is no legitimate business purpose for the transactions other than tax savings. There is a growing body of court cases that helps define…