Plan now to make tax-smart year-end gifts to loved ones

November 16, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

Are you feeling generous at year end? Taxpayers can transfer substantial amounts free of gift taxes to their children or other recipients each year through the proper use of the annual exclusion. The exclusion amount is adjusted for inflation annually, and for 2022, the amount is $16,000. The exclusion covers gifts that an individual makes … Read More

U.S. Treasury: Racial Equity Advisory

November 16, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

The U.S. Treasury Dept. recently formed a 25-member racial equity advisory committee. Among its goals are to “advance racial equity in the economy and address acute disparities for communities of color,” according to a statement. “Our current tax structures keep resources where they are and perpetuate the under-resourcing of certain communities,” one committee member said. … Read More

2022 – 11/04 – IRS: Office of Appeals

November 15, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

CPAs often are frustrated when working with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals on their clients’ behalf. On Nov. 2, committee members from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants met with the IRS to discuss their issues. The CPAs said there’s often a “disconnect” between Appeals Officers (AOs) and their decision-making superiors. Issue coordinators … Read More

How inflation will affect your 2022 and 2023 tax bills

November 14, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

The effects of inflation are all around. You’re probably paying more for gas, food, health care and other expenses than you were last year. Are you wondering how high inflation will affect your federal income tax bill for 2023? The IRS recently announced next year’s inflation-adjusted tax amounts for several provisions. Some highlights Standard deduction. … Read More

IRS: Tax Fraud and Evasion

November 14, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI’s) special agents spend close to 70% of their time investigating crimes such as tax evasion and tax fraud and the rest investigating money laundering and drug trafficking. These facts and more are documented in the just-released IRS-CI 2022 Annual Report. In fiscal year 2022, IRS-CI agents identified more than $31 billion … Read More

New Markets Tax Credit

November 12, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced $5 billion in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) awards. The NMTC Program allows taxpayers to receive a nonrefundable tax credit against federal income tax for making equity investments in Community Development Entities (CDEs). CDEs that receive the tax credit allocation authority under the program are domestic corporations or partnerships … Read More

U.S. Treasury – Energy Efficient Deductions

November 11, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

Several nonprofits are concerned that the standard used by builders to claim a tax deduction for energy-efficient buildings is outdated. The Inflation Reduction Act expanded the standard under Code Sec. 179D. But in a recent letter to the U.S. Treasury Department, four organizations claim that although the new law reduced to 25% the savings threshold … Read More

Separating your business from its real estate

November 10, 2022By Smeriglio Associates LLCNews

Does your business need real estate to conduct operations? Or does it otherwise hold property and put the title in the name of the business? You may want to rethink this approach. Any short-term benefits may be outweighed by the tax, liability and estate planning advantages of separating real estate ownership from the business. Tax … Read More