Feature Article

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law on December 22, 2017, is favorable to businesses of all types – corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. The TCJA reduced C corporation taxes to a flat rate of 21 percent, down from a gradua... Gil Charney, CPA/PFS, CFP, CGMA, CMA, MBA

Feature Article

I have been preparing income tax returns for more than forty years. During that time, there have been many changes as to how nonbusiness interest expense has been treated on Schedule A of a client’s personal income tax returns, Form 1040. In my first couple tax ... C. Dale Boushley, EA, CFP

Tax Court

Roberta Birdsong and William H. Birdsong, Petitioner v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Respondent T.C. Memo 2018-148 | Filed September 10, 2018 A passive activity is one that involves the conduct of any trade or business in which the taxpayer does not mater... Steven R. Diamond, CPA

Practice Builder

It seems that every time I talk to other tax professionals, they are worried about the changes in our industry and what is coming on the horizon. I know of four seasoned professionals who have retired primarily because they do not want to deal with the tax code changes i... Jennifer Brown, EA

My EA Journey

I started on the path to becoming an enrolled agent (EA) in 2004 when I took an H&R Block tax training course. I was newly married and had purchased my first house, so I thought that taking a tax preparation class would help me to understand my own financial situation better. I fell ... Steven Heeley, EA

Feature Article

The sweeping changes of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) have prompted a reconsideration of many financial plans. The realm of estate planning will be especially affected by the TCJA’s doubling of the federal estate tax exemption. The author presents a hyp... Martin Shenkman, CPA/PFS, JD, AEP

Expert Notes

When the IRS added the de minimis safe harbor (DMSH) election to the repair and capitalization regulations, practitioners rejoiced. Use of this election allows our clients to immediately expense small asset purchases provided that the asset cost is $2,500 or... Thomas A. Gorczynski, EA, CTC, USTCP

Feature Article

This topic can easily occupy several hours. So, what is all the hype about? Qualified business income (QBI) qualifies a small business to deduct up to 20 percent off its net income. This is income that normally gets reported on Form 1040. This includes sole proprietors, andlords, farmers, p... Ben A. Tallman, EA, USTCP

Feature Article

Please remember that this article was written in late September based on the draft forms available at that time. Some changes may have occurred between that date and the publishing of this article. Line 7 Wages. Line 21 — Other income. Lines 37 and 38 – adjusted gross income (AG... Beth Logan, EA

Capitol Corner

The Nevada Society of Enrolled Agents (NVSEA) challenged the July 1, 2017, enactment of Nevada Assembly Bill 324 (AB 324), which captured enrolled agents under the state’s definition of “document preparation service.” Nevada First Judicial District Court Judge James Wilson... Justin Edwards

Payroll Corner

The taxes that have been withheld from employees’ pay during the year, and the employer’s matching Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) contribution, have been reported to the IRS quarterly on Form 941. Everything, except the employer’s matching FICA contribution, mu... Alice Gilman, Esq.