This is a question that we encounter with some frequency in the context of family-owned corporations, and the backdrop against which the issue arises is not uncommon.
In the Beginning
The older generation may have acquired a building many years ago, either as an investment that would generate a stream of rental income from unrelated
The Passive Loss Rules
In general, if a taxpayer’s aggregate losses from passive activities exceed the taxpayer’s aggregate income from passive activities for the taxable year, the excess losses may not be deducted against other income for that taxable year. Such excess losses are suspended and are carried forward, to be treated as deductions from
When A Business Fails
It goes without saying that no one goes into business in order to realize a loss. Unfortunately, not all businesses succeed, and many owners suffer significant losses. The challenge presented for the tax adviser to the business is how to best utilize those losses for income tax purposes and, thereby, to
It is not unusual for a closely-held business or for its owners to issue or transfer equity in the business to a third party in order to raise necessary funding for the business or to secure the services of someone with a certain expertise. In most cases, where the equity transfer is made by the
Don’t miss Part I, here!
Taxable Gift Transfers
In general, where property is transferred for less than an adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth, the amount by which the value of the property exceeded the value of the consideration is deemed a gift. A necessary corollary of this provision is
“One Day, Lad, All This Will Be Yours.”
Many a closely-held business was created before its founder became a parent or when the founder’s children were still very young. As the business grew, and as the founder’s children matured, the founder may have entertained the notion of eventually having her children take over the business.
Related Party Expenses
It is not unusual for one close corporation to pay the expenses incurred by a related corporation or business. There are many circumstances in which such a payment may occur, but they share one overriding theme: the related corporations view themselves – or, more properly, their owners view them – as a
Make sure you check out Part I before reading below…
The Bigger Picture
In addition to the SCIN-specific issues, the complaint touches on a number of themes of which every estate-planning adviser – and every client – should be aware.
The Facts Matter
An adviser should assume that the IRS will scrutinize the estate plan
What would you do?
The decedent was an extremely wealthy man, with a net worth in excess of $3 billion. You are the executor of his estate.
Prior to his death in 2009, he retained one of the top tax firms in the country to review his existing estate plan.
Under his existing plan, which
Constructive Dividends
In the last several weeks, I have seen a number of examples of what are commonly referred to as “constructive dividends,” including a corporation’s satisfaction of the personal expenses of its shareholders.
Unlike a regular dividend distribution, a constructive dividend does not involve the formal declaration of a dividend by the corporation, followed