Month: July 2019

Tax Deduction for Classic or Antique Cars Used in Business

Question

I enjoy your articles on the dollars-and-cents aspects of buying antique furniture for use in a business.

It would be interesting if you could give an example of, say, buying an antique or a classic car versus a new car as a business-use vehicle. Let’s say a 1972 Pontiac GTO versus a 2019 Lexus GS.

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New Opportunities for Deferring Taxable Gains: Qualified Opportunity Zones 101

What are Qualified Opportunity Zones and how can I benefit as a taxpayer?

Recently, I’ve had many clients – individuals, business owners, and investors – ask me about the recent buzz surrounding Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). They’ve come to me saying they’ve heard that QOZs can help them defer…and even reduce…their tax liability on capital gains.

The first thing I tell them is, yes, all of the above is true. Next? I warn them that it’s complicated, like many of the tax regulations that have emerged from 2018’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. You must consult with a qualified CPA to ensure you’re following proper protocol required for reaping the rewards of investing in a Qualified Opportunity Zone.

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IRS Ends Tax Transcript Fax and Third-Party Services

Due to ongoing efforts to protect taxpayers from identity thieves, the Internal Revenue Service no longer offers tax transcript faxing service and third-party mailing of tax returns and certain transcripts. These measures are effective June 28 and July 1, 2019, respectively, and affect individual and business transcripts.

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Tax Reform Reminder: Changes to Itemized Deductions

Under tax reform, many tax laws changed, including those affecting itemized deductions. While many people no longer need to itemize due to the nearly doubling of the standard deduction, certain taxpayers whose total deductions exceed the standard deduction may still want to consider itemizing. As a reminder, here is a quick summary of how tax reform affected four itemized deductions used by many taxpayers in prior years:

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