There are several tools you can use to build flexibility into your estate plan. Flexibility is especially important now because of an uncertain estate planning environment. The federal gift and estate tax exemption currently is an inflation-adjusted $11.58 million (the highest it’s ever been) but it’s scheduled to drop to its pre-2018 level of $5 million (indexed […]
The economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is unprecedented and many taxpayers with student loans have been hard hit. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act contains some assistance to borrowers with federal student loans. Notably, federal loans were automatically placed in an administrative forbearance, which allows borrowers to temporarily stop making […]
Some of the most effective estate planning strategies involve setting up irrevocable trusts. For a trust to be deemed irrevocable, you, the grantor, lose all incidents of ownership of the trust’s assets. In other words, you’re effectively removing those assets from your taxable estate. But what if you’re uncomfortable placing your assets beyond your control? […]
Congratulations to our managing partner, Doug Waite, on his recent recognition in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500.
By Nicholas Sanchez, J.D., LL.M. Taxation; and Kaveh Imandoust, J.D., M.B.T., CPA As agencies continue to release guidance on the relief provisions contained in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), we are beginning to find answers to questions for which we previously could only speculate. In the last two weeks, […]
Do you want to save more for retirement on a tax-favored basis? If so, and if you qualify, you can make a deductible traditional IRA contribution for the 2019 tax year between now and the extended tax filing deadline and claim the write-off on your 2019 return. Or you can contribute to a Roth IRA […]
Many small businesses continue to struggle in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Some have already closed their doors and are liquidating assets. Others, however, may have a relatively less onerous option: bankruptcy. Although bankruptcy obviously isn’t an optimal outcome for any small company, there may be a silver lining: A new bankruptcy law […]
If you have outstanding loans to your children, grandchildren, or other family members, consider forgiving those loans to take advantage of the current, record-high $11.58 million gift and estate tax exemption. Bear in mind that in 2026, the exemption amount will revert to $5 million ($10 million for married couples), indexed for inflation. Under the […]
Many people’s estates typically include IRAs. Be aware that two major laws, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, have had a direct effect on IRAs. In a nutshell, the CARES Act waives required minimum distribution (RMD) rules for IRAs (and certain […]
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the value of some retirement accounts to decrease because of the stock market downturn, but if you have a traditional IRA, this downturn may provide a valuable opportunity. It may allow you to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA at a lower tax cost. The key differences […]
The CARES Act contains several tax-related provisions for businesses hit by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Those provisions will also have an impact on financial reporting. Companies that issue financial statements under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are required to follow Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 740, Income Taxes. This complicated guidance requires companies to report […]
by Michael Kaplan | On Friday, April 24, 2020, President Trump signed into law a $484 billion relief package that authorizes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to spend an additional $310 billion; however, based on the number of applications that have already been submitted, experts suspect these new funds will run out just as quickly […]