Welcome to our Tax Reform Resource Center.
We are keeping an ear to the ground so that when updates and regulations occur surrounding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you will know first. Check back here and follow us on social media to receive breaking news as it occurs.
Have questions about how the legislation affects your personal and business tax planning? Contact your local Blue & Co. tax advisor.
Articles
June 17, 2020
For most individuals, a hobby is a great way to spend free time, and if you are fortunate, you might even make some money while enjoying your hobby. Determining whether your activity is considered a “hobby” or “legitimate business” can have an impact on your tax strategies and savings. Before the TCJA, individuals could deduct hobby […]
April 22, 2020
On April 17, 2020, the Treasury Department released additional guidance for taxpayers seeking to take advantage of recently passed legislation included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). A long-awaited fix for Qualified Improvement Property was retroactively provided for in the CARES Act, and taxpayers have been eager to find out […]
January 23, 2020
Even though the New Year is just upon us, and we are working diligently to get our taxes filed for 2019, it is also time to start looking ahead to the 2020 tax year. As it happens, just before the holidays, two important pieces of tax legislation were passed as part of a year-end appropriations […]
December 30, 2019
Income taxes can be a major driving force in key business decisions on a daily basis. Income taxes have significant impact on cash flow, can influence decisions on how to price jobs, and can impact how much employees are paid. Taking advantage of tax credits can help strengthen cash flow and increase the ability to […]
December 26, 2019
The federal government spending package titled the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, does more than just fund the government. It extends certain income tax provisions that had already expired or that were due to expire at the end of 2019. The agreement on the spending package also includes the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement […]
December 26, 2019
The IRS recently issued guidance on how businesses, self-employed individuals and qualified employees can use the per diem rules to substantiate their business travel expenses for tax purposes. The guidance in Revenue Procedure 2019-48 modifies 2011 guidance to reflect changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). In a nutshell, the per diem […]
December 23, 2019
Congress reached an agreement on a massive government-wide spending package titled the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020. The legislation extends certain income tax provisions that had expired, as well as some that were due to expire at the end of 2019. Congress traditionally passes so-called “extenders” annually, but it neglected to do so for 2018. […]
December 05, 2019
The IRS has issued new guidance updating the rules for using optional standard mileage rates when calculating “above-the-line” deductions for the costs of operating an automobile for certain purposes. IRS Revenue Procedure 2019-46 also lays out rules for establishing the amount of an employee’s transportation expenses that are reimbursed using the optional standard mileage rates. […]
December 05, 2019
At this time of year, many business owners are trying to do what they can to save tax for the year. Under current tax law, there are two valuable depreciation-related tax breaks that may help your business reduce its 2019 tax liability. To benefit from these deductions, you must buy eligible machinery, equipment, furniture, or […]
December 05, 2019
Are you 70 ½ or older and charitably minded with investments in an IRA? With fewer taxpayers itemizing because of the doubling of the standard deduction, using your required minimum distribution as a charitable donation could be a great way to lower your tax burden. IRA Distribution Basics A popular way to transfer IRA assets […]
December 05, 2019
During the first tax-filing season under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), many businesses wrestled with how the law’s sweeping changes would impact their bottom lines. Before the beginning of the next tax season, you can integrate the information you learned into your year-end tax planning. The areas discussed below have opportunities to reduce […]
November 06, 2019
By Miranda Aavatsmark Make no mistake, Congress did not come together and pass any new tax laws or make other changes to the existing tax laws in 2019. Although there was much talk of “Tax Reform 2.0” and the need for a few technical corrections, it simply did not happen. However, some of the changes […]
October 29, 2019
Fall is in the air and that means it’s time to turn your attention to year-end tax planning. While several clear strategies and tactics emerged during the first tax filing season under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), 2019 and subsequent years bring potential twists that must be considered, too. Let’s take a closer […]
October 11, 2019
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has released the finalized rule on overtime exemptions for white-collar workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule updates the standard salary levels for the first time since 2004. While it is expected to expand the pool of nonexempt workers by more than 1 million, it’s also more […]
October 11, 2019
Earlier this year, the IRS published a proposed safe harbor giving owners of certain rental real estate interests the opportunity to take advantage of the qualified business income (QBI) deduction. The QBI write-off was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) for pass-through entities. The IRS has now released final guidance (Revenue Procedure […]
