In Beleiu v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2025-70, the Tax Court sustained civil fraud penalties under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) § 6663 against the taxpayer for tax years 2012 through 2014. While the deficiencies themselves were not disputed by the time of trial, the heart of the controversy centered on whether the underpayments stemmed from fraud.…
Read More
In a recent Tax Court decision, the Court again approached the critical issues surrounding loss deductions and tax compliance.[1] This case involves Heather and Stewart Weston, a married couple from California, who claimed a $2.1 million loss deduction on their 2017 tax return tied to failed business ventures in Indiana. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)…
Read More
When receiving a bequest, many people question whether they will be subject to income tax.[1] As a basic matter, an individual’s income “does not include the value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise, or inheritance.”[2] However, that does not mean the individual receiving assets by bequest has no income tax consequences to consider. Those consequences…
Read More
On February 8, 2024, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued its opinion[1] regarding an issue of first impression regarding Mississippi’s Principal and Income Act of 2013 (the “Act”).[2] As a worthwhile note, the Court noted that this is an issue of first impression and acknowledged as well as appeared to oblige the parties so as to…
Read More
Most tax law is made up of very detailed statutes, regulations, case law, and other guidance. Layered on top of that body of law are a number of “judicial doctrines” that seek to serve as a backstop to formalistic analyses that could result in unintended tax results, allow taxpayers to place the form of transactions…
Read More
Passive Activity Loss Rules Lead To Yet Another Taxpayer Loss In Court – Why Keeping Adequate Records Is Essential In a recently issued Memorandum Opinion[1], the United States Tax Court found that a husband and wife who owned and operated real estate investment properties were not entitled to deduct losses derived from properties owned in…
Read More
In a recent case from the Tax Court, two married taxpayers failed to establish that their settlement proceeds fell within a statutory exception to taxation.[1] This case is a bit more straightforward than others we may write about from time to time. Factual Background In September 2009, Chicago State University (“CSU”) hired Mr. Bryant Tillman-Kelly…
Read More
Last year, I wrote about the Multistate Tax Commission’s (“MTC”) undertaking called the Project on State Taxation of Partnerships (“Project”).[1] Throughout the Project, the MTC has updated the Project website with summaries, notes, markups to draft documents, and other useful information.[2] The most recent Project meeting was held on July 25, 2022.[3] Broadly speaking, the…
Read More
In a recent appellate decision from the Ninth Circuit, a taxpayer/attorney/neurosurgeon/corporate shareholder who helped develop a patented imaging technology was held liable for ordinary income assessments with respect to annual royalty payments related to patent royalty income. Facts Dr. Aaron Filler, a licensed attorney and neurosurgeon, contributed to the development of a certain Diffusion Tensor…
Read More
In a recent case out of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the Court held that attorney fees awarded plaintiff’s counsel who was handling the case pro bono, that is, free of charge, were not income to the plaintiff who was represented by the attorneys receiving the fees.[1] In the…
Read More