San Francisco Tax Blogs | Diosdi, Ching, & Liu, LLP

06Jan 2020 by Anthony Diosdi

The District Court Allows a Suit to Proceed Challenging the Regulations to Section 965 of the Internal Revenue Code

Tax Law

By Anthony Diosdi As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”), Congress enacted certain “transition tax” provisions applicable to “controlled foreign corporations” (“CFC”) owned by United States persons. See Pub. L. 115-97, 131 Stat. 2054 (2017). On January 15, 2019, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and United States Department of Treasury (hereinafter “Defendants”) published final regulations to effectuate these tax provisions.Monte Silver, is the sole shareholder of Monte Silver, Ltd, a CFC incorporated in Israel. Monte Silver (hereinafter “Plaintiffs”) brought an action against the United States in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The case is entitled Monte Silver, et al v. Internal Revenue Service, et al. Civil No. 19-cv-247 (APM). The Plaintiffs challenged Defendant’s alleged failure, in connection with promulgating the…

30Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

New York Estate of Mind

Tax Law

By James Huang Ranked among the highest taxing jurisdictions in the country, New York is one of the few states that also has a state-level estate tax. Ranging from 3.06% to a top rate of 16%, New York's estate tax is imposed on decedents domiciled in New York. This tax is also imposed on those who are not New York domiciliaries, but who own real or tangible personal property located in the state. Described below are some of the key features of New York's estate tax and how these features interact with the federal regime. Exclusion Gap Like the federal estate tax, New York's estate tax allows estates a "basic exclusion amount" (BEA) — i.e., an amount up to which a decedent's estate is not subject to estate tax. Historically,…

30Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

The IRS Continues to Aggressively Audit RaPower3 Investors

Tax Law

By Anthony Diosdi Over the past few years, a company known as RaPower3 has marketed ownership in solar lenses to investors throughout the United States. Investors were promised ownership in solar lenses located throughout the Southwestern United States. Investors were also told that they could tax generous deductions on their tax returns associated with these solar lenses. Everything seemed fine until the United States Department of Justice showed up. and obtained an injunction against the promoters of RaPower3 from marketing ownership in the solar lenses.The U.S. Department of Justice obtained an injunction against RaPower3, International Automated Systems, LTB1, Gregory Shepard, Neldon Johnson, and Roger Freeborn. The Department of Justice asked a federal district court to shut down a multi-level marketing business involving solar lenses that were “purchased” and then alternatively…

30Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

Top Four Ways to be Audited by the IRS in 2020

Tax Law

By Anthony Diosdi It’s no secret, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is auditing fewer tax returns these days, mostly due to federal budget cuts that have affected the IRS’ staff size. Even though IRS has been auditing much fewer tax returns, there are certain things that individual taxpayers can do that will likely certainly result in a costly IRS audit. Below, please find our list of the top four ways to get audited by the IRS in 2020.1. Invested in a Syndicated Conservative Easement Over the years, charitable contributions of conservation easements have allowed taxpayers to obtain a federal tax deduction for the purpose of conserving land for public use, public enjoyment, or to preserve historic building structures. For tax purposes, a conservation easement creates a discounted value for the…

20Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

New Rules Governing Disregarded Entities Owned by Nonresidents Impose Significant New Reporting and Compliance Requirements

Gift Tax

By Anthony Diosdi There is a perception by many countries that the United States is the world’s largest tax shelter. This is because unlike many countries, the United States does not require public disclosure of ownership of its entities, (in particular Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)), or publishing of year-end financial statements for public viewing. The lack of transparency has allowed nonresidents of the United States to form domestic shell to avoid paying foreign income taxes, hide money or commit other acts of wrongdoing. Historically, nonresidents established shell companies in the United States as a domestic disregarded entities.The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) recently published regulations to combat perceived misuse of U.S. shell companies. On December 13, 2016, the Treasury Department and the IRS issued final regulations regarding…

20Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

Changes to the 2019 Tax Return that Will Impact All Holders of Cryptocurrency

Gift Tax

By Anthony Diosdi Recently, the IRS announced a significant compliance measure that will impact anyone with financial interests in virtual currency. Taxpayers with a financial interest in digital currency such as bitcoin will be required to check a new checkbox on Form 1040. This checkbox is on the early release draft of the 2019 Form 1040 and it will appear on Schedule 1. This schedule is entitled “Additional Income and Adjustments to Income.” The checkbox is at the top of Schedule 1.The question the checkbox asks taxpayers is:“At any time during 2019, did you receive, sell, send, exchange or otherwise acquire any financial interest in any virtual currency?”This questions sounds eerily similar to Schedule B Part III Line 7. Schedule B Part III Line 7 asks taxpayers if they had…

18Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

Attention California Homeowners Age 55+: How Proposition 60/90 Could Benefit You

Gift Tax

By Kerrin N.T. Liu Introduction to California Proposition 60/90 If you are a California homeowner age 55 or older, you need to know about Proposition 60/90. Proposition 60 provides voter-enacted constitutional tax relief to ease the tax burden on California seniors downsizing or relocating their principal homes. Proposition 60 accomplishes this by offsetting the effects of Proposition 13 which limits property tax to 2% growth per year but, upon a change in ownership, requires a reassessment of the property at market value. As one can imagine, the new market value on a replacement home is likely significantly higher than compared to the owner’s sold home, which had the benefit of the Proposition 13 growth limit of 2% on taxable value. Proposition 60 provided property tax relief for seniors by preventing a property…

11Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

All I Want for Christmas is a Refund of the 965 Tax I Overpaid

Gift Tax

By Anthony Diosdi The Section 965 Transition TaxInternal Revenue Code Section 965 imposes a one-time transition tax on a U.S. shareholder share of deferred foreign income of certain foreign corporations (“accumulated deferred foreign income” or ADFI”). For this purpose, a U.S. shareholder is a U.S. person who directly, indirectly, or constructively owns at least 10 percent of either the total combined voting power or total value of a foreign corporation’s stock. Section 965 accomplishes the transition tax by increasing the subpart F income of each specified foreign corporation in the SFC’s last taxable year that began before January 1, 2018 by the greater of the SFC’s ADFI measured in functional currency as of November 2, 2017 or December 31, 2017. By allowing a reduction to the ADFI inclusion, Section 965…

11Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

Hovering Deficits- Uncertain Times in Cross Border Mergers with the Enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Gift Tax

By Anthony Diosdi OverviewIn general, Section 367 governs corporate restructurings under Sections 332, 351, 354, 355, 356, and 361 (Subchapter C nonrecognition transactions) in which the status of a foreign corporation as a “corporation” is necessary for the application of the relevant subchapter C nonrecognition provisions. Other provisions in subchapter C (subchapter C carryover provisions) apply to such transactions in conjunction with the enumerated provisions and detail additional consequences that occur in connection with the transaction. For example, Sections 362 and 381 govern the carryover of basis and earnings and profits from the transferor corporation to the transferee corporation in applicable transactions.The subchapter C carryover provisions generally have been drafted to apply to domestic corporations and U.S. shareholders. As a result, those provisions often do not fully take into account…

09Dec 2019 by Anthony Diosdi

FIRPTA and Partnership Interest Withholding Rules Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Tax Law

By Anthony Diosdi The passing of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act brought many changes to the Internal Revenue Code. One change relates to the handling of the sale of partnership interests by foreign persons. In particular, Sections 864(c)(8) and 1446(f) withholding rules were added to the Internal Revenue Code.Explanation of Withholding Tax and Substantive TaxThe withholding tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 1446(f) requires a 10 percent withholding on the sales price of a partnership interest by foreign persons unless certain exceptions are met. One such exception is if the seller furnishes an affidavit to the buyer stating, among other things, the seller is not a foreign person. The 10 person withholding, similar to the 15 percent Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (“FIRPTA”) withholding on sales…