Category Archives: Legislation

A Retroactive Tax Bill: What Can Go Wrong?

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Russ

Last night, the House of Representatives passed tax legislation that would increase the Child Tax Credit for 2023, allow businesses to expense research and development expenses, tax relief for wildfires and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and some … Continue reading →

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How High Is Too High?

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Russ

California, like many states, has financial difficulties because of the Covid pandemic. So is the legislature looking at cutting spending? A little. How about raising taxes? Definitely, especially on the rich. California’s top marginal tax rate today is 13.3% (on … Continue reading →

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Congress Gets in the Christmas Spirit: Tax Extenders Pass

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Russ

“It’s looking a lot like Christmas,” is how one Christmas tune begins. Here in Las Vegas, that means it’s cold (for Las Vegas), and the few deciduous trees in town are now leafless. But Congress got in the Christmas spirit, … Continue reading →

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IRS To New York, New Jersey, and California: We Weren’t Kidding

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Russ

Today the IRS issued rules and guidance on charitable contributions as a workaround to the new limits on state and local taxes. Unsurprisingly, the IRS said exactly what I thought they would: both substance over form and quid pro quo … Continue reading →

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Should I Violate Federal Law or State Law?

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Russ

Suppose you have a federal license to perform your occupation in your state of residence. That license allowed you to do [whatever it is you do] anywhere in the United States. Now, further suppose your state legislature passed a law … Continue reading →

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We’re Not Gonna Take It

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Russ

The IRS issued proposed regulations today on charitable contributions as it relates to state and local tax credits. Here’s a hint to politicians in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. The IRS is telling you: Here’s an excerpt from the … Continue reading →

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We’re Not Gonna Take It…

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Russ

You may have heard that earlier this week four states sued to stop parts of the new tax law from going into effect. The states–New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland–don’t like the new $10,000 cap on deducting state and … Continue reading →

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Wayfair and Economic Nexus

Posted on June 24, 2018 by Russ

Last week the Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Wayfair that South Dakota’s law forcing Wayfair, an Internet retailer, to collect (and remit) sales tax to South Dakota (a state that it did not have physical nexus to) was … Continue reading →

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Back to the Old Drawing Board

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Russ

I’ve written before about certain states’ efforts to get around the new $10,000 cap on state and local taxes that can be deducted on federal tax returns. The IRS announced today they will be proposing regulations later this year on … Continue reading →

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Taxes Matter (2018 Version), Part 1

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Russ

Those on the left constantly chirp that taxes don’t matter. Those of us who prepare tax returns can state as fact you’re wrong. I moved my business because of taxes and regulations. Here are two other examples from today that … Continue reading →

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