Forget it! Forget about the alimony deduction for all new decrees or instruments post-2019. (See Part I for modification of pre-2019 alimony orders and agreement, as modification has a separate set of rules.) The deduction is gone absent a congressional miracle. That means on December 31, 2018, or before you…
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Alimony Tax Reform: Part II, section 2
Carolyn Woodruff, J.D., C.P.A, C.V.A.Previously, we examined the paragraph and subparagraphs defining “divorce or separation instruments.” Now let’s take a look at which sections of TCJA incorporate these subparagraphs. Sections incorporating all three subparagraphs of the definition of divorce or separation instrument Post-2018. The two sections of TCJA that adopt all three subparagraphs of…
Alimony Tax Reform: Part 2, Section 1
Carolyn Woodruff, J.D., C.P.A, C.V.A.The repeal of the alimony tax sections for the inclusion of income and deduction has an ancillary impact on other divorce tax issues. The effective date for all ancillary issues discussed in this article is December 31, 2018, the same as the alimony repeal. These December 31, 2018, changes shall…
Alimony Tax Reform: Part I
Carolyn Woodruff, J.D., C.P.A, C.V.A.Divorce was hard enough, and now alimony tax reform. Do you feel good or bad about alimony? No matter your answer, this alimony tax reform revolutionizes the divorce arena, and you need to know how it may affect you and your clients. Judges need to know how it might affect…
Innocent Spouse Relief: Read Before Signing (Yancey v. Comm’r)
Yancey v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2017-59, 2017 WL 1289451 (2017) Facts: A husband and wife filed joint returns. The returns were prepared by the wife. The returns understated the amount of tax due, mostly because they wrongly double-counted certain gambling losses incurred by the husband. The IRS assessed a deficiency.…
The IRS and Custody Exemptions (Stapleton v. Comm’r)
Stapleton v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2015-171, 2015 WL 5049758 Facts: A father and mother had two children. The parents were never married. No court was ever asked to decide custody, but the parents agreed that the father would have the children every Monday and Wednesday night and every other weekend. In…
When Stock Options Aren’t an Option in Divorce
Family Chiropractic Sports Injury & Rehab Clinic, v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2016-10, 2016 WL 234515 (2016) Facts: Husband and wife operated a chiropractic The practice had an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”). Husband and wife were the only participants. The parties were divorced in Iowa. The decree was silent on…
It takes Two to Tango…..but Maybe it Shouldn’t (Belot v. Comm’r)
Belot v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2016-113, 2016 WL 3248031 (2016) Facts: During their marriage, the parties operated a dance studio. The business consisted of an S corporation which was the actual studio, an LLC which operated a boutique selling dance clothing, and another LLC which owned the real estate on…
The Taxpayer Who Cried Wolf (Hardin v. Comm’r)
Hardin v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2016-141, 2016 WL 4006806 (2016) Facts: Husband and wife were married in During the marriage, the husband was partner in a law firm, and he also ran a sports management business. The wife was owner and president of a financial planning company. The husband was…
Fear is a Huge Factor in Innocent Spouse Relief (Hollimon v. Comm’r)
By: Dana M. Horlick, Attorney, Woodruff Family Law GroupHollimon v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2015-157, 2015 WL 4747779 (2015) (a) Facts: During their marriage, the parties established and worked for a business providing temporary staffing to hospitals. The wife testified that the husband ran the business and she was an employee. The husband testified that the parties ran the business…