Category: Tax Planning

Kaepernick’s NFL Settlement Amount

How much did Colin Kaepernick actually receive from his “opting out” of the contract with the San Francisco Giants following the 2016 season and the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement, (CBA), with the NFL.[1]

In a recent interview between Kaepernick’s attorney, Mark Geragos and CNN’s Ana Cabrera, Geragos clarified that the disagreement was resolved through the CBA with a Confidentiality Agreement for a undisclosed amount with speculation between $20 Million and $100 Million. [2]

However, no one is saying anything about what the final amount was agreed upon. Lets put forth a few scenarios with the possibility that one could be close to the negotiating amount.

Here is what is known, the NFL possibly pa

This Year You are Preparing Your Own Tax Return

So, this year you are preparing your own tax return, no need for a CPAs, Enrolled Agent or Tax Attorney…great! But have you thought about “FBAR” and your 2018 tax return!!! You might ask, do I have to worry about this FBAR quagmire if I have never been outside of the United States? YES

FOREIGN TRUST WITH U.S. TRUSTEE?

FOREIGN TRUST WITH U.S. JURISDICTION? FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP OF A FOREIGN ENTITY? BEWARE!!! The Tax Season for filing 2018 tax returns is now upon us and the full brunt of the Tax cuts and Job Act (TCJA) will occupy tax compliance by both the Taxpayers and the Tax Preparers. One of the most stag

Calculate Your 2018 Federal Tax Under the New Law

Hello and Welcome to my first News Letter on Matters That Will, Almost Certainly, Affect You in This New Year, 2019.

I know that 2018 was a difficult year and now with the traumatic effect of the U.S. Government Partial Shutdown with the stock markets swings to record lows, we are facing a much higher tax liability for our personal US Tax Returns for 2018.

A lot of deductions we historically were allowed in recent past years have been revised for tax years beginning in 2018 and there is for the most part little that we can do to mitigate the increased tax liabilities. We can, however, calculate our expected tax increase and make a 4th Quarter Estimated Tax Payment by no later than 15th January 2019 for the 2018 tax year. This payment will act to compensate for the unlimite

Traditional Expensive Method of Shifting Profits from Your Foreign Company to You

Lets look at a traditional expensive method of shifting profits from your foreign company to you, the U.S. Shareholder. (Part I) This is a very recent Tax Court Case, September 2018, where a husband and wife, named Barry and Rochelle Smith, were the grantors of two Domestic Grantor Trusts. I will

Beware “IRS Approved” Virtual Currency IRAs

As income tax filing season approaches, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is warning investors to be cautious of sales pitches touting “IRS approved” or “IRA approved” virtual currency retirement accounts.

BACKGROUND:

IRAs are retirement accounts that provide investors with certain tax incentives for retirement savings. Earnings grow tax-deferred, which means you won’t pay capital gains taxes if you sell, but gains will be taxed at your normal income tax rate when funds are withdrawn in retirement. There are also penalties for early withdrawal. Some common examples include traditional or tax-deferred IRAs, Roth IRAs, Simplified Employee Pensions (SEPs), or Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs. All IRAs are held for investors

If You Read This After September 28, 2018, You Are Too Late!!!

The Internal Revenue Service terminated its 2014 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) September 28, 2018. “Taxpayers have had several years to come into compliance with U.S. tax laws under this program,” said Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter. “All along, we have been clear that we

Highly Probably You Will Owe More Tax For 2018

With nearly 10 million U.S. taxpayers facing a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax last year, you should plan ahead, understand the options and avoid the huge penalty when filing 2018 Tax Return! And time is moving so quickly you may already be in the unfortunate penalty provisions. Those of u

Avoid penalty for underpayment of taxes for 2018!

Is it possible at this late date?

The new tax act of the Trump Administration, The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, made significant changes for individuals, but the biggest were the loss of Itemized Deductions for high tax States, like California and New York, where Sales Tax, Real Estate Tax, State Income Tax and Personal Property Tax are capped at $10,000 and for individuals who purchase a home in 2018 of only deducting interest up to a $750,000 mortgage debt (previously $1 million) and interest deductions on home-equity loans is completely eliminated.

Tax year 2017 was a terrible year for individual taxpayers, nearly 10 million U.S. taxpayers penalized for underpayment of estimated tax. You need plan ahead by understanding your options and avoid all or most of the penalty when filing t

IRS Examination Coverage for 2016

The Internal Revenue Service has listed the percentage of tax returns filed and examined by the amount of Adjusted Gross Income, see below. The returns showing Adjusted Gross Income, AGI, for 2016 of $10,000,000 or more were the highest audit at 14.52%. The returns with AGI of $75,000 to under $100,