The September 2024 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 4.8%, a decrease from the August 2024 rate of 5.2%. The September applicable federal rate (“AFR”) for use...more
In holding that that Treas. Reg. § 1.170A-14(g)(6)(ii) (Proceeds Regulation) is procedurally invalid under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), the U.S. Tax Court abandoned its precedent in Oakbrook Land Holdings, LLC v....more
For an employee who is a U.S. taxpayer, both the employer and the employee are liable for a portion of Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes (collectively referred to as “FICA” taxes) on the employee’s compensation. ...more
If you’re reading this, chances are this is not the first time you’ve heard of the 83(b) election (and if it is, then definitely keep reading). The “83” in “83(b) election” refers to Section 83 of the Internal Revenue Code,...more
As an emerging or startup technology company seeking funding, your focus is likely on your product - it is the core of your business. That being said, how you protect your technology and set up the company that owns it can be...more
Section 409A, the provision of the Internal Revenue Code that regulates the time and form of payment of nonqualified deferred compensation, contains a helpful exception for “short-term deferrals.” Specifically, Section 409A...more
All 401(k) retirement plans have special age and service rules that employees have to meet to become eligible to participate and to vest in employer contributions to those plans. In Notice 2020-68, the IRS explains the new...more
IRS Notice 2020-68 (Notice) provides the first round of guidance on a number of provisions under the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) and the Bipartisan American Miners Act of...more
On December 20th, before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting pandemic, President Trump signed into law the Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (the “SECURE Act”) and the Bipartisan...more
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued helpful guidance to plan sponsors of safe harbor 401(k) plans that are considering reducing or suspending safe harbor employer matching contributions or safe harbor nonelective...more
This set of FAQs is part of a series dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on businesses. Government-mandated protocols and social distancing directives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to significant business...more
Many employers are looking at their financial sustainability for the near future as COVID-19 impacts our economy and are looking at ways to cut costs. A common question we are receiving - can we stop matching our employees’...more
Equity compensation can be different in LLCs and corporations. LLCs have the benefit of using a special equity compensation tool called a “profits interest.” Unlike a traditional stock option, which represents a right to...more
On Monday, December 16, 2019, the IRS issued proposed regulations under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect certain changes that were made to Section 162(m) by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017....more
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) significantly amended Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), which generally disallows the deduction of compensation in excess of $1 million paid by a “publicly held corporation” to a...more
• Now that the IRS has issued additional guidance on the practical considerations of the election to defer compensation allowed by Section 83(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, it has become clearer that...more
On August 21, 2018, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2018-68, which provides eagerly awaited guidance for changes that were made to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code...more
Over the past several years, the IRS has renewed its focus on auditing Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), in part because of allegedly abusive arrangements (for a quick overview, see Courtney’s ESOP post). Unfortunately,...more
Recently we blogged about pitfalls and potential adverse tax consequences for U.S. taxpayers with respect to deferred share unit awards that pay out following the participant’s termination of services. But what about...more
Under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 83(b)"), a taxpayer who receives certain property subject to vesting as compensation for services (for example, a restricted stock award granted by the taxpayer's...more
On June 22, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published its long-awaited proposed regulations (the Proposed Regulations) under Section 457(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). Section 457(f) governs the taxation...more
The IRS recently issued proposed regulations under Internal Revenue Code Section 457 that address, among other things, the interplay between Code Section 457(f) and Code Section 409A. Additionally, the IRS issued clarifying...more
On the TV show Futurama, the aged proprietor of the delivery company Planet Express, Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, had a habit of entering a room where the other characters were gathered and sharing his trademark line,...more
On June 21, 2016, after more than 15 years of ongoing deliberations, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the Dept. of Treasury) issued proposed regulations under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code),...more