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This page is an archive of entries from October 2007 listed from newest to oldest.

August 2007 is the previous archive.

November 2007 is the next archive.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

October 2007 Archives

The Internal Revenue Service is extending tax return filing and payment deadlines for victims of the severe Southern California wildfires. Specifically, for taxpayers in the Presidential Disaster Area –– consisting of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa...

Continue reading "IRS Grants Relief to California Wildfire Victims"

The IRS, in IRS Notice 2007-90, 2007-46 IRB 1 (Oct. 29,2007), issued interim guidance and announced a change in its policy regarding IRC Section 6166 estate tax payment deferrals for estates consisting primarily of closely held business interests. Specifically, the...

Continue reading "IRS Issues Interim Guidance for Section 6166 Estate Tax Deferred Payments"

Wills Trusts & Estates Prof Blog: Agent’s power to sue for sums due allowed the hiring of an attorney on a contingent fee basis. "In Campbell v. Tenet Health System, DI, Inc., 224 S.W.3d 632 (Mo. Ct. App. 2007), the...

Continue reading "On the Web & In Print"

In PLR 200742015 (May 8, 2007), the IRS granted Executors an extension of time of 60 days from the PLR date to make the election under Treas. Reg. Sec.26.2652-2(c) to treat trust as two separate trusts, one of which has...

Continue reading "IRS Grants Extension to Treat Marital Trusts as Separate Trusts"

In PLR 200742011 (May 24, 2007), and in PLR 200742012 (May 24, 2007), the IRS ruled that (1) the proposed partitions of two trusts will not cause either trust to lose its status as GST exempt under IRC Sec. 1433(b)(2)(A)...

Continue reading "IRS Rules on Trust Division"

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in an unpublished per curiam decision, affirmed a lower court decision that an estate was entitled to an IRC Section 2056(a) marital deduction. Marie L. Sowder v. United States, No. CV-02-00136-WFN...

Continue reading "Ninth Circuit Affirms Estate Entitled to Section 2056(a) Marital Deduction"

The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector has released "Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations." The Guide represents the first time that charities and foundations reflecting a broad cross-section of the American nonprofit community...

Continue reading "Panel on the Nonprofit Sector releases Report "Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations""

Marketwatch: Timing uncertain on major tax overhaul: Rep. Rangel expects quick action on temporary AMT patch, by William L. Watts. "A long-awaited Democratic proposal to overhaul the U.S. tax code likely will be introduced next week, but it appears unlikely...

Continue reading "On the Web & In Print"

For 2008, personal exemptions and standard deductions will rise, tax brackets will widen and workers will be able to save more for retirement, due to inflation adjustments. By law, the dollar amounts for a variety of tax provisions must be...

Continue reading "2008 Inflation Adjustments Widen Tax Brackets"

The IRS cautioned taxpayers about participating in certain trust arrangements being sold to professional corporations and other small businesses as welfare benefit funds and identified some of the arrangements as listed transactions. In Notice 2007-83, the IRS identified certain trust...

Continue reading "IRS Warns Taxpayers About Trusts Sold as Welfare Benefit Funds"

The following articles appeared on the web and in print over the past few days: Wills Trusts & Estates Prof Blog Posts of Note: Rethinking the Wisdom of Living Wills. This post summarizes Charlotte Allen's article in the Washington Post,...

Continue reading "On the Web & In Print"

The Estate and Gift Taxation Committee of the New York City Bar Association has submitted comments to the IRS regarding the Gift Tax Consequences of Trusts Employing Distributions Committees, in response to IRS News Release 2007-127 (July 9, 2007). Posted...

Continue reading "NYC Bar Submits Comments on Gift Tax Consequences of Trust Distribution Committee"

Tax Notes Today reports that Linda Carlisle, of White & Case,LLP, has followed up with Benedetta Kissel, Deputy International Tax Counsel, Department of Treasury, regarding S. 681, the "Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act of 2007" which was introduced by Senator...

Continue reading "TNT Reports White & Case Follows-Up on Meeting Re Categorization of Guernsey as Tax Haven"

The following articles appeared on the web and in print yesterday: Wills Trusts & Estates Prof Blog Posts of Note: Trust Accounting Book Published. Seymour Goldberg (partner, Goldberg & Goldberg, P.C., Jericho, New York) has recently published his book entitled...

Continue reading "On the Web & In Print"

Interesting article in today's Tax Notes Today: "OPR DIrector Offers Warning for Appraisers and In-House Tax Counsel." The article reports comments by Michael Chesman, director of the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility ("OPR") at an October 10 IRS financial services...

Continue reading "TNT: OPR Director Offers Warning for Appraisers"

The Wills Trusts & Estates Prof Blog notes that the procedure for obtaining EINs online has been modified. Now, rather than completing a Form SS-4 online, the IRS website has an online interview style application. Posted by Lewis J. Saret,...

Continue reading "Procedure for Online EINs Modified"

Tax Notes has published part 3 of an article by Richard A. Dees, of McDermott Will & Emery, which examines the Strangi decisions and other cases that relate to Section 2036. See Richard A. Dees, "Time Traveling to Strangle Strangi...

Continue reading "Tax Notes Article by Richard Dees on Strangi and Other Cases Relating to Section 2036"

The Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association has submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee, recommending that Congress modify IRC Section 1361(c)(2)(B)(v) to allow "electing small business trusts" to have nonresident aliens as potential...

Continue reading "ABA RPTE Section Submits Comments on Section 1361 ESBTs"

The Tax Section of the American Bar Association has submitted comments in response to IRS Notice 2007-39, on the application of monetary penalties in disciplinary procedure under section 822 of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. Posted by Lewis...

Continue reading "ABA Tax Section Submits Comments on Circular 230 Monetary Penalties"

The Estate and Gift Tax Committee of the Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law of the American Bar Association has submitted member comments on the IRS decision, announced in IRS News Release IR-2007-127 (July 9, 2007) to reconsider...

Continue reading "ABA RPTE EGT Committee Submits Comments on IRS Rulings Re Trusts Using Distribution Committees"

The IRS granted the following estate and gift tax extensions via private letter rulings: PLR 200740009 (May 10, 2007). IRS granted executor extension to make alternate valuation election under IRC Section 2032. PLR 200740008 (May 16, 2007). IRS granted individual...

Continue reading "IRS Grants Estate and Gift Tax Related Extensions"

The IRS ruled, in PLR 200740018 (July 12, 2007), that a trust, which was the beneficiary of a decedent's IRA and which became irrevocable on decedent's death: (a) was a "see-through" trust under Treas. Reg. Section 1.401(a)(9)-4, for purposes of...

Continue reading "IRS Issues PLR Ruling on Treatment of IRA Division"

The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State laws issued a discussion draft of amendments to the UPC on September 17, 2007. Posted by Lewis J. Saret, General Editor, Wealth Strategies Journal....

Continue reading "Discussion Draft of UPC Amendments Issued"

The Wall Street Journal has published an extensive article on the migration of high net worth individuals to London. See Cassell Bryan -Low & Jeanne Whalen, Behind London's Boom, Billionaires From Abroad: Foreigners Pour Cash Into Apartments, Art; Attacks in...

Continue reading "Wall St.J: Behind London's Boom, Billionaires From Abroad"

Tax Notes Today reports that the IRS has issued a Notice and Request for Comments on information collection under final regulations (TD 8779) on the QTIP deduction. Comments are due by December 3, 2007. Posted by Lewis J. Saret, General...

Continue reading "IRS Seeks Comments on Final QTIP Regs"

Tax Notes Today published a press release issued by Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz, which states that Senator Kyl has received assurances from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., that legislation to provide permanent estate tax repeal will be considered...

Continue reading "Senator Kyl Announces Promise by Senator Baucus that Senate Finance Committee Will Consider Permanent Estate Tax Relief in Early 2008"

Tax Notes Today reports that several Congressional members have signed a letter to IRS Commissioner, Mark W. Everson, asking the IRS to consider the impact of IRS Notice 2007-21 on Type III supporting organizations. Posted by Lewis J. Saret, General...

Continue reading "Lawmakers Submit Comments on IRS Notice 2007-21"

On October 4, 2007, the House passed H.R. 3648, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, which provides tax relief to homeowners who realize cancellation of debt income on cancellation of mortgage debt. H.R. 3648, if enacted, would exclude...

Continue reading "House Approves Mortgage Debt Tax Relief Bill"

The US District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania held, in Sullivan v. United States, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 71849 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 26, 2007), that the IRC Section 6672 Trust Fund Penalty is not discharged by bankruptcy. Posted by...

Continue reading "US District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania Finds Trust Fund Penalty Not Discharged by Bankruptcy"

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Tax Notes has published an article by Professor Wendy C. Gerzog, of the University of Baltimore School of Law, which examines Estate of Roski v. Commissioner, 128 T.C. No. 10, Doc 2007-9482, 2007 TNT 72-10 (2007), in which the IRS...

Continue reading "Tax Notes Article by Wendy Gerzog on Estate of Roski v. Commissioner"

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report, entitled "An Unlimited Estate Tax Exemption For Farmland Unnecessary, Open To Abuse, And Likely To Hurt, Rather Than Help, Family Farmers" by Aviva Aron-Dine, dated October 1, 2007, which warned...

Continue reading "New CBPP Publication on Argues Against Unlimited Estate Tax Exemption for Farms"

Senate Finance Committee member Ken Salazar, D-Colo., has introduced S. 1994, which would exempt specified farmland from the estate tax. Posted by Lewis J. Saret, General Editor, Wealth Strategies Journal....

Continue reading "S. 1994 Would Exempt Certain Farmland From Estate Tax"

The Supreme Court begins its new term today. The Tax Prof Blog summarizes the five tax cases the Court has agreed in its post "Tax Cases in the Supreme Court's New Term." Of interest to Wealth Strategies Journal Blog readers,...

Continue reading "On the Web - Five Tax Cases in Supreme Court's New Term"

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”) released its report, “The Estate Tax Collection Process Has Improved, but Opportunities Exist to Better Ensure Taxpayers Are Treated Equitably” (Sept. 24, 2007), Reference Number 2007-30-174. In its report, TIGTA noted that...

Continue reading "TIGTA Report Makes Recommendations for Estate Tax Collection Process"

In Announcement 2007-87, 2007-40 IRB 753 (Oct. 1, 2007), the IRS announced the publication of an advance notice of proposed regulations in response to changes made by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 to the requirements that a tax-exempt organization...

Continue reading "Type III Supporting Organization - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking"