December, 2010

On December 17, the President signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the 2010 Tax Relief Act).

November, 2010

By Michael D. Fisher, CPA, MST
Senior International Tax Manager, PIASCIK

A Statement of the Problem

Legislatures and government tax authorities worldwide have long recognized that affiliated companies under common control sometimes have the ability to exploit differences in tax environments between nations through the artful adjustment of transfer prices within corporate groups constituting integrated enterprises.

July, 2010

While the new law tax changes in the health reform legislation and the hiring legislation were the most significant developments in the first quarter of 2010, many other tax developments may affect you, your family, and your livelihood.

December, 2009

Although there are only about four weeks left to go before the year ends, it's not too late to implement some planning moves that can improve your tax situation for 2009 and beyond. This letter reviews some actions that you can take before December 31 st to improve your overall tax picture.

October, 2009

The following is a summary of the most important tax developments that have occurred in the past three months that may affect you, your family, your investments, and your livelihood. Please call us for more information about any of these developments and what steps you should implement to take advantage of favorable developments and to minimize the impact of those that are unfavorable.

February, 2009

H.R. 1, the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009”—the Recovery Act—was signed into law by the President on February 17, 2009. This new law includes many business tax breaks, such as extended bonus depreciation, boosted expensing, and tax-deferred debt forgiveness income on the repurchase of qualifying debt. Tax breaks for individuals include a refundable “making work pay” stimulus credit, enhanced child tax credit and EITC, an improved homebuyer credit, a new deduction for state sales and excise taxes paid on new vehicles, and a sweetened higher education credit. There's a one-year AMT patch as well.

The Recovery Act is over 1,100 pages and covers an extraordinary number of tax relief provisions. However, I'm writing to give you an overview of the more widely applicable tax changes specifically effecting both individuals and families and small businesses. 

November, 2008

As I'm sure you're aware, on Oct. 3, 2008, the President signed into law the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343). Although virtually all of the press coverage of this law has concentrated on its hotly debated $700 billion financial industry bailout plan, the legislation also contains scores of tax changes, mostly beneficial, for individuals and businesses alike.

November, 2008

On Mar. 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, thus completing a massive overhaul of the U.S. health care system affecting nearly all taxpayers, many employers, and many elements of the health care industry.

October, 2008

H.R. 3221, the “American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008”—the Housing Act—was signed into law by the President on July 30, 2008.  

This sweeping measure is designed to shore up the ailing housing market as well as tighten lending practices and reform financial institutions associated with that market.  

It also contains a number of tax changes, including tax breaks for homebuyers and homeowners, relaxed requirements for tax-exempt bonds, eased AMT rules, tax changes for businesses, as well as highly specialized changes affecting low-income housing and special investment vehicles called Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

I'm writing to give you an overview of the more widely applicable tax changes in the Housing Act. 

Please call our offices for details of how the new changes may affect you, your family, your investments, or your business.

May, 2008

For years, taxpayers have not had any guidance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as to whether or not vacation homes qualified for the like-kind exchange treatment under Sec. 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. 

March, 2008

Does your company have an incentive stock option (ISO) plan?  If so, have you ever thought about the tax consequences to you of your company's offer to grant you an ISO on its stock.

March, 2008

Although options are usually thought of as stock market or commodities tools, they can also be useful tools in other types of property, such as real estate (“real property”).

February, 2008

Over the next few years, many individuals will be faced with answering the question what “cost” for tax purposes (or “basis”) does an individual get in property they inherit from another.  

January, 2008

A special estate tax deferral election is available if a large portion (more than 35%) of an estate is comprised of a farm or other closely-held business.

October, 2007

Ever think about the tax consequences to you of an award by your employer of restricted stock?

September, 2007

If you own a home, the interest you pay on your home mortgage provides one of the best tax breaks available. However, many taxpayers believe that any interest paid on their home mortgage loan is deductible. Sadly, they are wrong.

March, 2007

U.S. exporters, both domestic and foreign owned, take note! An old and in most cases forgotten export regime dating back to the 1970s has now reared its head again as an extremely beneficial tax savings strategy.

January, 2007

2005 marks the year that new tax law changes make yet another set of complicated tax laws take effect, which may have a large impact on the profitability of your export sales.

January, 2007

The U.S. offers some of the world's richest R&D tax incentives, but chances are you're not taking advantage of them and getting the cash you deserve.