The IRS recently provided guidance to real estate investors regarding the Qualified 
Business Income (QBI) deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA.) One of the weaknesses of the QBI provision of the TCJA was a lack of clarity in section 199A, which allows some taxpayers with pass-through businesses (e.g. LLCs and S-Corps,) to deduct 20% of their qualifying income.
Every year, a group of adventurous souls decides: This is the year I’m going to prepare my own tax return! While we certainly applaud an individual’s right to establish self-reliance and try to save money on preparation fees, it’s rarely a good idea.
The sad reality is more than 50% of marriages end in divorce. The median duration of a 
marriage in the United States is 11 years. Divorce is a reality and there are some important things you need to know from a financial and tax perspective.
Investing in real estate is a great way to develop wealth and improve your cash flow. In addition to the benefits of receiving monthly rental income, you can also potentially realize some significant tax benefits.
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National Taxpayer Advocate (NAS) Nina Olson, who is scheduled to retire on July 31st, 2019, addressed Congress for the 37th and presumably last time in her role. Olson, who has held the role of NAS for 18 years, addressed Congress to review the 2019 tax season and the state of the IRS. read more…
For many individuals, September means it is time to look for a new car since the upcoming year’s automobile models are introduced.
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The IRS announced this week in IRS Notice 2019-11 that it would not penalize taxpayers whose tax withholding and estimated tax payments fell short last year due to failing to 
change their withholding under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). read more…
The recent enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) brought many changes to how individuals and businesses are affected by our tax system.
Among the deductions affected was the deduction for meals and entertainment incurred in the course of operating a business. Prior to the enactment of the TCJA, which took effect for many provisions on January 1, the allowable deduction for meals and entertainment expenses was capped at 50% of the allowable amount of such costs that were incurred. Under the old law, no deduction was allowable unless the cost was either directly related to or associated with the conduct of business. read more…
In a blow to several high-tax states, a federal judge has upheld a key provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap.
Under the TCJA, congress placed a cap on the amount taxpayers could claim on their Schedule A for state and local taxes. read more…
It goes without saying that the death of one’s spouse is typically an extremely difficult emotional trauma. When one loses a spouse, the last thing on the surviving spouse’s mind is the tax issues to be addressed.
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Zinner & Co. proudly welcomes Karen J. Costantini, CPA, and Brian Lynch, MBA, to our team. Karen was named Senior Tax Manager, while Brian will serve in the role of Audit Senior. Karen Costantini With more than 25 years of experience involving all aspects of tax...
Have you ever received an email that looked a little off? These social engineering emails may say your password was compromised or that you won a gift card. They are a sneaky way scammers try to trick people into giving up personal information or clicking on dangerous...
The sales and use tax rate for Lake County (43) will increase from 7 percent to 7.25 percent effective July 1, 2025. Last year, LakeTran, the county's regional public transportation system, announced that it would pause the agency's quarter-of-a-percent sales tax,...
On April 9, vendor licenses will increase from $25 to $50. The change is due to the passage of HB 366, to support the Organized Crime Commission Fund. This fee increase will impact both county vendors and transient vendors’ licenses. A vendor license is required for...
Potential Income and Estate Tax Savings The death of a husband or wife can be an overwhelming time for the surviving spouse, especially when it comes to financial decisions. When a spouse dies, many surviving spouses elect to transfer retirement assets to their own...
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