Returning Value Blog

Complicated new rules for business owners

The new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) creates a brand-new deduction for pass-through entities, designed to provide a balance to corporations benefiting from tax rate cuts. But the deduction is not nearly as simple as the new flat 21% rate for corporations authorized by the TCJA. Although many tax experts are still grappling with the rules, here are the basics of what we know so far.

Ways the new tax law affects federal estate taxes.

Home  sale exclusion remains intact

Although Congress threatened to reduce the benefits of the home sale exclusion, the final version of the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) did not include a crackdown. As a result, if you sell your home at a huge profit and qualify under the existing rules, you can still exclude up to $250,000 of your gain—$500,000 if you’re married and file a joint return—from the sale of your home.

The “sandwich generation” accounts for a large segment of the population. These are people who find themselves caring for both their children and their parents at the same time. In some cases, this includes providing parents with financial support. As a result, estate planning — which traditionally focuses on providing for one’s children — has expanded in many cases to include aging parents as well.

Protect your wealth from creditors and litigants.

Understanding the implications of the Tax Reform Act will be critical in business planning for 2018. The Act placed stricter limits on what businesses can deduct for meals and entertainment and suspended the exclusion of moving expenses from an employee’s income.  Please see the tables below comparing the rules before and after the Act.

Here is a brief look at how the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill affects individuals.

On December 22, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill into law.  The bill will impact virtually every individual and business on a level not seen in over 30 years. We have attached a summary of the key provisions. 

One way to reduce your 2017 tax bill is to buy a business vehicle before year end. But don’t make a purchase without first looking at what your 2017 deduction would be and whether tax reform legislation could affect the tax benefit of a 2017 vs. 2018 purchase.