Eversheds Sutherland Tax Reform Law Blog
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IRS To Extend Transfer Agreement Deadline

Section 965, enacted by the TCJA, imposes a one-time transition tax on certain U.S. shareholders. The proposed regulations under section 965 require corporations that have elected to make transition tax payments pursuant to an eight-year installment plan and have transferred substantially all of their assets to another corporation file certain transfer agreements by October 9. At the ABA Tax Conference, Daniel McCall, IRS deputy associate chief counsel, stated that the IRS plans to release imminently additional guidance on how and where to file such agreements, and thus, taxpayers will not...
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Proposed GILTI Regulations to Be Published in Federal Register

The proposed regulations for the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) under section 951A (REG-104390-18) are set to be published in the Federal Register on October 10. Released on September 13, the regulations set forth new reporting requirements and rules for calculating GILTI inclusions. Public comments on the proposed GILTI regulations must be received by December 9. 2018, 60 days after their publication in the Federal Register. Read the Proposed Regulations: REG-104390-18 Read More: Proposed regulations under GILTI provisions released in Federal Register
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Treasury and IRS Guidance will not Address Qualified Improvement Property

During an ABA Tax Section meeting in Atlanta on October 5, 2018, officials from the Treasury Department and the IRS announced that they will not be able to provide an administrative fix for the drafting error in the qualified improvement property provision of section 168(k).  Rather, the officials stated that Congress must make a technical correction, as the agencies do not have authority to administratively amend the “clear language in the statute.”  Section 168(k) was amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and was intended to allow qualified improvement property to qualify for full expensing...
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IRS Provides Interim Guidance on Expenses for Business Meals

The Treasury Department and IRS issued Notice 2018-76, offering interim guidance under section 274 of the Code. The guidance provides that taxpayers may treat certain business meal expenses as non-entertainment and may continue to deduct 50 percent of food and beverage expenses associated with operating their business or trade, so long as the expenses are not extravagant and the taxpayer was present. Under section 274, taxpayers are prohibited from deducting expenses related to entertainment, amusement, or recreation. The IRS and Treasury Department intend to publish proposed regulations...
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IRS Releases Additional Guidance on Section 965

The Treasury and the IRS have published Notice 2018-78, containing additional guidance on the proposed regulations for Section 965, which were published on August 9, 2018. The Notice provides that the final regulations (i) will not require taxpayers to make a binding basis election until at least 90 days after finalization of the proposed regulations; (ii) will permit all members of consolidated groups that are U.S. shareholders of a specified foreign corporation to be treated as a single U.S. shareholder for purposes of the exception to treating certain items as cash under proposed...
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House Approves Three New Tax Bills

On September 27, 2018, the House approved two bills that are part of a second package of tax law changes advanced by House Republicans (“Tax Reform 2.0”). The first bill would create universal savings accounts, expand the utility of section 529 education savings plans, and make the offering of employee retirement plans more accessible for small businesses. The second bill would provide additional benefits for start-up companies. Also, on September 28, 2018, the House approved a third bill, which would make permanent the individual tax cuts enacted by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Read the...
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IRS to Issue Proposed Regulations on Market Discount

The IRS and Treasury Department have recently announced (Notice 2018-80) that they plan to issue guidance providing that market discount is not includible in income under section 451(b), which was added to the Code by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  Under section 451(b), accrual method taxpayers generally must include an amount in gross income no later than when it is included in income in their financial statements. Read more: IRS Provides Guidance on Treatment of Market Discount
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House to Vote on Tax Reform 2.0 on Thursday and Friday

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady recently stated the House votes for Tax Reform 2.0 are scheduled to occur on Thursday and Friday. H.R. 6757, the Family Savings Act of 2018, and H.R. 6756, the American Innovation Act of 2018, are scheduled for votes on Thursday. H.R. 6760, the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018, is scheduled for vote on Friday. Read more: House to vote Friday on individual tax cuts: Republican tax chairman  
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Tax Reform 2.0 Will Likely Not Be Passed By Congress Before Midterms

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady recently stated that the three tax bills that together comprise the new tax reform package will likely not get through the Senate before midterm elections. The House Ways and Means Committee previously passed the bills through committee. The House is expected to vote the legislation later this month. Read More: Top House tax writer Kevin Brady doubts new GOP tax cuts can get through the Senate before midterm    
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Proposed GILTI Regulations Released

The IRS has released proposed regulations on global intangible low-tax income (GILTI) under section 951A, a provision added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  The proposed regulations set forth rules for calculating the GILTI inclusion and new reporting requirements, but do not address foreign tax credit rules, which will be addressed separately in the future. Public comments on the proposed regulations are due by 60 days after the proposed regulations are published in the federal register. Read the proposed regulations here: REG-104390-18 Read more here: IRS issues proposed regulations on...
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Tax Reform 2.0 Approved by House Ways and Means Committee

The House Ways and Means Committee approved the Tax Reform 2.0 package consisting of three bills. This overhaul package would make permanent the TCJA’s reduced rates for individuals along with several other provisions, including the $10,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, and the 20% deduction on certain pass-through business income.  A proposed amendment to repeal the SALT deduction cap was defeated in committee. The full House of Representatives may consider the bills now, with a vote planned this month. Read the Overhaul Package: H.R. 6760; H.R. 6757; H.R. 6756 Read more:...
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IRS Releases Draft Forms for Transition Tax and BEAT Reporting

The IRS released draft forms for reporting a taxpayer’s section 965 transition tax and section 59A base erosion and anti-abuse tax liabilities. The forms, titled Form 965 (“Inclusion of Deferred Foreign Income Upon Transition to Participation Exemption System”) and Form 8991 (“Tax on Base Erosion Payments of Taxpayers With Substantial Gross Receipts”), respectively, can be found on the IRS website. The IRS also released draft schedules for Form 965 (Schedules A through H). These schedules can be found on the IRS website as well.
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GILTI Regulations Reviewed by OMB

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”) proposed regulations. Section 951A, enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, generally taxes income earned by controlled foreign corporations at a reduced rate. Read more: OMB Completes Review of Regs on GILTI  
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Draft of Tax Reform 2.0 Introduced in Congress

House of Ways and Means Committee Chair Kevin Brady recently highlighted the introduction of three new tax bills that together comprise the new tax reform package. The drafts of new tax legislation deal primarily with individuals, retirement savings, and small businesses. H.R. 6760, the Protecting Family and Small Business Tax Cuts Act of 2018, would extend the 20 percent deduction on certain pass-through businesses and make permanent tax provisions related to individuals including reduced rates and the cap on state and local tax deductions. H.R. 6757, the Family Savings Act of 2018, would...
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Tax Reform 2.0 to be Marked Up This Thursday

According to its Chairman Kevin Brady, the House Ways and Means Committee will consider and mark-up “Tax Reform 2.0” legislation this Thursday. Released early last week, the Tax Reform 2.0 package consists of three bills to make permanent the individual tax cuts, pass-through provision under Section 199A and state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The framework provides that the Tax Reform 2.0 is about “locking in tax cuts for middle-class families and small businesses, and changing the culture in Washington so we continuously improve our tax code and...
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