Summing It Up

Bona fide indebtedness determination lowers hurdle to obtain debt basis.

For S corporation shareholders, borrowing from one company they own to fund another is a common way to inject some cash into a growing business—especially in these days of conservative lending. But previously, if the funded company experienced losses and you wanted to take deductions for those losses on your personal tax returns, you had to meet a high bar to prove that loan increased your debt basis in the company.

As a result of the previous position of the IRS and tax courts, shareholders who borrowed from one related entity in order to loan to another had a particularly hard time defending their debt basis. But thanks to final rules from the IRS, that bar has been lowered and S corporation shareholders are now more likely to qualify for tax deductions for entity losses that have been passed through to them.

Bona Fide Indebtedness Determination

On July 23, the IRS issued final regulations on debt basis determinations for S corporation shareholders (T.D. 9682). These final rules implement a “bona fide” debt basis determination as opposed to the controversial “economic outlay” doctrine that has been developed by the courts over the last several years. 

Under the economic outlay doctrine, in order to obtain debt basis an S corporation shareholder must incur a true economic outlay through a transaction, which when fully consummated, left the taxpayer poorer in a material sense.

On the other hand, bona fide indebtedness is determined under general Federal tax principles and depends on all the facts and circumstances. Basically, a bona fide debt is one that creates a true debtor-creditor relationship that is based on a valid and enforceable obligation to pay a fixed or determinable amount of money. This means that shareholders who structure and document their loans to an S Corporation in the correct way can now qualify for debt basis in that S corporation, and as a result, can claim current tax deductions for their share of any losses that S corporation experiences.

This is a win for both the shareholder and the company.  The shareholder has potential for additional deductions and the company gets a cash infusion that has potential tax minimizing opportunities for the shareholder.

Back-to-Back Opportunity

Previously, the IRS and tax court often used the economic outlay doctrine to deny debt basis to shareholders for funds borrowed from a related entity and then loaned to the S corporation by the shareholder. These transactions are often referred to as back-to-back loans. The reasoning was that, by borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, the shareholder was not considered to be making a true economic outlay.

But with the new debt basis rules, shareholders who structure and document their back-to-back loans to qualify as bona fide indebtedness (see below) are more likely to obtain debt basis—and claim tax deductions—as result of those loans.

The Look-Back Opportunity

While the final debt basis rules were issued with minimal changes to the proposed regulations, one significant highlight is that the final rules did expand their application to open tax years.

What does this mean for you? In addition to the potential tax benefits of restructuring related entity loans going forward, shareholders who have made back-to-back loans in any open tax year and didn’t increase their debt basis now have the opportunity to go back and claim deductions for any previously disallowed losses—if they can demonstrate there was bona fide indebtedness.

Determining Bona Fide Indebtedness

While there is no bright-line test to prove that a debt is bona fide, the key is to demonstrate that there is a true debtor-creditor relationship. Based on federal tax principles, the following steps can help support the determination of bona fide indebtedness:

1. Make sure there is documentary evidence of the transaction (i.e. a written loan agreement).
2. Both parties should reflect the transaction as a loan in their records.
3. Setup a fixed repayment schedule and make efforts to follow the schedule in order to create a history of regular repayments.
4. The loan should require interest and the rate should be at least as much as the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR).
5. Consider collateral to secure the debt.
6. A demand for repayment should be issued if necessary.
7. There needs to be intent to create a valid debtor-creditor relationship and the lender must have an expectation of receiving repayment at the time of the loan.

Review S Corporation Financing Strategy

If you are a shareholder in one or more S corporations, work with your tax advisor to review any existing or prospective loans for the opportunity to demonstrate bona fide indebtedness—and therefore obtain debt basis to claim current tax deductions for any entity losses in the future and/or any suspended losses in open tax years.

Going forward, you and your CPA might find that funding S corporations with properly structured back-to-back loans provides a tax-advantaged way to finance a new venture with funds from a more established company.

On March 31, 2014, New York State enacted comprehensive corporate franchise tax reform with the passage of the 2014-2015 NY budget legislation. This legislation includes new rate structures, new rules for banks, changes the economic nexus rules, changes the rules on combined reporting, revises the net operating loss provisions, and changes sourcing of income and apportionment.  

The changes take effect over multiple years and this legislation will result in planning for the most advantageous entity structure for N.Y. State purposes for both existing and new businesses. 

Unfortunately, these changes will negatively impact utilization of non-refundable N.Y. State income tax credits by qualified NY manufacturers. 

Check out our educational alert, providing an overview of the corporate franchise tax reform. 

If you have additional questions, or need assistance with N.Y. State entity structuring to maximize utilization of tax incentives under the new corporate tax regime, CONTACT US today.

As we approach the tax day deadline, we’ve compiled a summary of proposed changes to tax
law that will affect you next tax season.

President Obama renewed his call for expanding child, family and education tax credits in his fiscal Year (FY) 2015 budget proposals as well as for curbing some tax preferences for higher income individuals and businesses. Many of the proposals are familiar from past budgets, but for FY 2015 the White House is placing special emphasis on passing tax reform for families and lower income individuals.

To learn more, check out this SPECIAL REPORT.

By: Sandra DeSimone, CPA, Manager

If your organization is considering applying for tax exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you may want to consider doing it on-line.

Peter Lorenzetti, the IRS Northeast Exempt Organization Exam Manager, recently presented at the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants Exempt Organizations Conference. The presentation discussed the September 2013 IRS launch of the much anticipated interactive on-line Form 1023 Application for Recognition of Exemption under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The online version of the form 1023 was designed to make the application process more efficient and user friendly. When the application is being filled out on-line, there are pop-up boxes with instructions and information to assist the user. According to Lorenzetti, since its launch, 166 applications for tax exempt status have been completed using the new interactive Form 1023 and the comments from users have been positive.

How long will it take for an application to be approved? 

Recently, the IRS has come under scrutiny for long wait times of application approvals. Lorenzetti noted the average application takes six months to be approved. Some causes for delayed applications are submission of incorrect user fee, and/or inaccurate or incomplete applications. Key wording also needs to be targeted in the narratives, to demonstrate the mission of the organization. It is suggested that the application be thoroughly reviewed before submitting it to the IRS.

We suggest your organization obtain professional advice with your organization’s application for tax exempt status. Freed Maxick CPA’s is an expert in the process. We can either prepare your application or review it before it is submitted. Contact Us today to get connected to a professional who can help.

By: Amanda Roth, Senior Tax Manager

Halloween is a signifier of many things. It brings to mind the fall season, children running around in costumes, carving pumpkins, baking apple pies, and eating candy. Few look at the picture at right and think about paying sales tax. But sales tax applies to many things- including Halloween items. Here are a few sales tax facts to consider this Halloween.

In New York State, sales of pie pumpkins, gourds, and other items sold in supermarkets that are used by a purchaser in cooking pies, cakes, breads, cookies, etc., are exempt from New York sales tax because they constitute food sold for human consumption. However, decorative and carving pumpkins (including decoration gourds) are not being marketed or sold in their normal or intended use for human consumption. Thus, decorative pumpkins and gourds, and carving pumpkins, whether sold in supermarkets, farm stands, nurseries, or other businesses, are not sold as “food” and constitute tangible personal property subject to sales tax.  So if you are buying a pumpkin which you will use to bake a pie then it is exempt from New York sales tax.  However, if you are buying a carving pumpkin to carve a jack-o-lantern, that pumpkin is subject to New York sales tax.

In addition, generally, food, food products, beverages, dietary foods and health supplements sold for human consumption are not subject to New York sales tax. However, the exemption does not apply to candy and confectionery. Therefore, Halloween candy is subject to New York sales tax.

Also, beginning April 1, 2012, there is an exemption from New York state sales and use tax for clothing, footwear, and items used to make or repair clothing, costing less than $110 per item or pair. This exemption does not apply to locally imposed sales and use taxes unless the county or city imposing those taxes elected the exemption.  For purposes of the exemption, the term "clothing and footwear" is defined to mean: clothing and footwear to be worn by human beings. This does not include costumes or rented formal wear;  fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks, zippers and like items that are used or consumed to make or repair such clothing (other than costumes or rented formal wear) and become a physical component part of the clothing. Therefore, the pants you buy to take you child “trick or treating” are exempt from New York sales tax but your child’s Halloween costume is subject to New York sales tax.

New York state sales tax is complicated and most areas are not straight forward. Sometimes the use of an item dictates whether and item is subject to sales tax. If sales tax is this complex for Halloween items, imagine how complicated they can be when considering whether your business needs to collect sales tax.

For information about how Freed Maxick can help guide and manage your individual or business tax strategies, contact us to learn more.

2013 may be the last opportunity for taxpayers to take advantage of bonus depreciation, an enhanced Code Section 179 expensing deduction, and Code Section 179D deduction for energy efficient improvements to commercial buildings. 

By: Jennifer A Birkemeier, CPA
Senior Manager, CSP360
http://www.csp-360.com

Taxpayers considering making significant capital investments in property in the near future should consider making such investments by December 31, 2013 to enjoy these lucrative tax benefits. These tax benefits may allow the entire cost to be expensed  for the 2013 tax year instead of a deduction claimed over a period of years under the MACRS depreciation rules. Given the tax increases and new taxes effective beginning with the 2013 tax year, the ability to deduct capital investments in property could result in a significant tax savings.

Bonus depreciation, as defined in Code Section 168(k), was first introduced in 2001 and has been extended & enhanced several times over the past 12 years. This tax incentive allows for a percentage of an asset’s basis, currently 50%, to be expensed immediately while the remaining basis is depreciated over the MACRS recovery period. If the law is not extended, bonus depreciation will not be available for property placed in service after December 31, 2013. To qualify for bonus depreciation, the asset must qualify as new property that has not been previously used by another taxpayer.

Code Section 179 currently allows a taxpayer to expense up to $500,000 of qualifying property placed in service during the 2013 tax year. The property must be personal property and the maximum amount of qualifying property that a taxpayer may place in service during 2013 is $2,000,000 before the deduction begins to phase out. Beginning with the 2014 tax year, the Code Section 179 deduction will be lowered to $25,000. The ability to expense up to $500,000 has helped many taxpayers decide to proceed with asset acquisitions in 2013.  

Taxpayers have the opportunity to receive immediate tax deductions for energy efficient improvements that they have made to a building since 2006. Code Section 179D provides a deduction of up to $1.80 per Square Foot for energy efficient lighting, HVAC and building envelope improvements that a taxpayer has placed in service by December 31, 2013. There is also an opportunity to review improvements since2006 and claim deductions that a taxpayer may have missed. There are several requirements to receive the Code Section 179D deduction that include receiving a specific certification from a qualified individual. In addition, for government owned buildings the deduction can be allocated to the architect or engineer who is primarily responsible for the design of the energy efficient improvements.

CSP360 is a subsidiary of Freed Maxick, CPAs in Buffalo NY. Freed Maxick CPAs is a Top 100 accounting Firm, and one of the leading providers of Cost Segregation and consulting services. Our philosophy is to offer clients a 360 approach to a taxpayer’s fixed assets; pairing engineering and LEED specialists with accountants for a truly unique tax advisory team. Since 1995, our in house team has provided specialty studies to CPAs in a private label arrangement. Products include Cost Segregation, Code Section 179D Energy Studies and Code Section 263(a) repair studies. CSP360 is Circular 230 compliant and has proven methodologies that are sustainable in the event of an IRS examination. To learn more about our unique approach click here.