Articles From Lumsden McCormick

When a spouse passes away, the surviving spouse must decide whether to file a joint or separate tax return for the year of death. Filing jointly can offer benefits such as lower tax rates and larger credits, but it's important to consider the potential impact on deductions and other factors. Consulting a tax professional can help determine the best filing option.

Nonprofit and for-profit accounting differ significantly in focus and reporting. While for-profit organizations prioritize profitability and shareholder returns, nonprofits emphasize financial stability and transparency in support of their mission. These differences are reflected in their respective financial statements, such as the income statement versus the statement of activities, and the balance sheet versus the statement of financial position.

Manufacturers operating across state lines must understand their multistate tax liabilities, determined by whether their activities establish a nexus in each state. The U.S. Supreme Court's Wayfair decision and updated Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) guidelines have broadened the definition of nexus, making it essential for businesses to evaluate their tax obligations in each jurisdiction through a nexus study.

Partnerships and multi-member LLCs benefit from pass-through taxation, but they must adhere to complex federal tax rules. Properly drafted partnership and LLC operating agreements are essential for addressing key tax-related issues, including special tax allocations and distributions for covering tax liabilities. Seeking professional guidance can ensure compliance and optimize tax benefits.

Life insurance is a crucial component of estate planning, offering an immediate source of wealth and liquidity to address your family's financial needs after your passing.

Nonprofit organizations often face challenges when managing restricted donations, making it essential to implement clear procedures and maintain accountability to ensure funds are used as intended. Encouraging unrestricted gifts provides greater flexibility, and it’s important to handle donor relationships with care, especially when restrictions are involved.

While the cash method can offer significant tax benefits for qualifying businesses, some companies might find the accrual method more advantageous. It's crucial to assess which accounting method best suits your business’s needs to maximize tax benefits.

A landmark decision by the Supreme Court in Connelly v. United States has significant implications for how shares in closely held corporations are valued for estate tax purposes. The Supreme Court upheld that redemption obligations do not reduce the value of a corporation’s shares, creating a precedent that will likely affect future litigation and estate planning for family-owned businesses.

The IRS has issued final regulations for inherited IRAs, clarifying that most non-spouse beneficiaries must withdraw the entire balance within 10 years. These rules, effective in 2025, require annual distributions if the original account owner had started taking RMDs, while offering more flexibility for accounts where RMDs had not begun. Recent waivers also prevent penalties for missed distributions in certain cases.

A bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to revive and expand the universal charitable deduction, which temporarily allowed non-itemizing taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions during 2020 and 2021. The proposed Charitable Act aims to incentivize giving by increasing the allowable deduction, potentially boosting donations to nonprofits. However, the bill's future remains uncertain, and nonprofit organizations are actively advocating for its passage.