Contributions to Trump accounts will be treated as completed gifts that are not future interests in property and the gift tax annual exclusion amount will apply under a safe harbor for certain donors making contributions to Trump accounts created under Code Sec. 530A.

Contributions to Trump accounts will be treated as completed gifts that are not future interests in property and the gift tax annual exclusion amount will apply under a safe harbor for certain donors making contributions to Trump accounts created under Code Sec. 530A.

Pursuant to the rules of Code Sec. 530A, distributions from Trump accounts are limited during the growth period, which is the period ending on January 1 of the year in which the account beneficiary attains age 18. During the growth period, annual contributions are limited to $5,000 per year, as adjusted for inflation after 2027. Gifts of future interests in property are not eligible for the annual gift tax exclusion and must be reported on a federal gift tax return.

The safe harbor applies for a particular year if the following requirements of section 4.02 are met:

• The taxpayer is an individual;
• The only taxable gifts made by the taxpayer during the calendar year are cash contributions to one or more Trump accounts, each made before the calendar year in which the account beneficiary attains age 18;
• The taxpayer's total gifts during the calendar year to each individual who is an account beneficiary, including contributions to that individual beneficiary's Trump account, do not exceed the Code Sec. 2503(b) annual exclusion;
• Such contributions to Trump accounts during the calendar year do not generate for that year either a gift or generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax liability after application of the taxpayer's remaining applicable credit amount against the gift tax or remaining GST exemption; and
• Disregarding the Trump account contributions described in section 4.02(2) of the revenue procedure, a gift tax return is not required to be filed, and no gift tax return is otherwise filed for that calendar year by or on behalf of the taxpayer for any other purposes.

If these requirements are satisfied, each Trump account contribution made by the taxpayer during the calendar year will be treated as a completed gift to the account beneficiary that is not a future interest in property and to which the annual exclusion applies for purposes of gift and GST tax reporting. As a result, taxpayers within the scope of the safe harbor will not be required to file a gift tax return reporting the such contributions.

Rev. Proc. 2026-25

IR 2026-80

The IRS has issued final regulations identifying certain Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT) transactions and substantially similar transactions as listed transactions subject to the reportable transaction disclosure rules. The regulations require participants and material advisors to disclose these transactions to the IRS while clarifying that charitable organizations whose only interest is as charitable remaindermen are not treated as participants or parties to prohibited tax shelter transactions. The regulations are effective July 9, 2026.

The IRS has issued final regulations identifying certain Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (CRAT) transactions and substantially similar transactions as listed transactions subject to the reportable transaction disclosure rules. The regulations require participants and material advisors to disclose these transactions to the IRS while clarifying that charitable organizations whose only interest is as charitable remaindermen are not treated as participants or parties to prohibited tax shelter transactions. The regulations are effective July 9, 2026.

Under Code Secs. 6011 and 6707A, the IRS may identify transactions with tax avoidance potential as listed transactions. The final regulations add Reg. §1.6011-15, identifying transactions in which appreciated property is contributed to a purported CRAT, sold by the trust, and the sale proceeds are used to purchase an annuity, with the beneficiary improperly treating the annuity payments under Code Sec. 72 instead of applying the distribution ordering rules of Code Sec. 664(b).

Although participants and material advisors remain subject to the applicable disclosure requirements, organizations described in Code Sec. 170(c) that merely receive the charitable remainder interest are excluded from participant status and are not treated as parties to prohibited tax shelter transactions under Code Sec. 4965 solely because of that interest. The IRS finalized the regulations without substantive changes from the proposed regulations issued in 2024.

T.D. 10051

IR 2026-82

A portion of litigation settlement proceeds consisting of attorney’s fees and costs was includible in the gross income of two individuals (taxpayers). Said portion was not deductible under Code Sec. 62(a)(20). The Fair Credit Reporting Act’s (FCRA) (P.L. 91-508) fee-shifting provisions were inapplicable in this case.

A portion of litigation settlement proceeds consisting of attorney’s fees and costs was includible in the gross income of two individuals (taxpayers). Said portion was not deductible under Code Sec. 62(a)(20). The Fair Credit Reporting Act’s (FCRA) (P.L. 91-508) fee-shifting provisions were inapplicable in this case.

Background

The taxpayers sued multiple credit reporting agencies under FCRA provisions. They eventually settled with each agency. In all relevant Forms 1099–MISC the settlement amounts were reflected without the attorney’s fees and costs.

Civil Rights Interpretation for FCRA Claims Denied

The taxpayers’ FCRA claims of unlawful discrimination did not fall under Code Sec. 62(e)(18)(i). Said claims were based on fair and accurate credit reporting and not consumer privacy. Particularly, the taxpayers’ concerns did not fall under “highly sensitive” and “intimate personal information” categories.

J.W. Eiler, 167 T.C. No. 3, Dec. 62,865

The IRS has reminded taxpayers that major life events can affect tax filing requirements, eligibility for tax benefits and the amount of tax withheld from paychecks. The agency explained that changes such as marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, divorce or the death of a loved one may require updates to tax information and a review of filing status.

The IRS has reminded taxpayers that major life events can affect tax filing requirements, eligibility for tax benefits and the amount of tax withheld from paychecks. The agency explained that changes such as marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, divorce or the death of a loved one may require updates to tax information and a review of filing status. A name change following marriage should be reported to the Social Security Administration so the updated name matches Social Security records. An address change should be reported to the IRS by filing Form 8822, Change of Address, and employers, financial institutions and the U.S. Postal Service should also be notified. Marriage may also require submission of a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Certificate, to ensure the correct amount of tax is withheld.

Additionally, the IRS noted that the birth or adoption of a child may make a taxpayer eligible for valuable tax benefits, including the Child Tax Credit, Adoption Credit and Child and Dependent Care Credit, if applicable requirements are satisfied. Divorce or the death of a spouse may also affect filing status, tax withholding and eligibility for certain tax benefits. The IRS encouraged prompt updates to tax records, careful evaluation of changes affecting tax obligations and use of available IRS resources to better understand the tax consequences of major life events. Early action can help avoid filing issues, support accurate tax reporting, maximize available tax benefits and improve preparation for the next tax filing season.

IRS Tax Tip 2026-55

The Internal Revenue Service received and processed less returns during 2026, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

The Internal Revenue Service received and processed less returns during 2026, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

In a recently released report, TIGTA stated that from March 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026, the IRS received 51.5 million tax returns, down from 52. 4 million in the previous year, though it did see a significant drop in paper returns received from 1.2 million in 2025 to 618,000 in 2026. Of the returns received in 2026, the agency processed 50.9 million returns, down from 51.8 million.

From the beginning of the 2026 tax filing season to the end of February 2026, TIGTA reported that the inventory backlog in key tax return processing programs increased from 1.9 million to 2.4 million. Additionally, nearly 75 percent of the amended return inventory is over-aged during the 2026 tax filing season.

“Generally, inventories increase during the filing season as the IRS balances efforts to answer phone calls and reduce inventories,” TIGTA stated in the report. “However, with the reduction in staff, increases in key inventories could become a concern.”

The number of refunds dipped to 36.5 million from 36.9 million, although there was a $360 increase in the average refund from $3,382 in 2025 to $3,742.

TIGTA also reported that the IRS did not meet its hiring goals for the 2026 tax filing season. The agency had been approved to hire 1,900 employees for submission processing (these workers process original and amended returns and resolve tax return errors) but only onboarded 800 individuals. Likewise, it was approved to hire 3,500 account management employees (handlers of taxpayer contacts through telephone and mail and process adjustments) but brought 2,300 on board.

Submission processing management said it would be onboarding new hires throughout the tax season, while account management leadership had no plans to hire new employees and would only be onboarding those who previously received offers but had delays in the hiring process.

In a positive from the 2026 season, TIGTA reported that the new and modified “e-file business rules associated with the child tax Credit, state and local tax deduction, and adoption credit are working as intended.”

Taxpayer Assistance Centers offered incorrect tax guidance during nearly half of unannounced visits by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration staff.

Taxpayer Assistance Centers offered incorrect tax guidance during nearly half of unannounced visits by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration staff.

According to a recent TIGTA report, during the 2025 tax filing season, the Treasury watchdog made 91 unannounced visits to TACs nationwide at various time (regular and extended hours), at the 61 visits where TIGTA staff did receive assistance, “TAC employees did not provide the correct tax law guidance during 28 of those visits (46 percent).”

TAC employees were presented with questions across one of the three areas – injured spouse, selling your main home, and American Opportunity Tax Credit. The report notes that for questions related to tax law topics, “TAC employees must use the Interactive Tax Law Assistant ITLA) tool to respond to taxpayers. The ITLA tool asks a series of questions, then generates accurate and complete responses based on the taxpayer’s situation. The tool is designed for TAC employees and is intended to improve operational performance in the areas of quality, efficiency, customers satisfaction, and employee satisfaction.”

TIGTA noted that during the 2025 filing season, “managers counseled several TAC employees for not using the ITLA tool during taxpayer interactions. During our site visits, we also observed that TAC employees did not always the ITLA tool to answer our tax law questions.”

Additionally, of those 91 visits, TIGTA “did not receive full assistance during 30 of our 91 visits due to incomplete or inaccurate responses to tax law questions, denial of entry by security or unexpected TAC closures.”

Incentive stock options (ISOs) give employees a "piece of the action" while allowing employers to attract workers at relatively inexpensive costs. However, before you accept that job offer, there are some intricate rules regarding the taxation of ISOs that you should understand.

ISOs give employees a "piece of the action" while allowing employers to attract workers at relatively inexpensive costs. However, before you accept that job offer, there are some intricate rules regarding the taxation of ISOs that you should understand.

How are ISOs taxed?

An incentive stock option is an option granted to you as an employee which gives you the right to purchase the stock of your employer without realizing income either when the option is granted or when it is exercised. You are first taxed when you sell or otherwise dispose of the option stock. You then have capital gain equal to the sale proceeds minus the option price, provided that the holding period requirement is met.

Note. The IRS has temporarily suspended collection of ISO alternative minimum tax (AMT) liabilities through September 30, 2008.

How long do I need to hold ISOs to get capital gain treatment?

To obtain favorable tax treatment, the stock acquired under an incentive stock option qualifies for favorable long-term capital gain tax treatment only if it is not disposed of before the later of two years from the date of the grant of the option, or one year from the date of the exercise of the option. If this holding period is not satisfied, the portion of the gain equal to the difference between the fair market value (FMV) of the stock at the time of exercise and the option price is taxed as compensation income rather than capital gain. In this case, you may be subject to the higher rate of income imposed on ordinary income.

For example, your employer granted you an incentive stock option on April 1, 2006, and you exercised the option on October 1, 2006, you must not sell the stock until April 1, 2008, to obtain favorable tax treatment (the later of two years from the date of the grant or one year from the date of exercise).

What key dates should I remember?

Because of the importance of receiving capital gain treatment, it is important that you keep in mind key dates such as the date of grant of the ISO and its date of exercise. These periods are measured from the date on which all acts necessary to grant the option or exercise the option have been completed. Therefore, the date of grant is treated as the date on which the board of directors or the stock option committee completes the corporate action which constitutes an offer of stock, rather than the date on which the option agreement is prepared. The date of exercise is the date on which the corporation receives notice of the exercise of the option and payment for the stock, rather than the date the shares of stock are actually transferred.

Will I be subject to alternative minimum tax?

The effect of the alternative minimum tax (AMT) on ISOs can amount to a potential trap for the unwary. This is because under the regular tax there is no tax until the stock is sold or otherwise disposed of. Under the AMT, however, the trap takes place when the ISO is exercised, since alternative minimum taxable income includes the difference between the FMV of the stock on the date the ISO is exercised and the price paid for the stock (the "ISO spread").

If you pay AMT, you are given a credit against regular income tax for the portion of the AMT attributable to ISOs and other tax preference items that result in deferral of income tax. The credit is taken in later years when no AMT is due, and may be taken to the extent that regular tax liability exceeds tentative minimum tax liability. The effect of this is that the AMT is a prepayment of tax, rather than an additional tax.

Since the AMT only applies if it is higher than your regular income tax, one strategy is to time the exercise of ISOs each year to come under the AMT exemption levels. Purely from a tax standpoint, the ideal situation is to exercise ISOs each year that would result in AMT equal to your regular tax. Of course, other factors, such as market conditions, financial needs, etc. may play a greater role in deciding when to exercise an option. If you pay high property tax or state income tax, you may find it more challenging to calculate the optimum exercise of ISOs in relation to the AMT, since both of these deductions are counted against their annual AMT exemption.

ISOs can be a nice additional employee benefit when considering a job offer. However, because the tax implications surrounding certain key trigger events related to ISOs can have a significant impact on your tax liability, we suggest that you contact the office for additional guidance.

For homeowners, the exclusion of all or a portion of the gain on the sale of their principal residence is an important tax break.

For homeowners, the exclusion of all or a portion of the gain on the sale of their principal residence is an important tax break. The maximum amount of gain from the sale or exchange of a principal residence that may be excluded from income is generally $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers).

Unfortunately, the $500,000/$250,000 exclusion has a few traps, including a "loophole" closer that reduces the homesale exclusion for periods of "nonqualifying use." Careful planning, however, can alleviate many of them. Here is a review of the more prominent problems that homeowners may experience with the homesale exclusion and some suggestions on how you might avoid them:

Reduced homesale exclusion. The Housing Assistance Tax Act of 2008 modifies the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence, providing that gain from the sale of principal residence will no longer be excluded from income for periods that the home was not used as a principal residence. For example, if you used the residence as a vacation home prior to using it as a principal residence. These periods are referred to as "nonqualifying use." This income inclusion rule applies to home sales after December 31, 2008 and is based on nonqualified use periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009, under a generous transition rule. A specific formula is used to determine the amount of gain allocated to nonqualifying use periods.

Use and ownership. Moreover, in order to qualify for the $250,000/$500,000 exclusion, your home must be used and owned by you as your principal residence for at least 2 out of the last 5 years of ownership before sale. Moving into a new house early, or delaying the move, may cost you the right to exclude any and all gain on the home sale from tax.

Incapacitated taxpayers. If you become physically or mentally incapable of self-care, the rules provide that you are deemed to use a residence as a principal residence during the time in which you own the residence and reside in a licensed care facility (e.g., a nursing home), as long as at least a one-year period of use (under the regular rules) is already met. Moving in with an adult child, even if professional health care workers are hired, will not lower the use time period to one year since care is not in a "licensed care facility." In addition, some "assisted-living" arrangements may not qualify as well.

Pro-rata sales. Under an exception, a sale of a residence more frequently than once every two years is allowed, with a pro-rata allocation of the $500,000/$250,000 exclusion based on time, if the sale is by reason of a change in place of employment, health, or other unforeseen circumstances to be specified under pending IRS rules. Needless to say, it is very important that you make certain that you take steps to make sure that you qualify for this exception, because no tax break is otherwise allowed. For example, health in this circumstance does not require moving into a licensed care facility, but the extent of the health reason for moving must be substantiated.

Tax basis. Under the old rules, you were advised to keep receipts of any capital improvements made to your house so that the cost basis of your residence, for purposes of determining the amount of gain, may be computed properly. In a rapidly appreciating real estate market, you should continue to keep these receipts. Death or divorce may unexpectedly reduce the $500,000 exclusion of gain for joint returns to the $250,000 level reserved for single filers. Even if the $500,000 level is obtained, if you have held your home for years, you may find that the exclusion may fall short of covering all the gain realized unless receipts for improvements are added to provide for an increased basis when making this computation.

Some gain may be taxed. Even if you move into a new house that costs more than the selling price of the old home, a tax on gain will be due (usually 20%) to the extent the gain exceeds the $500,000/$250,000 exclusion. Under the old rules, no gain would have been due.

Home office deduction. The home office deduction may have a significant impact on your home sale exclusion. The gain on the portion of the home that has been written off for depreciation, utilities and other costs as an office at home may not be excluded upon the sale of the residence. One way around this trap is to cease home office use of the residence sufficiently before the sale to comply with the rule that all gain (except attributable to recaptured home office depreciation) is excluded to the extent the taxpayer has not used a home office for two out of the five years prior to sale.

Vacation homes. As mentioned, in order to qualify for the $250,000/$500,000 exclusion, the home must be used and owned by you or your spouse (in the case of a joint return) as your principal residence for at least 2 out of the last 5 years of ownership before sale. Because of this rule, some vacation homeowners who have seen their resort properties increase in value over the years are moving into these homes when they retire and living in them for the 2 years necessary before selling in order to take full advantage of the gain exclusion. For example, doing this on a vacation home that has increased $200,000 in value over the years can save you $40,000 in capital gains tax. However, keep in mind the reduced homesale exclusion for periods of nonqualifying use.

As you can see, there is more to the sale of residence gain exclusion than meets the eye. Before you make any decisions regarding buying or selling any real property, please consider contacting the office for additional information and guidance.

Q. A large portion of my portfolio is invested in Internet stocks and with the recent market downturn, I've accumulated some substantial losses on certain stocks. Although I think these stocks will eventually turn around, I'd love to use some of those losses to offset gains from other stocks I'd like to sell. From a tax standpoint, can I sell stock at a loss and then turn around and immediately buy it back?

Q. A large portion of my portfolio is invested in Internet stocks and with the recent market downturn, I've accumulated some substantial losses on certain stocks. Although I think these stocks will eventually turn around, I'd love to use some of those losses to offset gains from other stocks I'd like to sell. From a tax standpoint, can I sell stock at a loss and then turn around and immediately buy it back?

A. If only it were that simple. The transaction you are proposing is considered a "wash sale" in the eyes of the IRS. A wash sale is the sale of a security (e.g., stock or bond) at a loss where the taxpayer turns around and buys back substantially the same security within 30 days. With the wash sale rules, the IRS seeks to eliminate the ability to deduct current losses on these types of transactions, and instead allows a basis adjustment to the new security purchased, in effect deferring the recognition of the earlier loss.

Example: You sell 1,000 shares of Dotcom Co. stock at a loss of $2,000. Next week, you buy another 1,000 shares of the same company's stock for $5,000. Instead of allowing the deduction of the $2,000 on your return, the wash sale rules say you must instead adjust the basis of your newest purchase to $7,000. When you go to sell the stock later at say $10,000, instead of having a $5,000 gain ($10,000 sales price minus $5,000 purchase price), your gain would only be $3,000 ($10,000 sales price minus $7,000 adjusted basis).

So how do you avoid the wash sale rules? Keep good track of the purchase and sale dates of your securities. If you do feel the need to reinvest in a similar investment vehicle, make sure that some element of the new security is different enough to avoid the "substantially similar" rule (e.g., if you sell a stock mutual fund, you can purchase another type of stock mutual fund.) As always, please contact the office if you need further clarification of the wash sale rules.

Q. The recent upturn in home values has left me with quite a bit of equity in my home. I would like to tap into this equity to pay off my credit cards and make some major home improvements. If I get a home equity loan, will the interest I pay be fully deductible on my tax return?

Q. The recent upturn in home values has left me with quite a bit of equity in my home. I would like to tap into this equity to pay off my credit cards and make some major home improvements. If I get a home equity loan, will the interest I pay be fully deductible on my tax return?

A. For most people, all interest paid on a home equity loan would be fully deductible as an itemized deduction on their personal tax returns. However, due to changes made to tax laws governing home mortgage interest deduction in 1987, there are limitations and special circumstances that must be considered when determining how much of your home mortgage interest expense is deductible.

Mortgages secured by your qualified home generally fall under one of three classifications for purposes of determining the home mortgage interest deduction: grandfathered debt, home acquisition debt, and home equity debt. Grandfathered debt is simply home mortgage debt taken out prior to October 14, 1987 (including subsequent refinancing of that debt). The other two types of mortgage debt are discussed below. A "qualified home" is your main or second home and, in addition to a house or condominium, can include any property with sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities (e.g., boat, trailer).

Home Acquisition Debt

Home acquisition debt is a mortgage (including a refinanced loan) taken out after October 13, 1987 that is secured by a qualified home and where the proceeds were used to buy, build, or substantially improve that qualified home. "Substantial improvements" are home improvements that add to the value of your home, prolong the useful life of your home, or adapt your home to new uses.

In general, interest expense on home acquisition debt of up to $1 million ($500,000 if married filing separately) is fully deductible. Keep in mind, though, that to the extent that the mortgage debt exceeds the cost of the home plus any substantial improvements, your mortgage interest will be limited. Mortgage interest expense on this excess debt may be deductible as home equity debt (see below).

Example: You have a home worth $400,000 with a first mortgage of $200,000. If you get a home equity loan of $125,000 to build a new addition to your home, your mortgage interest would be fully deductible.

Home Equity Debt

Home equity debt is debt that is secured by your qualified home and that does not qualify as home acquisition debt. There are generally no limits on the use of the proceeds of this type of loan to retain interest deductibility.

The amount of mortgage debt that can be treated as home equity debt for purposes of the mortgage interest deduction is the smaller of a) $100,000 ($50,000 if married filing separately) or b) the total of each qualified home's fair market value (FMV) reduced by home acquisition debt & debt secured prior to October 14, 1987. Mortgage debt in excess of these limits would be treated as non-deductible personal interest.

Example: You have a home worth $400,000 with a first mortgage of $200,000. If you get a home equity loan of $125,000 to pay off your credit cards (you really like to shop!), your mortgage interest deduction would be limited to the amount paid on only $100,000 of the home equity debt.

In addition to the above limitations, there are other circumstances that, if present, can affect your home equity debt interest expense deduction. Here are a few examples:

As illustrated above, determining your deduction for mortgage interest paid can be more complex than it appears. Before you obtain a home equity loan, please feel free to contact the office for advice on how it may affect your potential home mortgage interest deduction.

As a new business owner, you probably expect to incur many expenses before you even open the doors. What you might not know is how these starting up costs are handled for tax purposes. A little knowledge about how these costs will affect your (or your business') tax return can reduce any unexpected surprises when tax time comes around.

As a new business owner, you probably expect to incur many expenses before you even open the doors. What you might not know is how these starting up costs are handled for tax purposes. A little knowledge about how these costs will affect your (or your business') tax return can reduce any unexpected surprises when tax time comes around.

Starting a new business can be an exciting, although expensive, event that finds you, the small business owner, with a constantly open wallet. In most cases, all costs that you incur on behalf of your new company before you open the doors are capital expenses that increase the basis of your business. However, some of these pre-opening expenditures may be amortizable over a period of time if you choose. Pre-opening expenditures that are eligible for amortization will fall into one of two categories: start-up costs or organizational costs.

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs are certain costs associated with creating an active trade or business, investigating the creation or acquisition of an active trade or business, or purchasing an existing trade or business. If, before your business commences, you incur any cost that would normally be deductible as a business expense during the normal course of business, this would qualify as a start-up cost. Examples of typical start-up costs include attorney's fees, pre-opening advertising, fees paid for consultants, and travel costs. However, deductible interest taxes, and research and development (R&D) expenses are treated differently.

Start-up costs are amortized as a group on the business' tax return (or your own return on Schedule C, if you are a sole proprietor) over a period of no less than 60 months. The amortization period would begin in the month that your business began operations. In order to be able to claim the deduction for amortization related to start-up costs, a statement must be filed with the return for the first tax year you are in business by the due date for that return (plus extensions). However, both early (pre-opening) and late (not more than 6 months) submissions of the statement will be accepted by the IRS.

Organizational Costs

Organizational costs are those costs incurred associated with the organization of a corporation or partnership. If a cost is incurred before the commencement of business that is related to the creation of the entity, is chargeable to a capital account, and could be amortized over the life of the entity (if the entity had a fixed life), it would qualify as an organizational cost. Examples of organizational costs include attorney's fees, state incorporation fees, and accounting fees.

Organizational costs are amortized using the same method as start-up costs (see above), although it is not necessary to use the same amortization period for both. A similar statement must be completed and filed with the company's business tax return for the business' first tax year.

Before you decide which, if any, pre-opening expenditures related to your new business you'd like to treat as start-up or organizational costs, please contact our office for additional guidance.

Q. My wife and I are both retired and are what you might call "social gamblers". We like to play bingo and buy lottery tickets, and take an occasional trip to Las Vegas to play the slot machines. Are we required to report all of our winnings on our tax return? Can we deduct our losses?

Q. My wife and I are both retired and are what you might call "social gamblers." We like to play bingo and buy lottery tickets, and take an occasional trip to Las Vegas to play the slot machines. Are we required to report all of our winnings on our tax return? Can we deduct our losses?

A. The technical answers to your questions are "yes" and "maybe," respectively. However, does it make much practical sense to report your $50 jackpot from the Sunday afternoon bingo game at the church? Probably not. In most circumstances, the taxpayer's cumulative gambling losses far exceed any winnings he may have had.

Here are the technical rules regarding reporting gambling winnings and losses:

Gambling winnings are taxable income and should be reported on your income tax return. In addition to cash winnings, you are required to report the fair market value (FMV) of all non-cash prizes you receive. For the most part, you are on the honor system when it comes to reporting small winnings to the IRS. Large payouts, on the other hand, will most likely be accompanied by IRS Form W-2G and a substantial amount will be deducted for withholding. Gambling winnings should be reported as "Other income" on the front page of Form 1040.

Gambling losses may only be included on your tax return if you itemize your deductions and then they are only deductible up to the amount of your gambling winnings. If you do itemize, those losses would be included as a miscellaneous itemized deduction not subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI) limit on Form 1040, Schedule A. However, keep in mind that if your AGI exceeds a certain amount, your total itemized deductions may be limited, reducing the likelihood of a direct offset of gambling income and losses.

Once you've tallied up your winnings and losses and reported them on your tax return, how do you substantiate your gambling income and deductions to the IRS? Here are some guidelines offered by the IRS that will help you in the event that your gambling claims are ever questioned:

Keep a log or a journal. The IRS suggests entering all of your gambling activities in a small diary or journal - you may want to consider one that can be carried with you when you frequent gambling establishments. Here is the information you should keep track of:

Retain documentation. As with any item of income or deduction claimed on your return, the IRS requires adequate documentation be kept to substantiate the amount claimed. Acceptable documentation to substantiate gambling winnings and losses can come in many different forms, depending on what type of activity you are engaging in. Examples include lottery tickets, canceled checks, wagering tickets, credit records, bank withdrawals and statements of actual winnings or payment slips provided by the gaming establishment.

Although it may seem difficult to keep track of your gambling activity at the time, it is obvious that keeping good records can benefit you if you ever "hit the jackpot". If you have any further questions on this matter, please contact the office for assistance.

Probably one of the more difficult decisions you will have to make as a consumer is whether to buy or lease your auto. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of buying vs. leasing a new car or truck before you get to the car dealership can ease the decision-making process and may alleviate unpleasant surprises later.

Probably one of the more difficult decisions you will have to make as a consumer is whether to buy or lease your auto. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of buying vs. leasing a new car or truck before you get to the car dealership can ease the decision-making process and may alleviate unpleasant surprises later.

Nearly one-third of all new vehicles (and up to 75% of all new luxury cars) are leased rather than purchased. But the decision to lease or buy must ultimately be made on an individual level, taking into consideration each person's facts and circumstances.

Buying

Advantages.

• You own the car at the end of the loan term.
• Lower insurance premiums.
• No mileage limitations.

Disadvantages.

• Higher upfront costs.
• Higher monthly payments.
• Buyer bears risk of future value decrease.

Leasing

Advantages.

• Lower upfront costs.
• Lower monthly payments.
• Lessor assumes risk of future value decrease.
• Greater purchasing power.
• Potential additional income tax benefits.
• Ease of disposition.

Disadvantages.

• You do not own the car at the end of the lease term, although you may have the option to purchase at that time.
• Higher insurance premiums.
• Potential early lease termination charges.
• Possible additional costs for abnormal wear & tear (determined by lessor).
• Extra charges for mileage in excess of mileage specified in your lease contract.

Before you make the decision whether to lease or buy your next vehicle, it makes sense to ask yourself the following questions:

How long do I plan to keep the vehicle? If you want to keep the car or truck longer than the term of the lease, you may be better off purchasing the vehicle as purchase contracts usually result in a lower overall cost of ownership.

How much am I going to drive the vehicle? If you are an outside salesperson and you drive 30,000 miles per year, any benefits you may have gained upfront by leasing will surely be lost in the end to excess mileage charges. Most lease contracts include mileage of between 12,000-15,000 per year - any miles driven in excess of the limit are subject to some pretty hefty charges.

How expensive of a vehicle do I want? If you can really only afford monthly payments on a Honda Civic but you've got your eye on a Lexus, you may want to consider leasing. Leasing usually results in lower upfront fees in the form of lower down payments and deferred sales tax, in addition to lower monthly payments. This combination can make it easier for you to get into the car of your dreams.

If you have any questions about the tax ramifications regarding buying vs. leasing an automobile or would like some additional information when making your decision, please contact the office.