New cryptocurrency tax law proposals by the House Ways and Means Committee
Posted on Oct 4, 2021
On September 13th, the House Ways and Means Democrats proposed legislative changes 1 that, if enacted, would impact the manner in which gain or loss is determined with respect to actual or certain deemed sales of cryptocurrencies. The legislation recently underwent the markup process and is now with the House Budget Committee. 2 The proposals generally extend the “wash sale rule” and the “constructive sale rule”, which ordinarily only apply to certain transactions involving stock and other securities, to also apply to “digital assets,” such as cryptocurrencies. These amendments may present...
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Legal Alert: The devil is in the details – Final infrastructure framework announced, fingers crossed for continued R&E deductibility
Posted on Sep 23, 2021
Democratic leadership announced today that an agreement has been reached to fund the pending infrastructure and budget reconciliation measures. There does not appear to be any agreement regarding which specific tax measures that will be included, however, it is hoped that continued deductibility of research and experimental (R&E) expenditures will be included. Read the full legal alert here.
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Legal Alert: An incomplete picture: Democratic senators release “framework” for international tax overhaul
Posted on Aug 31, 2021
On August 25, 2021, Senate Finance Committee members Wyden, Brown, and Warner released draft bill language and a section-by-section summary of their proposed International Tax Reform Framework. The legislative language is generally in line with the International Tax Overhaul proposals first released by the Senators on April 5, 2021. The draft legislation includes some provisions similar to provisions that were included in the Green Book released by Treasury on May 28, 2021, including, in particular, modifications to the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules that were enacted as...
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Last ditch effort to narrow reporting requirements on crypto denied; alternative avenues still remain for industry to reduce scope of new rules
Posted on Aug 19, 2021
The Senate approved the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) (the Act), advancing the new legislation to the House for consideration. In an effort to raise revenue for part of the overall $1 trillion in infrastructure spending, the Act contains language that would amend federal law on digital asset information reporting by expanding reporting requirements for brokers, including the requirement that businesses report all cryptocurrency transactions exceeding $10,000. Specifically, the Act modifies the definition of “broker” under Section 6045 of the Internal Revenue...
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Legal Alert: Rev. Proc. 2021-34, IRS guidance for implementing the final Section 451 regulations
Posted on Aug 17, 2021
On August 12, 2021, the IRS released Rev. Proc. 2021-34, setting forth procedural guidance to implement the final Section 451 regulations (Final Regulations). In a lengthy 70-page piece of guidance, the revenue procedure not only provides accounting method changes and the terms and conditions to comply with the Final Regulations by its effective date, (tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021), it also permits taxpayers to early adopt the Final Regulations for the 2020 tax year. With the addition of six new automatic accounting method changes, as well as the myriad of modifications...
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Legal Alert: Budget Reconciliation Act I – Setting the Stage: Senate provides slim details of Budget Resolution Agreement
Posted on Aug 11, 2021
On Monday, August 9, the Senate released the framework for the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Resolution Agreement, and subsequently passed the resolution in a 50-49 partisan vote on August 10. The resolution now goes to the House, as both chambers of Congress must pass the final reconciliation bill. The framework totals $3.5 trillion in Budget Reconciliation instructions. The instructions aim for “every major program proposed by President Biden to receive robust funding.” While details on the Budget Reconciliation are slim, the framework provides hints at what is to come. Read our Legal Alert...
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New proposed legislation adds information reporting requirements for digital assets
Posted on Aug 5, 2021
The proposed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would explicitly impose information reporting on cryptocurrency transfers in the same way information reporting is required on transfers of stock or securities. Therefore, both sales price and “basis” – typically original acquisition price – would be reported to the IRS, which would inform the IRS of a taxpayer’s sale of cryptocurrency, and allow the IRS to ascertain gain associated with the sale of a unit of cryptocurrency. These items are already required to be independently reported by a taxpayer on a tax return. Notably,...
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Legal Alert: Making a Manchin out of a molehill – Senate infrastructure and budget debates heat up
Posted on Jul 15, 2021
Fresh from their July 4 recess, the Senate has returned to Washington to continue infrastructure and budget bill negotiations. As previously discussed, there are two distinct legislative paths making their way through Congress: (1) a bipartisan infrastructure package; and (2) a Democratic budget reconciliation bill focusing on family aid, healthcare, and a global minimum tax. Important to the passage of both bills appears to be Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). On Tuesday, July 13, Sen. Manchin told reporters that he would not support a bipartisan infrastructure bill or a Democratic-only budget bill...
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Legal Alert: IRS issues new Section 45Q CCUS ruling
Posted on Jul 9, 2021
The IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2021-13 on July 1, 2021, which provides additional guidance regarding the section 45Q carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) credit. More specifically, the ruling concludes that: A taxpayer needs to own only one component of carbon capture equipment within a single process train to be the person that is entitled to the tax credit.For section 45Q purposes, the placed in service date of the single process train is the date on which the new components of carbon capture equipment are installed, notwithstanding the inclusion of existing equipment in the...
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Legal Alert: Downsizing from a House to a Manchin: Federal and International tax negotiations continue
Posted on Jul 8, 2021
As Congress and the White House look to make a deal on infrastructure by this summer, negotiations regarding changes in the tax law continue. Since our prior alert, while progress has been made regarding a bipartisan infrastructure deal and a minimum global tax, the details of most corporate tax proposals have yet to be decided. Of course, the most pressing question remains – What will Sen. Joe Manchin do? As the “swing vote” in the 50-50 split Senate, Democrats need all members on board to pass any legislation through the reconciliation process, which will by necessity be less...
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Legal Alert: IRS extends continuity safe harbor for renewable energy projects
Posted on Jun 30, 2021
On June 29, 2021, the IRS issued Notice 2021-41, which provides a further extension of the continuity safe harbor and revises the “facts and circumstances” rules:- For PTC and ITC-eligible projects for which construction began in calendar years 2016 through 2019, the continuity safe harbor is extended to six years.- For PTC and ITC-eligible projects for which construction began in 2020, the continuity safe harbor is extended to five years.- Under a facts and circumstances analysis, the continuity requirement may be satisfied under either the continuous construction test or the continuous...
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Legal Alert: FY 2022 Green Book goes big for green energy
Posted on Jun 1, 2021
On May 28, 2021, Treasury released the General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 Revenue Proposals, more commonly referred to as the Green Book. The issuance of the Green Book provides further detail on the White House’s American Jobs Plan, one of the major proposals in the development of an infrastructure bill. The Green Book’s release comes as Congress works through its own proposals. While the various proposals have differences in approach, they indicate strong, continued and expanded support for green energy tax initiatives. Read the full Legal Alert...
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Illinois General Assembly passes $42 billion budget with several key tax provisions
Posted on Jun 1, 2021
On Memorial Day, and stretching into the early hours of June 1, the Illinois Legislature approved the state’s $42 billion budget for fiscal year 2022. It is anticipated that the budget’s tax provisions are expected to generate more than $600 million in additional revenue by addressing what governor J.B. Pritzker and others in the General Assembly have deemed corporate tax “loopholes.” While there are many provisions included in the bill aimed at raising that additional revenue, below are four of the most impactful: First, taxpayers will be required to addback certain deductions for purposes...
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Legal Alert: Warren bill fundamentally changes financial account reporting requirements and substantially increases IRS funding
Posted on May 28, 2021
On May 24, 2021, Sen. Warren introduced Senate Bill 1788, the “Restoring the IRS Act” (the Proposed Legislation). The Proposed Legislation generally (1) imposes new information reporting obligations on financial institutions relating to various types of transaction information associated with an account of an individual or business at that institution, (2) provides for significantly increased IRS funding, (3) requires certain reports to Congress relating to IRS enforcement priorities, the tax gap, and racial disparities relating to IRS enforcement, (4) increases underpayment penalties under...
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Legal Alert: Rev. Proc. 2021-26 provides accounting method change procedures for CFCs seeking to use the alternative depreciation system
Posted on May 26, 2021
Recently released Revenue Procedure 2021-26 (the Revenue Procedure) provides taxpayers with guidance regarding accounting method changes made on behalf of foreign corporations. The Revenue Procedure: Allows controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) to obtain automatic consent to change depreciation methods to use the alternative depreciation system under section 168(g) (ADS) (or to change the convention or recovery period under ADS) for purposes of calculating taxable income and earnings and profits (E&P).Updates the rules for the computation of section 481(a) adjustments...
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