Faulty information slices personal goodwill in two
In a Utah divorce case, both the joint valuation expert and the expert the husband engaged agreed to the amount of personal goodwill in the husband’s consulting business.
Rothwell v. Rothwell
In an appeal of a Utah divorce case, the court affirmed the district court’s determination of value of the husband’s businesses. The district court allowed the exclusion of personal goodwill (in accordance with Utah case law Sorensen v. Sorensen) but did not allow the deduction of estimated tax to be paid on a hypothetical sale of the business at some future date.
Utah Appellate Court Excludes Personal Goodwill, Disallows Reduction for Taxes on Hypothetical Sale
In an appeal of a Utah divorce case, the court affirmed the district court’s determination of value of the husband’s businesses. The district court allowed the exclusion of personal goodwill (in accordance with Utah case law Sorensen v. Sorensen) but did not allow the deduction of estimated tax to be paid on a hypothetical sale of the business at some future date.
IRS hits taxpayer with gross valuation misstatement penalty
Easement cases before the Tax Court can offer some interesting insights and guidance to BV professionals.
Court sets fair value of 50% interest in realty firm
In Connecticut, a real estate firm had a shareholder agreement that allowed for an independent appraisal if one of the owners wanted out.
Brooks v. Comm’r
The IRS disallowed carryover charitable deductions for donation of a conservation easement by taxpayers’ family LLC to the county where the property lies. In addition to the disallowance of the donation deductions, the IRS assessed gross overvaluation penalties. The Tax Court denied the deductions in part for lack of following regulations and procedures. Additionally, the court found that the value determined by the taxpayers’ appraiser was filled with errors and had basic incorrect assumptions resulting in a gross misstatement of value. Thus, taxpayers were liable for the 40% accuracy-related penalty resulting from a gross valuation misstatement pursuant to section 6662(h) as determined for each of the years in issue.
Taxpayer Is Denied Charitable Deduction for a Conservation Easement, and Gross Valuation Misstatement Penalties Are Applied
The IRS disallowed carryover charitable deductions for donation of a conservation easement by taxpayers’ family LLC to the county where the property lies. In addition to the disallowance of the donation deductions, the IRS assessed gross overvaluation penalties. The Tax Court denied the deductions in part for lack of following regulations and procedures. Additionally, the court found that the value determined by the taxpayers’ appraiser was filled with errors and had basic incorrect assumptions resulting in a gross misstatement of value. Thus, taxpayers were liable for the 40% accuracy-related penalty resulting from a gross valuation misstatement pursuant to section 6662(h) as determined for each of the years in issue.
Buccieri v. New Hope Realty, Inc.
This case arose out of a dispute between the surviving family and a trustee of the founders of New Hope Realty Inc. The parties could not agree on the management and operations of New Hope Realty. On July 7, 2020, a dissolution proceeding was commenced. The defendants elected to purchase the plaintiffs’ shares. Subsequently, the parties could not agree as to the fair value of the plaintiffs’ interest. The plaintiffs asked the court to determine the value. The court held hearings including testimony from expert witnesses from both parties and determined the fair value.
Court Determines Fair Value of 50% Interest in Real Estate Company—Parties Could Not Agree on Value
This case arose out of a dispute between the surviving family and a trustee of the founders of New Hope Realty Inc. The parties could not agree on the management and operations of New Hope Realty. On July 7, 2020, a dissolution proceeding was commenced. The defendants elected to purchase the plaintiffs’ shares. Subsequently, the parties could not agree as to the fair value of the plaintiffs’ interest. The plaintiffs asked the court to determine the value. The court held hearings including testimony from expert witnesses from both parties and determined the fair value.
Tax Court deals another blow to cannabis dispensaries
In recent years, numerous cannabis businesses that are legal under state law have unsuccessfully challenged section 280E of the Internal Revenue Tax Code, which prohibits tax deductions for a business that “consists of” trafficking in a controlled substance.
Mission Critical in Divorce: 10 Key Insights in 50 Minutes-a Free AAML/BVR Virtual Divorce Conference Preview
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Structure, Valuation & Tax Insights for Logistics & Trucking Companies
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Court upholds Section 1031 tax ruling, affirming appraisals were unreliable
In 2016, the U.S. Tax Court found for the Internal Revenue Service in a dispute over a series of exchanges that Exelon, the tax payer, designated as section 1031 transactions. The court found these were not like-kind exchanges and expressed dismay over the appraisals the tax payer offered to support its claim for significant deductions.
Tax Court Favors IRS’s Cost Markup Analysis to Compute Management Fee
In a suit over fees paid by taxpayers’ operating companies to taxpayer-controlled management company, Tax Court says IRS expert’s cost markup analysis produces most credible arm’s-length management fee; this fee represents the allowable deduction amount.
Wycoff v. Commissioner
In a suit over fees paid by taxpayers’ operating companies to taxpayer-controlled management company, Tax Court says IRS expert’s cost markup analysis produces most credible arm’s-length management fee; this fee represents the allowable deduction amount.
Compromised Section 1031 appraisal sinks Exelon tax strategy for fossil fuel power plant sale
U.S. Tax Court Judge David Laro frequently has cautioned experts not to give in to hiring attorneys who want to shape the appraisal. Although federal and state discovery rules offer some protection for attorney-expert communication, there is a risk of exposure and with it a risk of damage to the expert’s work product and reputation. A recent Section 1031 case, which Judge Laro handled, illustrates what happens when the communication is discovered.
Return on Equity Analysis Undergirds Reasonable Compensation Claim
Tax Court says compensation paid to company owners for managing entity’s daily operations was reasonable; officers were “absolutely integral” to company’s success and company’s rate of return on equity after compensation accorded with industry average.
H.W. Johnson v. Commissioner
Tax Court says compensation paid to company owners for managing entity’s daily operations was reasonable; officers were “absolutely integral” to company’s success and company’s rate of return on equity after compensation accorded with industry average.
Court Approves Winstar Plaintiff’s Tax Gross Up Calculation
Court finalizes damages award to Winstar bank by adopting plaintiff’s projected tax liability on damages related to government’s breach of contract and by ordering an additional gross up award “to make plaintiff whole.”
Obsolescence Analysis Kills Tax Court’s Property Valuation
State high court rejects tax court’s external obsolescence calculation related to special purpose property valuation, finding it represents an insufficiently explained departure from the methods the parties’ experts used and lacks support in the record.
Anchor Savings Bank v. United States
Court finalizes damages award to Winstar bank by adopting plaintiff’s projected tax liability on damages related to government’s breach of contract and by ordering an additional gross up award “to make plaintiff whole.”
Guardian Energy, LLC v. County of Waseca
State high court rejects tax court’s external obsolescence calculation related to special purpose property valuation, finding it represents an insufficiently explained departure from the methods the parties’ experts used and lacks support in the record.
Use of Asset-Level Deductions Hinges on Business Strategy
State’s high court strikes down district court’s fair value determination, finding reliance on prior law prohibiting use of deductions was misguided where company pursued strategy of selling off real estate and other assets at time of triggering event.
Utah Resources International, Inc. v. Mark Technologies Corp.
State’s high court strikes down district court’s fair value determination, finding reliance on prior law prohibiting use of deductions was misguided where company pursued strategy of selling off real estate and other assets at time of triggering event.
Taxpayer Scores Partial Success in Cal. Hotel Property Tax Suit
Appeals court says assessor’s version of income approach to determine hotel property taxes violates law because it does not identify, value, and exclude certain intangible assets; but management fee deduction largely captures hotel’s goodwill.