Conservator’s Authority to Enter into Farm Leases

On July 26, 2021   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Contract Law West Des Moines, Corporate Law West Des Moines, Estate & Trust Administration, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Real Estate Law West Des Moines, Will & Trusts West Des Moines  
conservators authority farm lease iowa

On May 21, 2021, the Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion In The Matter and Conservatorship of Marvin M. Jorgensen, No. 18-1235 (Iowa Sup. Ct. May 21, 2021).  Marvin Jorgensen suffered a stroke in 2016 that left him unable to manage his nearly 18,000 acres of Iowa farmland.  Prior to the stroke, Marvin leased approximately half of his farmland to his children and to several grandchildren in “handshake” agreements that were never put in writing.  After the stroke, a Conservatorship was opened for Marvin and the Conservator entered into new written leases with family members which continued with Marvin’s practice

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Federal and State Income Tax Deadlines Extended

On April 23, 2021   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines  
2021 state and federal tax deadlines

The IRS has extended the filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021 for 2020 Federal income tax returns.  The extension applies to individuals, businesses, trusts and estates.  By extending the deadline to May 17, the IRS is automatically postponing to the same date the time for individuals to make year 2020 contributions to IRAs (Traditional and Roth), health savings accounts, Archer Medical Savings Accounts and Coverdell education savings accounts.  In addition, for tax year 2017 Federal income tax returns, the normal April 15 deadline to claim a refund has been extended to the new date of May 17, 2021. 

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Final Regulations on Deductibility of Expenses of Estates and Non-Grantor Trusts

On October 27, 2020   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning West Des Moines, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines, Will & Trusts West Des Moines  
business taxes, business tax deductions, deduction limits, business expense threshold limits, De Minimis Safe Harbor Expense Threshold

On September 21, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations in regard to the deductibility of expenses of estates and non-grantor trusts.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was passed previously, bars individuals from claiming miscellaneous itemized deductions for the years 2018 through 2025.  After the passage of the TCJA, there are questions on how such barred itemized deductions would impact estates and non-grantor trusts. The final regulations state that deductions for costs which were paid or incurred in connection with the administration of an estate or trust and which would not have been incurred if the

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

1031 Like Kind Exchange Relief

On May 27, 2020   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Contract Law West Des Moines, Corporate Law West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines  
1031 Like Kind Exchange

Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Service Code allows a taxpayer to defer recognition of capital gains and related federal income tax liability on the exchange of investment real estate.  The capital gains and related federal income tax liability are deferred to the time that the replacement real estate is sold.  In order to meet the IRS requirements, the seller must use a qualified intermediary to handle the sale of the property and the purchase of the replacement property. A taxpayer has 45 days from the date of sale to identify the replacement property and 180 days from the date

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Passage of the Secure Act & What it Means to You

On February 25, 2020   /   Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning West Des Moines, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Will & Trusts West Des Moines  

On December 20, 2019, the President signed into law the Secure Act.  This article will focus on the key provisions of the new Act. The new Act changes the beginning age for taking required minimum distributions to age 72.  The new law applies to account owners who turn 70½ after the year 2019.  The new Act also repeals the prohibition on contributions to a traditional IRA by an individual who has attained the age of 70½.  Owners of traditional IRA’s can now make contributions past the age of 70½. The new Act also allows taxpayers to withdraw up to $5,000

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Iowa Supreme Court on Gift Restrictions – Tax Insight

On January 28, 2020   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines  
laws about digital assets iowa

On November 8, 2019, the Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion in the Matter of the Application of Coe College for Interpretation of Purported Gift Restriction.  The case involves a gift of seven paintings of Grant Wood in 1976 by the Eppley foundation to Coe College in Cedar Rapids.  The gift letter stated that the paintings would be given to the college “and that this would be their permanent home, hanging on the walls of Stewart Memorial Library”. The college treated the paintings on its books as an unrestricted gift that could be sold or otherwise alienated.  In 2016 an

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Final Regulations on Increased Gift and Estate Tax Exclusion Amounts

On December 23, 2019   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning West Des Moines, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines  

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations on November 22, 2019, confirming that individuals taking advantage of the increased gift and estate tax exclusion amounts in effect from 2018 through 2025 will not be adversely impacted after 2025 when the exclusion amount is scheduled to drop to pre-2018 levels. The final regulations largely adopt the proposed regulations from last year.  The final regulations also contain four examples which illustrate the impact of inflation adjustments.  Individuals who are planning to make large gifts between 2018 and 2025 can make such gifts without concern that they will lose

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Qualified Charitable Distributions Tax Break

On November 26, 2019   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines  
iowa tax law charitable donations

Qualified charitable distributions are a valuable tool in reducing taxes.  The deadline for the 2019 year is December 31, 2019.  Qualified charitable distributions are valuable if a person is taking required minimum distributions and also making charitable gifts.  Under the new tax act, most taxpayers are no longer able to itemize deductions, which includes charitable contributions, on the federal return due to the increase in the standard deduction.  As such, many taxpayers are no longer able to deduct their charitable contributions on their federal income tax returns.  A qualified charitable distribution allows an individual who is over the age of

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Tax-Free IRA Distributions to Certain Public Charities for Taxpayers 70½ and Older

On March 26, 2019   /   Elder Law West Des Moines, Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning West Des Moines, Legal Resources West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines, Will & Trusts West Des Moines  
tax rules for ira distribution

The Federal Path Act includes provisions to allow a taxpayer who is age 70½ or older to make tax-free distributions from their IRA’s to qualified charities. The Path Act allows an individual who is over the age of 70½ to make a direct distribution from their IRA account to a charity.  The benefit of doing such is that the amount transferred to the charity will be counted as part of the taxpayer’s qualified minimum distribution and it will also not be included in the taxpayer’s gross income for Federal and State income taxes.  In order to qualify as a qualified

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top

Safe Harbor for Rental Real Estate – What You Need to Know

On February 28, 2019   /   Business Law West Des Moines, Contract Law West Des Moines, Real Estate Law West Des Moines, Taxation Law West Des Moines  
real estate safe harbor tax law

Last month the IRS issued the final regulations regarding Section 199A.  The IRS also issued IRS Notice 2019-07 which set forth a safe harbor under which a rental real estate enterprise would be treated as a trade or business under Section 199A.  The purpose of the Notice is to give taxpayers guidelines as to the application of the 199A deduction for rental real estate properties. To qualify for the safe harbor requirements, the taxpayer must meet the following requirements: Keep separate books and records setting out the income and expenses for the rental real estate enterprise; For tax years beginning

More Legal News & Information... →
Back to Top