Archive for Divorce And Tax

Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 11 In Series

DAVID ELLIS _ Dividing Property In Divorce

(Part 11 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.)

C.Transfers of Closely Held Businesses

In a divorce, it is often the case that the family business will be one of the most valuable assets in the marital community.  Generally, the transfer of the stock in a closely held business will enjoy the protection of Section 1041 in the context of divorce.  Likewise, the basis and holding period will carry over to the transferee spouse, thereby deferring the recognition of any gain or loss to him/her.[1] However, the transfer of closely held stock can be accomplished through various means, under a variety of circumstances, with the resulting tax burden born in some cases by the transferor spouse, and at other times by the transferee spouse.

1. Cash Buyout

The simplest scenario in a divorce related transfer of a closely held business would be a cash buy out of one spouse by the other.

Example: Barney and Betty are in the process of divorcing.  They own 100% of the stock in a granite quarry that they acquired during the marriage.  The stock has an appraised value of $500,000.  As part of the divorce agreement it is decided that Barney will buy out Betty’s interest for $250,000.  The basis of the shares in total is $50,000.  Barney proceeds to buy out Betty’s interest for $250,000.  In accordance with IRC Section 1041, no gain or loss is recognized on the transfer.  Barney’s basis in the stock is increased from $25,000 to $50,000.

2.Stock Redemptions for the Family Business

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 10 In Series

Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 10

(Part 10 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.)

Miscellaneous Issues

Recapture of Depreciation

In general, there is no recapture of depreciation on Section 1041 transfers.

1.Transfers between spouses are treated as gifts.[1]

a) Property transferred by gift does not require recapture at the time of the gift.[2]

(b)Recipient spouse is responsible for recapture, if and when property is sold at a gain.

Example:

Fred and Ethel are divorcing. They own a retail frozen yogurt shop as community property.  As part of the global property settlement the business and related equipment is divided. There are three (3) machines used for making the frozen yogurt—each one has an original purchase price of $2,500.  Each machine has been fully depreciated using MARCS 5-year straight line.  Several years after the divorce is final, Ethel sells each machine at a local flea market for $500.  Ethel will recognize $1,500 in Section 12 45 recapture, calculated as follows:

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 9 In Series

Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 9

(Part 9 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.) 

d.Losses of S Corporations

Both passive and active owners of S Corporations can only deduct losses to the extent that they have basis in the stock of the S Corporation.[1] Generally, taxpayers acquire basis in S Corporation stock by receiving pass throughs of profits, making capital contributions, or making loans directly to the S Corporation.[2]

When the owners of S Corporation stock receive pass through losses that are in excess of their basis, such losses are carried over until the stockholders re-establish enough basis in the stock to deduct the loss in whole or in part.[3]

(1) S Corporation losses follow the stock.[1]

For transfers of S Corporation stock incident to a divorce after 2004, any concomitant losses escheat to the spouse obtaining or keeping the stock.

(2)Carry over losses following the stock are treated as if they were incurred by the S Corporation in the subsequent year.[1]

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 8 In Series

Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 8

(Part 8 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.) 

C. Losses And Other Carry Forwards

Tax losses and other carry forwards such as investment interest expense are easy to overlook in divorce proceedings, but often may be of extreme economic value. Remarkably, in many cases the tax law offers no specific guidance as to how such items are to be allocated between divorcing spouses. In such cases the practitioner must fall back on the general rules governing state property law, be it community property, equitable distribution, case law where available, English Common Law, or if all else fails, common sense.

1.Carry Forwards of Net Operating Losses

a) Community Property States

In community property states, the allocation of net operating loss carry forwards follows the usual rules for allocating community [1]

(1)Earned income is split evenly between spouses

(2)Rules for unearned income vary by state

(3)Expenses paid out of community funds are split evenly[2]

(4)Expenses paid out of separate funds are allocated to the spouse who pays them (54)

Example:

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 7 In Series

DAVID ELLIS - Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 7

(Part 7 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.) 

4. Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Transfers

Except for purposes of calculating the 10% early withdrawal penalty,[1] IRAs are not considered Qualified Plans and therefore there is no requirement that a QDRO be in place to avoid tax on their division in divorce proceedings.[2]

  1. a) IRA transfers between spouses are tax free if pursuant to a decree of separate maintenance or divorce (or written instrument related thereto).[3]
  2. b) A QDRO will not protect against early withdrawal penalty from nonqualified retirement plan such as an IRA, SEP or SIMPLE.[4]
  3. c) Letter Ruling 9344027

Although IRS Letter Rulings are binding only on the parties to which they are addressed, the author is of the opinion that the aforementioned should serve as a cautionary tale to any parties dividing IRAs in a divorce.

The ruling concerns two divorcing taxpayers that had entered into written separation agreement.  The taxpayers resided in a community property state.

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 6 In Series

DAVID ELLIS - Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 6

(Part 6 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In A Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.) 

2. How QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) Distributions are Taxed

a)The alternate payee assumes the same rights and responsibilities as the plan participant. When a distribution is made to a plan participant’s spouse or former spouse, it is taxed to such spouse or former spouse.[1]

Tax Trap Alert: When distributions are made to a dependent of a plan participant, they are not taxed to such dependent, but rather they are taxed to the plan participant.[2]

b)Basis is allocated on a prorated formula between the participant and the participant’s spouse or former spouse according to present value formulations.[3]

c).QDRO distributions not subject to early withdrawal penalty. Age of the alternate payee does not matter for QDRO distributions. No early withdrawal penalty [4]

Tax Trap Alert: Although QDRO distributions from qualified plans are not subject to the 10% penalty for early withdrawal, the same does not hold true for IRA’s, SEP’s, or SIMPLE plans regardless of any domestic relations court order.[5]

Tax Trap Alert: In the author’s experience, it is not unusual for an alternate payee to rollover distributions under a QDRO into an IRA. Assuming the alternate payee does not meet the age (or one of the other exceptions), subsequent distributions from the IRA will be subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Practitioners should take care to call this tax pitfall to the clients’ attention prior to the rollover of the QDRO distribution into an IRA.

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 4 In Series

Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 4 In Series

(Part 4 is continuation of series, links to all parts are provided at end of this blog post. This valuable series on Dividing Property In A Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.)  

Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 4

  1. Mortgage Interest and Real Estate Taxes. An issue that practitioners frequently face in divorce situations is allocating the deduction between spouses for mortgage interest and taxes when one spouse has moved out of the residence and separate returns are being filed.
    • If spouses are still legally married at year’s end and a joint return is filed, there is no need to allocate deduction, even if spouses are living apart
    • If separate returns are filed and mortgage interest and/or real estate taxes paid from a joint account, half of the payment is allocated to each spouse.[1]
    • Interest and real estate taxes paid from separate accounts are deemed to be paid by the spouse who owns the account.[2]
    • In community property states, expenses paid from community property funds are generally allocated one half to each spouse.[3] Community property rules vary from state to state. Practitioners may need to consult legal counsel as to community property rules in their state. For example, in California, the marital community for tax purposes ends when the spouses separate with the intention not to reunite.[4] In other states, the community does not end until the date of divorce. In community property states, expenses paid from noncommunity funds are allocated to the spouse who paid them.
    • Interest payments must be “qualified” in order to be deducted. Often in a divorce situation, one of the spouses will move out of the house and establish a second residence, while continuing to contribute to the mortgage payments.

The question then arises as to if non-resident spouses can deduct their share of the mortgage interest, since they are no longer using the house as their principle residence.

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Dividing Property In Divorce Tax Traps – Part 3 In Series

Tax Aspects Of Dividing Property In A Divorce (Series – Part 3

(This valuable series on Dividing Property In A Divorce Tax Traps has been updated for the Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA) and the Cares Act. This series is provided by David Ellis of Ellis & Ellis CPAs in Pasadena, CA.) 

III. Section 1041 Specifics as to Type of Property

1. The Marital Residence

Perhaps the most common property division issue the practitioner will face when a couple divorces will be the division of the marital home. Often, which spouse, if any, will end up with the home will be the central issue in the property settlement.

Furthermore, non-monetary issues such as emotional attachments, or the preferred school district for couples who have children, frequently complicate matters.

Given the above, it is imperative that the practitioner be thoroughly familiar with the tax ramifications of dividing the residence.

  1. A qualifying single taxpayer can exclude up to $250,000 of gain on sale of principle Qualifying married couples filing jointly can exclude up to $500,000.[1]
    1. Taxpayer must have maintained the home as his/her principal residence for two out of the last five years.[2]
    2. Taxpayer must have owned the residence for two out of last five years
    3. Only one sale every two years qualifies for the exclusion. Taxpayer must not have used the exclusion during the previous two-year period before the current sale.[3]

Tax Trap Alert: Practitioners should familiarize themselves with the major exceptions and special cases IRC Section 121 and the related regulations and rulings address, including but not limited to the following:  

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