William Byrnes' Tax, Wealth, and Risk Intelligence

The IRS has released long-awaited proposed regulations clarifying the income tax withholding obligations when distributions from employer-sponsored plans (including pension, annuity, profit sharing, stock bonus or deferred compensation plans) are made to destinations outside the U.S. While U.S. payees can elect to forgo withholding, non-U.S. payees cannot. In general, the participant cannot elect to forgo withholding with respect to these distributions even if the participant provides a U.S. residential address, but directs funds to be delivered to a destination outside the U.S. If the participant provides a non-U.S. residential address, withholding obligations cannot be waived even if the participant directs that the funds be distributed to a U.S. financial institution. When the participant provides no residential address, withholding obligations cannot be waived. For more information on retirement plans and nonresident taxpayers, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

The regulations expanding the use of HRAs to purchase individual health insurance in the marketplace have now been finalized. The regulations largely follow the proposed regulations, but differ in that they place limits on the ability of an employer to vary HRA contributions by age. For more information on the new rule, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

The IRS recently ruled that, for purposes of the “one class of stock rule”, it would disregard a buy-sell agreement that provided if the S corporation shareholder-employee was terminated for cause, the company could repurchase his or her shares at the lesser of (1) fair market value or (2) the price paid for the shares (a forfeiture price, which could have been zero). To qualify as an S corporation, the entity must only have one class of stock, a determination that is primarily based on whether the shares confer equal rights as to distribution and liquidation proceeds. The Treasury regulations, however, provide that buy-sell and redemption type agreements will be disregarded for purposes of the one class of stock rule unless its principal purpose is to avoid the one-class rule and the agreement establishes a purchase price significantly above or below the fair market value of the stock when the parties entered the agreement. Bona fide buy-sell agreements providing for redemption or repurchase of S corporation shares in the event of death, divorce, disability or termination of employment are always disregarded, regardless of price. S corporations should review their buy-sell agreements to ensure that they satisfy guidance as to the one-class rule. For more information on the one class of stock rule, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More