William Byrnes' Tax, Wealth, and Risk Intelligence

As usual, the IRS has released transition relief to extend the deadline for providing Form 1095-C to individuals from January 31, 2020 to March 2, 2020. However, unlike other years, the March 2 deadline is now a firm deadline and the IRS has indicated that it will no longer respond to requests for extension beyond that deadline. Form 1094-C and Form 1095-C that must be provided to the IRS are not subject to the extension. The employer must furnish these filings to the IRS by February 28, 2020 if the filing is on paper and March 31, 2020 if the employer is filing electronically. For 2019 forms, the IRS has extended the relief that may allow employers to escape liability if they make a good faith effort to comply with all filing requirements. Because the individual mandate has been reduced to $0, the IRS will also not impose a penalty under IRC Section 6722 upon employers who fail to provide Form 1095-B if certain requirements are satisfied. For more information, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced opportunity zones into the tax code, which allow taxpayers to defer certain gains if certain deadlines and requirements are satisfied. However, the law only gives taxpayers a limited amount of time to take full advantage of the deferral provisions. Specifically, December 31, 2019, is the deadline for taxpayers who wish to make opportunity zone investments and take full advantage of the 15% step-up in the deferred gains. Taxpayers who invest after this deadline (but before December 31, 2020) and hold the opportunity zone investment through 2026 will be entitled to take 10% step-up in basis (10% of the amount deferred) on the deferred tax. For more information on the opportunity zone rules, including the gain deferral provision, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

The new 6050Y regulations create new reporting obligations for many who issue, acquire or sell life insurance policies in a reportable policy sale post-tax reform. An “issuer” under the new regulations is anyone that bears any part of the risk associated with the life insurance contract, including those collecting premiums and paying death benefits. However, where there are multiple issuers, the reporting obligations are satisfied if only one issuer or designee reports on a timely basis. New forms released by the IRS to complete the reporting obligations include Form 1099-LS, Reportable Life Insurance Sale and Form 1099-SB, Seller’s Investment in Life Insurance Contract. While some reporting requirements have been delayed, it’s important to understand the basics of these forms now. Form 1099-LS must be filed by anyone who acquires a life insurance policy (or interest therein) in a reportable policy sale. Basic information about the sale, policy, acquirer and seller must be included. Form 1099-SB must be filed by the issuer of the life insurance policy to report both the seller’s investment in the contract and the surrender amount if the sale is a reportable policy sale (or transferred to a foreign person). For more information on the new 6050Y reporting requirements, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More