William Byrnes' Tax, Wealth, and Risk Intelligence

There is an updated self-certification process for taxpayers who miss the 60-day rollover deadline. The new process is easier than obtaining a PLR, but it is still only available in a limited set of circumstances. Notably, one of those circumstances is an extreme illness of the taxpayer or a family member, so there may be some COVID-related relief available. Also, we have the new 2021 inflation-adjusted tax numbers! Many of them stayed the same in our current low-inflation environment, but the estate tax exemption is up to $11.7 million.

Prof. William H. Byrnes

Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for 2021 Remain Steady; Estate Tax Exemption Soars

The IRS has released the 2021 inflation-adjusted figures to be used for determining deductible retirement plan contributions, tax brackets and a number of other relevant figures.  In the retirement arena, contribution limits will remain steady–401(k) pre-tax contribution limits remain at $19,500 and catch-up limits remain at $6,500.  IRA contribution limits similarly remain at $6,000.  For 2021, every individual can exempt up to $11.7 million from the federal estate tax (up from $11.58 million).  The annual $15,000 gift tax exclusion remained unchanged.  For more information on the rules on deductible retirement contributions, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Instructions for 2020 Forms 1094/1095 Contain New ICHRA Reporting Information

The instructions for Forms 1094 and 1095 contain reporting information for clients who have decided to offer individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs) beginning in 2020.  ICHRAs allow employers to reimburse employees for the cost of individual health insurance premiums without violating the ACA market reform rules.  Forms 1095-B and 1095-C are provided to both the IRS and the employee who receives coverage.  The employee’s ICHRA contributions now count for purposes of determining whether the employee’s contribution is affordable.  For more information on ICHRAs, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

IRS Updates Self-Certification Process for Taxpayers Who Miss Retirement Plan Rollover Deadline

Missing the 60-day rollover deadline for tax-free transfers between retirement accounts can cause considerable problems for a client.  In the past, the only way to correct a delayed rollover was to obtain a private letter ruling (PLR) directly from the IRS.  Now, certain clients are eligible to self-certify to avoid the time and expense of obtaining a PLR.  Circumstances that qualify for a waiver via self-certification include: (1) an error was committed by the financial institution, (2) the distribution check was misplaced and never cashed, (3) the taxpayer’s principal residence was severely damaged, (4) a member of the taxpayer’s family died, (5) the taxpayer or a member of his or her family was severely ill, (6) a postal error occurred or (7) restrictions were imposed by a foreign country.  For more information, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Texas A&M University School of Law’s online wealth and international tax risk management graduate curricula for industry professionals has attracted over 160 enrollment this fall semester. Apply now for courses that begin on January 18 spring semester. See the international tax course list by > weekly topic here. <

Texas A&M, annual budget of $6.3 billion (FY2020), is the largest U.S. public university, one of only 60 accredited U.S. universities of the American Association of Universities (R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest Research Activity) and one of only 17 U.S. universities that hold the triple U.S. federal grant of Land, Sea, and Space!

• Ranked in top 20 public universities by Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education (2020)
• #1 endowment for U.S. public universities, #7 overall
• #1 of U.S. public universities for a superior education at an affordable cost
• #1 for most CEOs employed by Fortune 500
• Rank 11th “Best Public Colleges” Money’s Best Colleges Report, 2019
• Texas A&M ranks #1 in Texas, #1 in the SEC, and #12 in the U.S. in Washington Monthly’s 2020 overall college rankings based on the quality of education, accessibility, graduation rates, student involvement, and research: see tx.ag/WashMonth20