Prof. William H. Byrnes

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

Supreme Court Dismisses Latest ACA Challenge

In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court dismissed the latest challenge to the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Rather than addressing the case on the merits, the Court determined that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue–meaning that the plaintiffs had no legal right to launch the challenge in the first place. Because the individual mandate was reduced to $0 by the 2017 tax reform legislation, the plaintiffs would suffer no adverse consequences if they simply chose to not purchase health insurance. Therefore, there was no government action connected to their injury. However, yet another constitutional challenge to the ACA has already been filed. The next lawsuit challenges the law’s zero dollar coverage for preventative services–including vaccines, contraceptives and other preventative services. For more information on the ACA employer mandate, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Related Questions:

8845. How does an employer that has been in existence for less than one year determine whether it is subject to the ACA shared responsibility provisions?

8846. How does an employer that has a common owner with another employer determine whether it is subject to the ACA shared responsibility provisions?

Considerations for Resuming RMDs in 2021

The 2020 CARES Act suspended all RMD requirements for the 2020 tax year. That relief was not extended into 2021, although taxpayers have no obligation to “make up” their skipped 2020 RMDs. However, many taxpayers may be surprised to see that the amount they’re required to withdraw in 2021 is larger than distributions prior to the pandemic. The amount of a client’s RMD is determined based upon their account balance and life expectancy factor. Strong market performance means that many clients will have larger retirement account balances, meaning that the percentage of withdrawal required has also increased. Taxpayers who reached age 70½ in 2019 are required to resume taking RMDs. However, taxpayers who had not reached age 70½ in 2019 are not required to begin RMDs until April 1 of the year after they reach age 72. These RMD rules apply to traditional retirement accounts and inherited accounts—but not to Roth IRAs. For more information on the RMD rules, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Related Questions:

3683. What can be done before the IRA required beginning date in order to minimize required minimum distributions?

3684. How are minimum distribution requirements calculated if an individual owns more than one IRA?

IRS Releases New Online Tool to Help Taxpayers Register for Monthly Child Tax Credit Payments

The IRS has launched a new online tool to help taxpayers who may not be required to file a federal income tax return register to receive installment payments for the 2021 child tax credit. The tool provides a way for eligible people who don’t make enough income to have an income tax return-filing obligation to provide the IRS the basic information to figure and issue their Advance Child Tax Credit payments beginning next month. Eligible individuals can visit IRS.gov to access the tool and provide their name, address, Social Security numbers and direct deposit information so that the IRS can deposit their installment payments. Taxpayers who have already filed a return are not required to take any other action to receive installment payments of the child tax credit. The IRS release noted that these are the only two options to sign up for advance payment benefits–any other method offered is a scam. For more information on the child tax credit in 2021, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Related Questions:

756. What credits may be taken against the tax?

757. Who qualifies for the tax credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled and how is the credit computed?

758. Who qualifies for the child tax credit?

Wealth & Risk Management Studies for Industry Professionals

The Texas A&M graduate programs for risk management for areas like wealth management, tax risk management, financial risk, economic crimes, ESG risk, are accepting applications for fall. Over 500 candidates are currently enrolled in the graduate courses yet maximum enrollment per course section is maintained at 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic and professional part-time faculty. Check out the graduate program here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Texas A&M, an 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! The law school has the #1 bar passage in Texas, and #1 for employment in Texas (and top 10 in U.S.)

• 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
• #1 employment outcome for law schools in Texas and in top 10 in the USA
• #1 bar passage in Texas
• Rank #11 by Money Best Colleges Report, 2021 and #5 in U.S. among public universities (Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, PayScale.com, Money/College Measures calculations)
• 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

Colleges and universities across the country have leveraged sports to bring in revenue, attract attention, boost enrollment, and raise money from alumni. That profitable enterprise relies on “amateur” student athletes who compete under horizontal restraints that restrict how the schools may compensate them for their play. The National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) issues and enforces these rules, which restrict compensation for student-athletes in various ways. These rules depress compensation for at least some student-athletes below what a competitive market would yield.

Against this backdrop, current and former student-athletes brought this antitrust lawsuit challenging the NCAA’s restrictions on compensation. Specifically, they alleged that the NCAA’s rules violate §1 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits “contract[s], combination[s], or conspirac[ies] in restraint of trade or commerce.”

The Supreme Court upheld, in a unanimous decision of all nine Justices, the District Court’s injunction against the NCAA. The injunction allows the NCAA to maintain rules limiting undergraduate athletic scholarships and other compensation related to athletic performance. BUT the injunction stops as unlawful NCAA rules limiting the education-related benefits schools may make available to student-athletes.

Regarding today’s Supreme Court decision (entire 45-page opinion is available here), first it was expected by industry analysts and court watchers after the Court’s oral arguments March 31, 2021 with an foretelling Q&A session. We are already preparing Tax Facts Intelligence and Q&A for the books/app for financial advisors to leverage the new athletics marketplace and revenue streams and best represent their clients. I know of financial advisory firms that as of Tuesday will be hanging up a ‘sports agent financial advisor shingle’ and trolling SEC high schools, especially Texas, recruiting for tomorrow’s top collegiate athletes to sign up the talent.

Why not? That is how the market already works outside the USA for soccer (what everyone else calls football) and to a lesser extent baseball (albeit not nearly as popular as soccer so we hear much less about baseball camps for Dominican rising star 12 year old players like we hear about for the 12-year-old next Brazilian Pele). 

Interaction with social media followers is the currency of this new era for young athletes and can lead to a couple of hundred thousand during college for the star players, and even millions for the SEC Heisman level types. But, not having the ultimate talent and thus top sports ranking in a field does not also mean that an interactive social media following of millions cannot be created. The Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova, case in point, though she was just a little too early for the modern social media movement. Johnny Manziel, another case in point: had this decision been in place already and had he contracted a great wealth management advisor (thus great personal agent) with social media and promotional background, his life would have been very financially comfortable before his drug abuse ruined him in the pro league (talent or not aside). He certainly could have afforded a stint at the Betty Ford clinic to sober up and clean out.

Via the advice of a great wealth manager, a personality can be leveraged into millions of dollars before the athlete graduates university, or at least hundreds of thousands.

It is clear from the unanimous ruling and the judges questioning and opinions that this is not a restrictive ruling. NCAA proponents are trying to spin that some restriction remains allowable like direct payments to players. But all it takes is one school that has money that wants to break into the big league to beat ‘Bama and LSU. Kind to think of it, I know that school… and don’t think Bama and LSU are just going to let that happen. Let real market competition begin!

An interesting question that I think will lead to much future litigation: How this ruling plays out throughout all sports regarding Title IX (such as a school spending money on men’s football, basketball, baseball, must by federal and state law also spend an equal amount on the equivalent sports for women). I am for market opportunity and thus I think it is an exciting preposition that opportunities will open up in all sports for athletes and wealth manager advisors alike (to negotiate the optimum financial rewards for the athletes).

Also, if athletic programs, such as golf or hockey, are forced to ‘come up’ with additional dollars to attract the star players to remain competitive, will the programs themselves start to think like SEC football (the most profitable league and sport) to generate additional income to meet the demands of staying or obtaining high ranking?  After all, whether it be academics or sports, it is all about ranking. Deans and Provosts rise and fall based on academic rankings. Coaches based on league rankings and national championships. Sports rankings and academic rankings have connection via alumni fundraising as of course voter university name / brand awareness and recognition. Basketball in particular through March madness has supported the academic rankings of universities though academic and sports ranking are not directly connected in voting and evaluation scoring, the indirect connect in undeniable.

This Supreme Court decision is great news for wealth managers / financial advisors who subscribe to Tax Facts because we are well-positioned to enter the new market of clientele representation created for the high school athlete seeking to share in the value that the athlete creates for a university and for the athlete through social media leveraged revenues. Understanding that “value”, generating more of it, and ‘sharing’ in the value is the bread and butter of a holistic wealth manager’s representation of athletes and entertainers.

Texas A&M already has education in this regard for our wealth management students and JDs who focus on such emerging artist/athlete/entertainer representation. We even have a law clinic for this emerging artists run by JD students supervised by my colleague that joined me at Texas A&M from our former law school in SoCal.

Byrnes & Bloink’s Tax Facts Offers a Complete Web, App-Based, and Print Experience: Reducing complicated tax questions to understandable answers that can be immediately put into real-life practice, Tax Facts works when and where you need it….on your desktop, at home on your laptop, and on the go through your tablet or smartphone.

• all Tax Facts books
• Tax Facts Intelligence weekly newsletters
• weekly strategy articles for client advisory
• weekly transcribed debate discussion for client soft-skill discussion
• among other weekly client advisory critical updates

Questions? Contact customer service: TaxFactsHelp@alm.com| 800-543-0874

Prof. William H. Byrnes

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

IRS Issues FAQ on Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for 2021

Last week, the IRS released new FAQ to help taxpayers understand the expanded child and dependent care tax credit in 2021. For 2021, eligible taxpayers can claim qualifying work-related expenses up to $8,000 for one qualifying person, or $16,000 for two or more qualifying persons (up from $3,000 and $6,000 in prior years). To claim the credit, taxpayers are also required to have earnings. The FAQ is clear that the amount of qualifying work-related expenses claimed cannot exceed the taxpayer’s earnings. Additionally, the taxpayer must subtract employer-provided dependent care benefits, including those provided through a flexible spending account, from total work-related expenses when calculating the credit. As in prior years, the more a taxpayer earns, the lower the percentage of work-related expenses that are taken into account in determining the credit. However, the credit is fully refundable for the first time in 2021. This means eligible taxpayers can receive the credit even if they owe no federal income tax. To be eligible for the refundable credit, a taxpayer (or the taxpayer’s spouse on a joint return) must reside in the United States for more than half of the year. For more information on the credit, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Related Questions:

757. Who qualifies for the tax credit for the elderly and the permanently and totally disabled and how is the credit computed?

758. Who qualifies for the child tax credit?

Roth IRA Planning Now for Higher Estate Taxes Later

With tax rates at historic lows, many clients have already evaluated the Roth conversion strategy as a retirement income tax minimization strategy. However, high net worth clients who anticipate estate tax liability in the future might also be attracted to the Roth strategy. IRAs are generally included in calculating the taxable estate. If the estate is subject to estate taxes, that reduces the value of assets left to beneficiaries. Once a beneficiary receives the IRA (after taxes), they generally must deplete the funds within 10 years under the SECURE Act. That means beneficiaries will be required to quickly pay income taxes after the estate taxes have been levied. Distributions from inherited Roth IRAs are not taxable. Further, because the client has paid income taxes during life, they’ve presumably reduced the value of the taxable estate in the process. Given current uncertainties about Biden’s estate tax plans, high net worth clients may be particularly interested in this strategy. For more information on Roth conversions, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Related Questions:

3661. Can a taxpayer whose income level exceeds the limitations for Roth IRA contributions maintain a Roth IRA?

3662. Can an individual roll over or convert a traditional IRA or other eligible retirement plan into a Roth IRA?

3664. Can an individual correct a Roth conversion? What is a recharacterization?

RMD Rules Might See Big Changes in Next Round of Retirement Reform

The latest round of retirement reform provisions might include big changes for required minimum distributions (RMDs). Most taxpayers must start taking distributions from traditional retirement accounts when they turn 72. Under the new proposal, the RMD beginning age would increase to age 75. Further, the law would exempt taxpayers with account balances under $100,000 from the RMD rules entirely. In other words, those taxpayers would not be required to take annual distributions from 401(k)s and IRAs. The law would also reduce the penalty for incorrect RMDs from 50 percent of the shortfall amount to 25 percent—and as low as 10 percent if the taxpayer took advantage of the IRS self-correction procedures to correct the mistake. Access to qualified longevity annuities would also be expanded—giving taxpayers an option to minimize their RMDs in future years by purchasing a deferred annuity within their retirement plan. For more information on the current RMD rules, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Related Questions:

3683. What can be done before the IRA required beginning date in order to minimize required minimum distributions?

3684. How are minimum distribution requirements calculated if an individual owns more than one IRA?

The Texas A&M graduate programs for risk management for areas like wealth management, tax risk management, financial risk, economic crimes, ESG risk, is accepting applications for fall. Over 500 candidates are currently enrolled in the graduate courses yet maximum enrollment per course section is maintained at 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the fulltime academic and professional part-time faculty. Check out the tax risk management program here as an example of the curriculum and courses: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education/international-tax

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! The law school has the #1 bar passage in Texas, and #1 for employment in Texas (and top 10 in U.S.)

• 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
• #1 employment outcome for law schools in Texas and in top 10 in the USA
• #1 bar passage in Texas
• Rank #11 by Money Best Colleges Report, 2021 and #5 in US among public universities (Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, PayScale.com, Money/College Measures calculations)
• 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

The International Tax Certificate and Master Degree are designed for international tax professionals (either lawyers or accountants, economists, and finance) to deliver specialized legal training for an in-depth understanding of the international tax risk management field’s changing complex legal aspects. Courses begin in late August, mid-January, and mid-May each year.

This graduate-level International Tax certificate or Master’s degree will prepare new and experienced international tax professionals to effectively address complex legal and policy challenges with respect to global tax risk. Specifically, participants will be exposed to (i) important U.S. and international laws, regulations, and policies in the international tax risk management field, and (ii) technology, data, and practice, as well as applications of law and regulation through case studies through a weekly-based structure. Individuals who complete the program will be able to synthesize scenarios, practice, and legal regulation in the international tax risk management field, providing analysis or judgments for consideration to organizational leadership with a nuanced perspective.

Courses are offered by asynchronous distance learning to provide a flexible schedule for working professionals. Interactive coursework includes case study assignments and regular interaction with classmates & the faculty through twice-weekly zoom meetings (recorded), pre-recorded videos, audio casts, discussion boards, and group breakout sessions.  For more information, contact Admissions: law.tamu.edu/distance-education/international-tax.

Example courses:

• LAW 625 Spring Term A Transfer Pricing l – Methods, Econometrics, and Tangibles
• LAW 626 Spring Term B Transfer Pricing II – Services and Intangibles
• LAW 627 International Tax Risk Management I – Data, Analytics, and Technology
• LAW 647 Fall Term A International Taxation and Treaties – residency issues
• LAW 649 Fall Term B International Taxation and Treaties – source issues
• LAW 719 Fall A Domestic Tax Systems Risk Management
• LAW 720 Fall B International Tax Risk Management II – Data, Analytics, and Technology
• U.S. International Tax Risk Management – Data and Analytics Spring Term A
• U.S. International Tax Risk Management – Law and Regulation Summer
• FATCA, CRS, and AEoI Risk Management – Summer

• Ranked top 20 public universities by Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education (2020)
• #7 endowment for U.S. universities
• #1 of U.S. public universities for a superior education at an affordable cost
• #1 for most CEOs employed by Fortune 500
• Rank #5 by Money Best Colleges Report, 2021 for public universities (Data sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, PayScale.com, Money/College Measures calculations, US News Rankings, Forbes)
• 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

The Texas A&M graduate programs for risk management for areas like wealth management, tax risk management, financial risk, economic crimes, ESG risk, is accepting applications for fall. Over 500 candidates are currently enrolled in the graduate courses yet maximum enrollment per course section is maintained at 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the fulltime academic and professional part-time faculty. Check out the tax risk management program here as an example of the curriculum and courses: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education/international-tax

• 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
• #1 employment outcome for law schools in Texas and in top 10 in the USA
• #1 bar passage in Texas
• Rank #11 by Money Best Colleges Report, 2021 and #5 in US among public universities (Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, PayScale.com, Money/College Measures calculations)
• 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

Prof. William H. Byrnes

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

ARPA Expands Child Tax Credit for 2021 

The ARPA expanded and enhanced the child tax credit for the 2021 tax year.  For tax years beginning after December 31, 2020 and before January 1, 2022, the child tax credit amount increased from $2,000 to $3,000 per qualifying child.  The credit amount is also fully refundable for the 2021 tax year only (under TCJA, $1,400 was refundable).  The $3,000 amount is also further increased to $3,600 per qualifying child under the age of six years old as of December 31, 2021.  For more information on the child tax credit, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Eligibility for 2021 Child Tax Credit and Advance Child Tax Credit Payments

A taxpayer can receive advance Child Tax Credit payments even if earning zero income in 2020 or 2021, if eligible for the credit otherwise. 

IRS online tool to help low-income families register for monthly Child Tax Credit payments

The IRS unveiled an online Non-filer Sign-up tool designed to help eligible families who don’t normally file tax returns register for the monthly Advance Child Tax Credit payments. The IRS will begin disbursing advance Child Tax Credit payments on July 15. After that, payments will be disbursed on a monthly basis through December 2021. In June 2021, the IRS will send each eligible taxpayer a “Letter 6417” that informs the amount of the estimated Child Tax Credit monthly payments.

This tool, an update of last year’s IRS Non-filers tool, is also designed to help eligible individuals who don’t normally file income tax returns register for the $1,400 third round of Economic Impact Payments (also known as stimulus checks) and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit for any amount of the first two rounds of Economic Impact Payments they may have missed.

The IRS will automatically determine eligibility for most families

Eligible families who already filed or plan to file 2019 or 2020 income tax returns should not use this tool. Once the IRS processes their 2019 or 2020 tax return, the information will be used to determine eligibility and issue advance payments. Families who want to claim other tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for low- and moderate-income families, should not use this tool and instead file a regular tax return.