William Byrnes' Tax, Wealth, and Risk Intelligence

William Byrnes (Texas A&M) tax & compliance articles

Archive for November, 2021

TaxFacts Intelligence November 19, 2021

Posted by William Byrnes on November 19, 2021


Leaders at the G20 summit in Rome endorsed an overhaul of the international tax rules that would impose a 15 percent global minimum tax to companies with revenues of more than $867 million. This deal is designed to discourage companies from avoiding taxes by finding havens with low tax rates. Although the pact probably won’t be fully enacted until 2023, it is something to keep an eye on as it could have implications for the global economy. Back in the United States, we have a mixed bag of retirement-related content this week.  First, the IRS took steps to help pension sponsors rehire workers who may have started receiving pension distributions due to pandemic-related retirements without risking qualified status. Second, the IRS extended its non-enforcement policy for investment advice fiduciaries who provide retirement and rollover-related relief. Third, in a surprise move, Congress dropped all retirement-related changes from the proposed spending legislation. Are your clients up to speed?

By the way subscribers, the Texas A&M graduate program for tax, wealth, and risk management is accepting applications for spring. Maximum enrollment for a course section is 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic faculty and renowned professional case study leaders, and each other. Learn more about it here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Prof. William H. Byrnes         Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

IRS Provides Relief for In-Service Pension Distributions to Help Businesses Rehire Post-COVID

The IRS has updated its FAQs to provide relief for business owners looking to rehire in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some workers chose to take an early retirement during the height of the pandemic and may have begun receiving distributions from pension plans.  Under the first question, the IRS addressed a situation where a pension did not provide for in-service distributions and began paying benefits to a participant who experienced a bona fide retirement. If the plan sponsor rehires the participant because of unforeseen hiring needs, that individual’s prior retirement will still be treated as a “bona fide retirement”. According to the IRS, a rehire due to unforeseen circumstances that do not reflect any prearrangement to rehire the individual will not cause the individual’s prior retirement to no longer be considered a bona fide retirement under the plan. The IRS has also clarified that a qualified pension can allow individuals to begin in-service distributions if the individual has either attained age 59½ or the plan’s normal retirement age.  However, distributions prior to age 59½can lead to imposition of a 10 percent penalty unless an exception applies.  For more information on pre-retirement distributions from qualified plans, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

DOL Updates Temporary Enforcement Policy on Prohibited Transaction Rules for Investment Advice Fiduciaries

The Department of Labor (DOL) once again updated its temporary enforcement policy for investment advice fiduciaries to allow firms and advisors more time to comply with new prohibited transaction exemption (PTE) 2020-02. The PTE was set to become fully effective as of December 20, 2021.  Recognizing that allowing the temporary enforcement policy to expire next month would create practical difficulties for financial institutions, the DOL extended the policy through January 31, 2022. As a result, the DOL will not pursue prohibited transactions claims against investment advice fiduciaries who are working in good faith to comply with the impartial conduct standards under PTE 2020-02.  It will also not treat these fiduciaries as violating the prohibited transaction rules during this period. The DOL will not enforce the “specific documentation” and disclosure requirements for rollovers under PTE 2020-02 through June 20, 2022.  Aside from the rollover exception, all other requirements will be subject to full enforcement as of February 1, 2022. For more information on PTE 2020-02 and the new investment advice fiduciary standard, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Retirement Proposals Dropped From Framework Legislation

As negotiations over the framework spending legislation stalled last week, Congress took an unexpected turn and dropped all retirement proposals from the spending package. That includes proposals to require certain employers to enroll employees automatically in retirement savings programs and the increased credits for small businesses who adopt a retirement plan or auto-enrollment provision for the first time. All provisions that would close the “backdoor” to Roth IRAs for high earners were also dropped from the proposal, as were the changes that would impose contribution limits on high-income taxpayers with large IRA balances. The earlier proposal would have also changed the Saver’s Credit by turning it into a government-sponsored matching contribution. For more information on the current Roth conversion rules that allow higher income taxpayers to indirectly fund a Roth account, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Look in your Tax Facts Online app for our continuing analysis of 2021 legislative and regulatory updates, and the impact on 2022 client planning, as well as other weekly intelligence.

Wealth & Risk Management Degree for Industry Professionals – learn about the graduate degree 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.)

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TaxFacts Intelligence November 17, 2021

Posted by William Byrnes on November 17, 2021


We all know that the past 18 months have been filled with legislative changes. Laws have been enacted more quickly than ever–and, often, the IRS, DOL and other agencies have stepped in to provide interpretive guidance on a rolling basis. Last week, the IRS announced a change in its official policies when it comes to taxpayer’s ability to rely upon frequently asked questions. Also, as a reminder, employers will no longer benefit from ACA-related “transition relief” starting this year–and, as always, it’s a good time for a 4th quarter withholding checkup.

By the way subscribers, the Texas A&M graduate program for tax, wealth, and risk management is accepting applications for spring. Maximum enrollment for a course section is 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic faculty and renowned professional case study leaders, and each other. Learn more about it here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Prof. William H. Byrnes         Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

IRS Updates Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) Process

The IRS announced updates to its processes and policies for frequently asked questions (FAQs) and has provided guidance on the rules for implementing penalties for taxpayers who rely on FAQs.  FAQs often provide important interpretive guidance for taxpayers attempting to understand how new legislation will be implemented. However, the FAQs are updated frequently and without warning. Going forward, FAQs will be announced in a news release and posted to IRS.gov in a fact sheet. Prior versions of the fact sheet FAQs will now be dated and maintained on IRS.gov so that taxpayers can find the version they relied upon. The IRS also released a statement clarifying that if a taxpayer relies on FAQs in good faith and that reliance is reasonable, the taxpayer has a reasonable cause defense against any accuracy-related penalties and negligence penalties if it turns out that the FAQs were not a correct interpretation of the law given the facts.  However, the law itself will continue to control in the taxpayer’s case (not the FAQs). In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, IRS FAQs were often the only interpretive materials available.  For examples of how FAQs have functioned to guide taxpayers in interpreting legislation,, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Give Your Withholding a Fourth-Quarter Checkup

While it seems hard to believe, the 2021 tax year is almost at an end. The IRS recently reminded taxpayers that the fourth quarter is always a good time for a withholding checkup. Taxpayers still have time to adjust their withholding to withhold additional amounts (or make an estimated tax payment) to avoid a surprise tax bill in April. For 2021, there are a number of new tax provisions that should be considered when examining withholding choices, including COVID-19 tax relief, natural disaster relief and issues created by moving to another state due to a pandemic-related work-from-home policy. As always, issues such as marriage, divorce or having a child will impact the amount employees should have withheld from their paychecks. The IRS offers a tax withholding estimator that can be helpful. Clients who had an unexpected tax bill for the 2020 tax year can use this tool to ensure they’ve paid accurately in 2021 and avoid surprises come April. For more information on tax withholding obligations, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Reminder: No Extension for ACA Reporting for 2021

In prior years, the IRS has permitted transition relief and extended the deadline for providing Form 1095-C to individuals from February to March.  (Typically, the due date to furnish the Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to requisite individuals is extended from February 1 to March 1).  This year, there is no extension, so businesses must provide individuals with Forms 1095-B or 1095-C by January 31, 2022.  Form 1094-C and Form 1095-C that must be provided to the IRS are typically not subject to the extension.  The employer must furnish these filings to the IRS by February 28, 2022 if the filing is on paper and March 31, 2022 if the employer is filing electronically.  Under current law, employers that submit 250 or more of the same form must use electronic filing systems.  However, the IRS has proposed a new rule that would require nearly all employers to file electronically (lowering the threshold to 100 forms in 2022 and ten forms starting in 2023).  Employers would also be required to aggregate all forms that they have submitted.  For more information, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Look in your Tax Facts Online app for our continuing analysis of 2021 legislative and regulatory updates, and the impact on 2022 client planning, as well as other weekly intelligence.

Wealth & Risk Management Degree for Industry Professionals – learn about the graduate degree 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.)

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TaxFacts Intelligence November 15, 2021

Posted by William Byrnes on November 15, 2021


The IRS finally cleared up the issue of when initial COBRA premium payments are due under the extended deadlines provided in various COVID-19 relief laws. The SSA also announced a historic increase in the cost of living adjustment for Social Security recipients–so what does that mean for your taxes in 2022?  Finally, small business clients who are asking questions about vaccination status may want to think twice where job applicants are concerned.

By the way subscribers, the Texas A&M graduate program for tax, wealth, and risk management is accepting applications for spring. Maximum enrollment for a course section is 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic faculty and renowned professional case study leaders, and each other. Learn more about it here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Prof. William H. Byrnes         Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

Notice 2021-58 Clarifies Timeline for Making COBRA Premium Payments Under COVID-19 Relief Laws

In May 2020, the DOL and IRS extended certain COBRA timelines so that plans were required to disregard the period beginning March 1, 2020 and ending the earlier of (1) one year from the date relief became available or (2) 60 days after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency (the “outbreak period”). To date, the end of the outbreak period has not been announced.  Last week, the IRS released Notice 2021-58 to provide clarity about the disregarded period and deadlines for COBRA premium payments. Namely, the Notice provides that the tolling periods are to run concurrently. The Notice also provided transition relief so that the COBRA eligible individual cannot be required to make an initial premium payment before November 1, 2021, as long as the individual made the initial premium payment within one year and 45 days after the date of the COBRA election. Generally, with respect to the initial payment, the individual has one year and 45 days after the date of the election to make the payment if the election was made within the typical 60-day deadline. For elections made after that 60-day timeframe, the individual has one year and 105 days from the date the COBRA notice was provided (to reflect the one-year suspension of the 60-day election period and the 45-day grace payment period). For more information on the COBRA payment periods, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Social Security Administration Announces 2022 Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Benefit Recipients

The Social Security Administration has announced the cost of living adjustments (COLA) applicable for 2022, including a 5.9 percent increase in monthly benefits paid to Social Security recipients (the COLA increase for 2021 was 1.3 percent). Social Security “COLA” adjustments are tied to the consumer price index each year. Based on the 5.9 percent increase, the SSA also announced that the annual Social Security earnings cap will be increased from $142,800 to $147,000 for 2021. This means that in 2022, each taxpayer’s first $147,000 in earnings will be subject to Social Security taxes. Social Security and SSI recipients should expect to receive information about their new benefit amount by mail beginning in early December (and can find their COLA notice online through their Social Security accounts at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount). For more information on the Social Security tax, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Asking for Vaccination Status? Remember, Different Laws Apply to Employees Versus Job Applicants

Small business employers can now be confident that they’re legally able to ask employees about vaccination status to protect worker safety.  However, those same clients should remember that different rules apply during the hiring process.  While the specific vaccine issue hasn’t been litigated, under existing law, potential employers are not permitted to ask a potential employee about any medical information during the hiring process under the ADA (employers shouldn’t worry about job applicants who volunteer information about their vaccination status, but they shouldn’t request the information). Even asking about vaccination status could prompt the job applicant to offer other medical information that the employer isn’t permitted to consider during the application process (for example, if it turns out the applicant isn’t vaccinated because of chemotherapy treatments). Once the individual has been offered a conditional employment opportunity, however, the employer is then permitted to ask questions about medical issues, assuming the same information is requested from all individuals receiving the job offer and the information isn’t used to discriminate. For more information on the tax credit for vaccine-related time off work, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Look in your Tax Facts Online app for our continuing analysis of 2021 legislative and regulatory updates, and the impact on 2022 client planning, as well as other weekly intelligence.

Wealth & Risk Management Degree for Industry Professionals – learn about the graduate degree 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.)

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TaxFacts Intelligence November 12, 2021

Posted by William Byrnes on November 12, 2021


We’re still waiting for the exact parameters of any new government legislation on retirement plans.  However, one thing is certain: Congress isn’t forgetting about small business owners.  Multiple pieces of legislation focus on increasing access to retirement plans for employees of small businesses.  If your clients are worried about the cost, don’t forget to remind them about the expanded tax credits for plan startup costs.  This week, we also have reminders about the soon-to-be effective PTE 2020-02 and how to handle requests for COVID-19-related reasonable accommodation in the workplace.

By the way subscribers, the Texas A&M graduate program for tax, wealth, and risk management is accepting applications for spring. Maximum enrollment for a course section is 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic faculty and renowned professional case study leaders, and each other. Learn more about it here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Prof. William H. Byrnes         Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

Establishing a Retirement Plan?  Don’t Forget Small Business Tax Breaks

Recent legislation has focused small business clients’ attention on retirement plans and their obligations to employees.  Some states already sponsor “auto IRAs” for workers without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. The Build Back Better Act would require employers who do not sponsor a retirement plan to automatically enroll employees in either an IRA or a 401(k)-type plan beginning in 2023. The “SECURE Act 2.0” also contains provisions designed to encourage more small businesses to offer retirement plans. Small business clients who are exploring their options in advance of government action should be reminded about valuable tax incentives designed to encourage workplace retirement savings options. The SECURE Act increased the tax credit for retirement plan startup costs so that employers can receive a $250 tax credit for every non-highly compensated employee (up to a maximum of $5,000 per year). The tax credit is available for up to three years and can be applied toward the administrative costs of maintaining the plan (and to participant education). Employers can also receive a $500 tax credit per year (for up to three years) if they add an auto-enrollment feature. For new plans, both tax credits are available. For more information on these tax credits, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Reminder: Conditions of New DOL Fiduciary PTE Becomes Fully Effective December 21

The DOL’s new prohibited transaction exemption (PTE) 2020-02 becomes fully effective December 21. Advisors who satisfy the “five prong test” must determine whether their recommendation would create a conflict of interest (for example, most IRAs would result in a prohibited transaction because of the compensation earned). The new PTE provides an exception for certain conflicted advice if the terms of the PTE are satisfied. To date, the DOL has only required a good faith compliance effort from firms and advisors that satisfy the impartial conduct standards. Effective December 21, the rule will be fully effective, meaning that fiduciaries must acknowledge fiduciary status and provide conflicts and services disclosures–and the firm must implement written policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the impartial conduct standards. For certain types of rollover transactions, advisors will also have to provide a written statement outlining the specific reasons why the rollover transaction is in the best interest of the participant or IRA holder. The new fiduciary PTE applies in the case of rollover transactions if the advice is provided in the context of an ongoing relationship or as the beginning of a future relationship between the client and advisor. For more information on PTE 2020-02, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Focus on Reasonable Accommodation for Employers Implementing Return-to-Work Policies

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, employers are more focused than ever on the issue of what constitutes reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs in the workplace. As employers re-open workspaces and bring employees back to work, many are facing requests for COVID-19-related “reasonable accommodation” that they’ve never handled before. A recent 10th Circuit case (Brown v. Austin) illustrates a key point: a work-from-home or modified schedule is not a “reasonable” accommodation if the employee is unable to perform essential job functions as a result. The case illustrates the general rule that reasonable accommodation is only required if it doesn’t present an undue hardship for the employer. Employers today should ensure that the essential job functions required of each role are well-documented–remembering that it’s important to evaluate whether the accommodation would truly prevent the employee from performing those job functions. For more information on employers’ options on return to work, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Look in your Tax Facts Online app for our continuing analysis of this bill, the tax reform in the reconciliation bill, and other weekly intelligence.

Wealth & Risk Management Degree for Industry Professionals – learn about the graduate degree 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.)

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TaxFacts Intelligence November 10, 2021

Posted by William Byrnes on November 10, 2021


Many small business clients jumped at the opportunity to take advantage of advance payments of the COVID-19 tax credits–often relying on limited and quickly-changing guidance in calculating the value of those credits.  Now, the IRS has announced that it will recapture excess payments of those tax credits as underpayments of tax.  It’s anticipated that this may be particularly problematic for S corporation shareholders who claimed those credits before the IRS released guidance on majority shareholder issues.  Are your clients prepared?

By the way subscribers, the Texas A&M graduate program for tax, wealth, and risk management is accepting applications for spring. Maximum enrollment for a course section is 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic faculty and renowned professional case study leaders, and each other. Learn more about it here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Prof. William H. Byrnes         Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

IRS Releases Regulations Allowing for Recapture of Erroneous COVID-19 Tax Credits

Early in 2020, the IRS created procedures to allow employers to quickly take advantage of the FFCRA and CARES Act tax credits.  Now, the IRS has released temporary regulations that allow the IRS to recapture any of the tax credits credited to an employer in excess of the amount that the employer was actually entitled to receive.  The regulations provide that any amount of the credits for qualified leave wages, credits for qualified health plan expenses under sections 3131(d) and 3132(d), and any amount of the employee retention credit that were erroneously paid or credited to the employer can be recaptured.  Those incorrect tax credits will be treated as underpayments of  taxes and may be administratively assessed and collected in the same manner as the taxes. The temporary regulations also provide that the calculation of any credits erroneously claimed must take into account any amounts that were advanced to the employer under the processes established in 2020.  For more information on the employee retention tax credit, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Federal Court Sides With DOL on Form 5500 Statute of Limitations Issue

Recently, in Walsh v. Bowers, the Department of Labor (DOL) convinced a federal court to extend the statute of limitations for a fiduciary breach claim by relying on a Supreme Court interpretation of the “actual knowledge” standard.  Typically, the ERISA statute of limitations that applies for DOL investigations is the earlier of (A) six years after (1) the date of the last action that was a part of the breach or (2) if the case involves an omission, the last date on which the fiduciary could have cured the breach or (B) three years after the earliest date that the plaintiff had actual knowledge of the breach.  Typically, the DOL should have the relevant information in order to have actual knowledge of a breach when a plan files Form 5500 containing that information.  However, the DOL argued that a recent Supreme Court decision interpreting the definition of “actual knowledge” to mean actual knowledge should apply.  Relying on that case, the court allowed the DOL additional time because the DOL had yet to review the Form 5500 in question.  For more information on the current standard for investment advice fiduciaries, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

December 31 Deadline for Maximizing QOZ Tax Deferral Benefits

December 31, 2021 is the final day for taxpayers to invest in a qualified opportunity zone (QOZ) and maximize the federal tax deferral benefit of these investments.  Taxpayers who invest capital gains according to the QOZ rules are not subject to immediate taxation on the gain.  Capital gains taxes are deferred (and federal income taxes are not required to be paid) until the end of 2026, or upon the individual’s disposition of the qualified opportunity fund (QOF) interest.  When the taxpayer eventually recognizes that gain, if the taxpayer has held the interest for at least five years, 10 percent of the federal income tax liability is eliminated (taxpayers who invested earlier can eliminate an additional 5 percent).  If the taxpayer holds the interest for at least 10 years, the increase in value is not subject to federal income tax when the interest is sold.  In order to hold the interest for the required five-year period, the taxpayer must purchase the interest no later than December 31, 2021.  For more information on the opportunity zone rules, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Look in your Tax Facts Online app for our continuing analysis of this bill, the tax reform in the reconciliation bill, and other weekly intelligence.

Wealth & Risk Management Degree for Industry Professionals – learn about the graduate degree 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.)

Posted in Retirement Planning, Taxation | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Transfer Pricing Risk Management Zoom-Based Case Studies Start Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022 through April 30 (graduation May 6 on campus)

Posted by William Byrnes on November 9, 2021


Based on weekly case studies created by the faculty, supported by reading/text materials, pre-recorded videos with PPTs, and audio podcast files made by the faculty – twice-weekly Zoom (optional) live sessions (recorded for those unable to attend) of 90 – 120 minutes wherein students may work with teams through the case studies generally from an assigned stakeholder perspective. Access to the extensive Texas A&M library for case study research includes by example: Lexis, Westlaw, IBFD, Kluwer-Cheetah, Thomson OneSource, BvD (Moodys), S&P CapIQ, FITCH, among several others. Apply for Texas A&M’s courses here.

Professor William Byrnes’ leverages the expertise of weekly case study experts that draw from a variety of disciplines including accounting, economics, finance, international business, management, and law. The textbook is authored by Professor William Byrnes and provided within the course [William Byrnes, Practical Guide to Transfer Pricing, 4th ed, 2022 version, published by Matthew Bender via LexisNexis and available in the law library in hardcopy].

Transfer pricing is the valuation of cross-border transactions between units of a multinational enterprise. This course introduces students to both theoretical and practical aspects of transfer pricing. This course deep dives into the legal issues (regulations and jurisprudence); accounting systems and variances among (managerial, financial, tax, and public accounting); financial data analytics through the lens of economic methods and profit level indicators; functional analysis and global value chain; contrasts with the OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines and UN Transfer Pricing Manual. Each week, an industry-based case study is undertaken in a team-based learning approach of student groups generally consisting of three team members each.  The industry case studies include, as examples, agriculture (coffee supply chain), technology services, and petroleum.

Part I and Part II of this course both address strategy, compliance, and risk management.  Transfer Pricing Part I focuses on the topics of comparability, the transfer pricing methods, functional analysis, and global value chain analysis, and transfer pricing analysis for tangibles. Transfer Pricing Part II focuses on the transfer pricing methods and analysis for intangibles and for services. Topics more specifically that are addressed in this course via its textbook, video and audio lectures, weekly team-based case studies, and weekly live sessions, include the arm’s length standard, comparability analysis, risk analysis for tangibles and intangibles, transactional methods (CUP, CUT, Cost Plus, Resale Minus, Commodity), profit methods (e.g. comparable profits method, transactional net margin method, profit level indicators, key performance indicators, commensurate with income), functional analysis (supply chain, global value chain analysis, DAEMPE functions), industry economic data gathering and analysis, cost-sharing arrangements, profit splits and residuals, platform contributions, and safe harbors.  Apply for Texas A&M’s courses here.

Prof. William Byrnes Course Topics and Subject Matter Expert Calendar

Week 1 January 17 Arm’s Length Standard case study by Dr. Bruno da Silva

Jan 18 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am (2-minute student introductions, orientation to teamwork and case studies, expectations and obligations regarding participation asynchronously or synchronously, discuss the syllabus, set up first-week case study)

2nd live session for 2022 to be determined, for 2021 it was: Friday at 9am – 10:30am (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Review the orientation video and slides
  • Read textbook chapter 40
  • Review the analysis of the historical and more recent arm’s length cases (watch videos and review slides)
  • On Tuesday January 18th, the first day of the course, we will discuss the optional use of teams by students, the case study, the team’s roles for the case study, and how team’s should operate, or how individual students may do the work without using a team approach. Students are not required to join a team and may undertake the work/projects individually. This choice is decided weekly.

Week 2 Jan 25: CUP & Comparables, Eden Hofert – the Christmas Tree case (Canadian)/Compaq by Dr. Lorraine Eden

Jan 26 Tuesday at 9am – 10:00am (2-minute student introductions, orientation to teamwork and case studies, expectations and obligations regarding participation asynchronously or synchronously, discuss syllabus, set up first week case study)

Jan 29 Friday at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

Week 3 Jan 31: Cost Plus & Resale Minus (Byrnes’ Starbucks case study) by Dr. George Salis

Feb 1 Tuesday at 9am – 10:00am

second session at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, feedback)

  • Watch background and overview videos of big data & econometrics as it is used in transfer pricing.
  • Read textbook Chapter 7 then read chapter 6.
  • Contrast the analysis within the Cost Plus Method and Resale Minus Method cases.
  • Each team has a stakeholder role in Byrnes’ case study of Starbucks cost inclusion and exclusion, agriculture supply chain, and coffee global value chain.

Week 4 Feb 7: Comparable Profits Method & TNMM by Dr. George Salis

Feb 8 Tuesday at 9am – 10:00am (discussion about Byrnes’ case study and the CPM)

second session at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapters 8 and 9.
  • Watch second set of videos of big data & econometrics.
  • Review the CPM/TNMM examples.
  • Teams prepare the Case Study.

Week 5 Feb 14: functional analysis & global value chain, profit split methods by Dr. George Salis

Feb 15 Tuesday at 9am – 10:00am (discussion about Byrnes’ case study and the CPM, GVC)

second session at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapters 11 and 12, skim chapters 97 and 98
  • Watch videos about FA and GVC.
  • Review the GVC examples (chapters from textbook regarding coffee, technology, tobacco).
  • Team’s prepare the Case Study.

Week 6 Feb 21 Best Method – Snowin’ and Blowin’ case study by Dr. Lorraine Eden

Feb 22 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

second session at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapters 15 and 16
  • Watch video.
  • Team’s prepare the Case Study.

Week 7 Feb 28 Capstone summation and tax risk technology presentations

March 1 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am (counsel litigation discussion)

second session to be determined (at 9am – 10:30 (tech provider training))

March 7-11 Spring Break for distance education graduate programs

Week 1 of Course 2 (week 8 of both courses) March 14: Intangibles Royalty Rates CUT and CPM by Dr. Debora Talutto

March 15 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am (counsel litigation discussion)

second session (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapter 10
  • Analyze the CUT cases
  • Case Study presentation

Week 9 March 21: Intangibles Buy In/Out Cost Sharing Arrangements, Platform Contribution Transactions by Dr. George Salis

March 22 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

second session (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapter 13
  • Analyze the CSA/PCT cases
  • Case Study presentations

Week 10 March 28: Digital; Unitary Apportionment; Pillar 1; EU State Aid

by Dr. Bruno da Silva dasilva.brunoaniceto@gmail.com

March 29 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

April 1 Friday at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapters 44 and 75
  • Review Pillar One
  • Case Study presentation

Week 11 April 4 Digital –Amazon, Internet of Things (IOT) by Dr. Lorraine Eden and Dr. Niraja Srinivasan

April 5 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

April 8 Friday at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read OECD Pillar 1 comment letters in the course folder
  • Read Lorraine Eden’s articles
  • Read Chapter 46

Week 12: April 11 Services by Hafiz Choudhury

April 12 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

April 15 Friday at 9am – 10:00 (presentations, peer feedback)

Week 13 April 18: Restructuring (and extractive industry experience) by Hafiz Choudhury

April 19 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

April 22 Friday at 9am – 10:30 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Read textbook chapters 27, 43
  • In the second week, the investors find out that the state owned off take customer is not utilizing the full capacity of the FSRU

Week 14 April 25 Capstone presentations for comment letters

April 26 Tuesday at 9am – 10:30am

April 29 Friday at 9am – 10:00 (presentations, peer feedback)

  • Review past comment letter submissions
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!

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TaxFacts Intelligence November 8, 2021

Posted by William Byrnes on November 8, 2021


This week, we dig a little deeper into some employment issues that have emerged in recent months–including a deeper dive into vaccine surcharges, employees who aren’t actively at work and the newly-emerging tax issues for employers who give employees the option of receiving wages in cryptocurrency.  Are your clients up to date?

By the way subscribers, the Texas A&M graduate program for tax, wealth, and risk management is accepting applications for spring. Maximum enrollment for a course section is 30 so that each student receives meaningful feedback throughout the course from the full-time academic faculty and renowned professional case study leaders, and each other. Learn more about it here: https://law.tamu.edu/distance-education

Prof. William H. Byrnes         Robert Bloink, J.D., LL.M.

$1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Act to be signed by Biden

The 2,702-page bi-partisan “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021” has been passed by the House and sent to Biden for signature into law. The Act contains approximately $550 billion of new project spending and carries over an additional $650 billion from previously funded projects for a total of over $1.2 trillion in infrastructure spending that will begin in 2021 and most end in 2026.

infrastructure-act-2021Download

But the Infrastructure Act 2021 contains many energy provisions and excise taxes as well as fees that will impact all segments of the energy industry. These provisions include billions of dollars for the industry for expenditure and incentives for carbon capture; clean hydrogen R&D; nuclear; among others. By example, $500,000,000 is provided for clean hydrogen technology R&D (see page 1550 at section 40314). The excise taxes and fees include the extensions of the highway-related taxes, superfund excise taxes, and customs user fees.

The major tax reform provisions addressing estate and gift tax, capital gains, carried interests, real estate exchanges, retirement plans, and high-income earners have been reserved to the forthcoming yet-to-be-agreed/released Democratic reconciliation bill. However, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 contains some new tax provisions including:

  • Sec. 80501. Modification of automatic extension of certain deadlines in the case of taxpayers affected by Federally declared disasters.
  • Sec. 80502. Modifications of rules for postponing certain acts by reason of service in combat zone or contingency operation.
  • Sec. 80503. Tolling of time for filing a petition with the tax court.
  • Sec. 80504. Authority to postpone certain tax deadlines by reason of significant fires.
  • Sec. 80601. Modification of tax treatment of contributions to the capital of a corporation.
  • Sec. 80602. Extension of interest rate stabilization.
  • Sec. 80603. Information reporting for brokers and digital assets.
  • Sec. 80604. Termination of employee retention credit for employers subject to closure due to COVID–19.

The automatic extension for certain tax deadlines for Federally declared disasters addresses the situation of multiple declarations relating to a disaster area which are issued within a 60-day period. A separate 60-day period shall be determined with respect to each such declaration pursuant to the bill’s language.

The Infrastructure Act 2021 contains hundreds of not-obvious federal grants and contract opportunities for business. By example of one provision related to education and training of workers, section 401513 includes $10 million dollars for FY2022 for government grants of 50 percent of the cost to provide ‘career skills training’ to identify and involve in training programs target populations of individuals who would benefit from training and be actively involved in activities relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries; and the ability to help individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency. The program students must concurrently receive classroom instruction and on-the-job training for the purpose of obtaining an industry-related certification to install energy-efficient buildings.

The Act amends the reporting by brokers to include as of 2023 cryptocurrencies. I.R.C. Section 6045(c)(1) is amended to include within the term “broker” any person who (for consideration) is responsible for regularly providing any service effectuating transfers of digital assets on behalf of another person. The Infrastructure Act 2021 amends the information required to be provided the IRS by the broker in the case of securities transactions. A ‘covered security’ is amended to include any ‘digital asset’.

(D) DIGITAL ASSET. The term ‘digital asset’ means any digital representation of value which is recorded on a cryptographically secured distributed ledger or any similar technology as specified by the Secretary. Any broker, with respect to any transfer (which is not part of a sale or exchange executed by such broker) during a calendar year of a covered security which is a digital asset from an account maintained by such broker to an account which is not maintained by, or an address not associated with, a person that such broker knows or has reason to know is also a broker, shall make a return for such calendar year showing the information otherwise required to be furnished with respect to transfers.

The reporting requirement goes into effect on January 1, 2023.

Need to Know on Offering Benefits to Employees Who Aren’t “Actively At Work”

Many employers continued to allow employees to participate in employee benefit programs while the employee was not actually working during the COVID-19 pandemic.  While many employees have now returned to work, in some areas rolling shutdowns may continue to impact the employer’s ability to retain employees on a continuous basis.  It can be risky to allow employees to remain on an employer’s health insurance benefit plan while not actively at work.  In many cases, fully insured plans have “actively at work” clauses that apply in determining the employee’s eligibility for benefits.  Employees typically can continue to participate for up to three months after ceasing work (to comply with FMLA time limits).  For employers with self-insured health plans, stop loss coverage may not apply to cover claims if the employee is not actively working.  Small business clients should check their plans and establish a policy on how employees who are not actively at work will be treated for benefit purposes.  For more information on self-insured plans, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Considering a COVID-19 Vaccine Health Surcharge?  How High Can it Be?

Employers subject to the ACA employer mandate should be mindful that the health coverage must continue to be “affordable” even if the employer opts to impose a COVID-19 vaccine surcharge (there is currently no exception for vaccines).  In 2021, health insurance is affordable if the employee’s contribution does not exceed 9.83 percent (9.61 percent in 2022) of household income (three safe harbors exist for purposes of determining “household income”).  Further, total surcharges generally cannot exceed 30 percent of the cost of the employee’s health insurance premiums (considering the cost of self-only coverage) under a HIPAA rule on incentives for employees who participate in wellness programs.  In the end, the amount of the allowable surcharge can vary by employer and employee, considering the cost of employer-sponsored health insurance, the employee’s compensation and the amount of the health insurance premiums that the employer chooses to subsidize.  For more information on vaccine-related incentives, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Paying Employees in Cryptocurrency?  Don’t Forget Employment Taxes

The IRS released a reminder last week for business clients who opt to pay employees in cryptocurrency.   Employers who choose to pay wages in cryptocurrency should remember that their choice of payment method is immaterial when it comes to calculating employment taxes.  Employment taxes must be paid on the fair market value of cryptocurrency paid as wages, measured using U.S. dollars on the date the employee receives the payment.  The fair market value is subject to FICA, FUTA and federal income tax withholding–and must be reported on the employee’s Form W-2.  Wages paid in cryptocurrency may also be reportable for state income tax purposes.  Employers are liable for these wages, so it’s important that small business clients who opt to pay employees in increasingly popular virtual currency be aware of their withholding and reporting obligations.  For more information on cryptocurrency paid as wages, visit Tax Facts Online. Read More

Look in your Tax Facts Online app for our continuing analysis of this bill, the tax reform in the reconciliation bill, and other weekly intelligence.

Wealth & Risk Management Degree for Industry Professionals – learn about the graduate degree 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.)

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