Posted in Real Estate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

As most Florida homeowners know, the Florida Constitution provides for a valuable homestead tax exemption. In general, to qualify for this exemption under Section 196.031 of the Florida Statues, you must have legal or beneficial title to your home and in good faith make the home your “permanent residence” as of January 1^st.  Determining whether you make the home your “permanent residence” can be complicated for those who have multiple homes or sometimes rent the home on occasion.

Posted in Business & Corporate Law

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was just passed by Congress.  The CARES Act totaling $2 trillion provides for individuals, families, governments, large corporations, and small businesses.  As to small businesses, below are some important links to Resources to help.  The first link is a guide by the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, which outlines the various aspects of the CARES Act that apply to small businesses.  The second and third links are to the Treasury Department and SBA, which provides important updates on the CARES Act.

Posted in Tax Law & IRS Defense

Calendaring important IRS and tax authority deadlines can save you a lot of headaches at tax time.  To avoid paying penalties and other tax consequences, keep a calendar and plan for tax deadlines with your accountant, attorney, and other members of your professional team.  The below items are a few examples of important tax deadlines:

Posted in Business & Corporate Law,Tax Law & IRS Defense

Last summer, Florida passed new legislation requiring all Florida corporate income tax filers to provide certain additional information online with the Florida Department of Revenue (FDOR). The new online information disclosure relates to how certain areas of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act impact a company’s Florida income tax. Note that the state has limited this additional online reporting to only those companies required to file a Florida corporate income/franchise tax returns (Form F-1120 or F-1120-A). Other entity types such as partnerships are not affected by this legislation.

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Tax Law & IRS Defense,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

The SECURE Act, or the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act”, was recently signed into law on December 20, 2019 without much notice.  It took effect on January 1, 2020 and significantly changed the landscape of retirement planning.  Here are some of the major changes created by the new law:

Posted in Tax Law & IRS Defense

What is Cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency is a virtual currency or representation of money or value.  However, it is not legal tender of any government.  Cryptocurrency is similar to the U.S. dollar in that it can be used to purchase goods and services, and it can also rise and fall in value depending on supply and demand.  Bitcoin, for example, is set to produce a limited supply.  In addition to Bitcoin, there are several other types of cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum and Ripple.   

Posted in Tax Law & IRS Defense

Are you concerned about being audited by the IRS? An IRS audit takes place when the Internal Revenue Service chooses to review a taxpayer’s accounts to verify that tax laws are being followed. As a preliminary caution, beware of phone scams as the IRS will always initiate a tax audit by mail. The IRS will not call to demand immediate payment or ask for a debit or credit card number over the phone, nor will they threaten to bring in local law enforcement to arrest people. Threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims.

Posted in Asset Protection,Probate & Trust Administration,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Florida is leading the way in estate planning as a new bill is revolutionizing the way Floridians execute their last will and testaments. The Florida Legislature passed House Bill 409, which allows for electronic wills and electronic signatures starting January 1, 2020. Like a traditional will, an electronic will must be signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses.  An electronic signature is defined as “an electronic mark visibly manifested in a record as a signature and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”