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The IRS on Wednesday issued guidance clarifying that taxpayers may generally continue to deduct 50% of the food and beverage expenses associated with operating their trade or business, despite changes to the meal and entertainment expense deduction under Sec. 274 made by the tax law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), P.L. 115-97 (Notice 2018-76). According to the IRS, the amendments specifically deny deductions for expenses for entertainment, amusement, or recreation, but do not address the deductibility of expenses for business meals. This omission has created a lot of confusion in the business community, which the IRS is addressing in this interim guidance. Taxpayers can rely on the guidance in the notice until the IRS issues proposed regulations.

Sec. 274(k), which was not amended by the TCJA, does not allow a deduction for the expense of any food or beverages unless (1) the expense is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances, and (2) the taxpayer (or an employee of the taxpayer) is present when the food or beverages are furnished. Sec. 274(n)(1), which was amended by the TCJA, generally provides that the amount allowable as a deduction for any expense for food or beverages cannot exceed 50% of the amount of the expense that otherwise would be allowable.

Under the interim guidance, taxpayers may deduct 50% of an otherwise allowable business meal expense if:

1. The expense is an ordinary and necessary business expense under Sec. 162(a) paid or incurred during the tax year when carrying on any trade or business;
2. The expense is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances;
3. The taxpayer, or an employee of the taxpayer, is present when the food or beverages are furnished;
4. The food and beverages are provided to a current or potential business customer, client, consultant, or similar business contact; and
5. For food and beverages provided during or at an entertainment activity, they are purchased separately from the entertainment, or the cost of the food and beverages is stated separately from the cost of the entertainment on one or more bills, invoices, or receipts.

The IRS will not allow the entertainment disallowance rule to be circumvented through inflating the amount charged for food and beverages.

The notice contains three examples illustrating how the IRS intends to interpret these rules. All three examples involve attending a sporting event with a business client and having food and drink while attending the game. The examples follow the AICPA’s recommendation that meal expenses be deductible when their costs are separately stated from the cost of the entertainment.

The IRS plans to issue proposed regulations and is requesting comments by Dec. 2 on the notice. It is also asking for comments on:

• Whether further guidance is needed to clarify the interaction of Sec. 274(a)(1)(A) entertainment expenses and business meal expenses.
• Whether the definition of entertainment in Regs. Sec. 1.274-2(b)(1)(i) should be retained and, if so, whether it should be revised.
• Whether the objective test in Regs. Sec. 1.274-2(b)(1)(ii) should be retained and, if so, whether it should be revised.
• Whether the IRS should provide more examples in the regulations.

For business owners or individuals who have investments in businesses, the most talked about provision of the new tax law is IRC Section 199 (a)

Since the new law gives C corporations a flat rate of 21%, Congress felt the need to give a tax break to other businesses that are commonly known as “pass through entities”. S Corporations, LLC’s, LLP’s, partnerships, etc.

So, Section 199 (a) was created to accommodate this. It’s very complicated. What it basically says is that an entity’s  “Qualified Business Income (QBI)” MAY qualify for a 20% deduction. But there are tons of exceptions, limitations, and complications.

For instance: Specified Service Businesses (doctors, accountants, consultants, and many more) are limited in their QBI calculations to $415,000 (married filing jointly. MFJ). So a doctor who has QBI of $414,999, can get a 20% deduction of that number, or $82,999 deduction from taxable income. If the same doctor had QBI of 415,001, he/she would get no deduction.

The IRS has just (July 2018) released “proposed” regulations which try to clarify many of the complications. For instance. Does the income from a rental property qualify as QBI? The IRS’s answer is “it depends”. Can you aggregate QBI income from multiple entities that you have interests in? “It depends”.

We will be issuing a series of blog articles dealing with the most common of the items that are affecting most individuals and businesses. Please call us if you have any specific questions. There are planning opportunities for 2018 that can have a large effect of those who come under 199 (a).

New tax law having positive effect on economy

According to the Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2018. The effect of the new tax law can be seen in June government statistics. According to the U. S. Treasury, tax revenues fell 7% in June compared to June 2017. Corporations and Individuals are lowering their tax payments and withholdings due to the lower rates. Even though revenues fell, the budget deficit narrowed to $74.86 billion from June 2017 because of a 9% drop in government outlays.