The Tax Side of Same Sex Marriage

New York State has adopted new laws (pending the Governors signature) that legalizes same sex unions in New York State.

What will be the impact of this event on income tax filing for same sex couples? Will they be considered to be married for tax filing purposes and receive the same tax benefits that other married couples receive?

While New York State may consider same sex unions as a marriage, the federal government has not passed similar rules. Thus these couples are not considered to be married when filing with the IRS.

Tax simplification????

Real Estate Income Tax Issues Update

We delivered a webinar related to updates of real estate income tax issues on May 18, 2011.  Click on the link and you can listen to a replay of the webinar.  You can get an update on important income tax issues that impact real estate developers, owners and lessors.

Please contact Mike Cooke or Mark Blood if you have questions.

DKB webinars

U.S. Business Has High Tax Rates but Pays Less - NYTimes.com

Great article in the New York Times about the impact of corporate income tax rates on American businesses. I cannot imgine a reduction in corporate income taxes rates without an adjustment of the taxable income base. The federal budget cannot afford any further loss of revenue. There are a number of credible arguments that reductions in corporate income tax rates could have a signficiant impact on bringing high quality jobs (manufacturing!) back to the United States.

It will be interesting to see how the states might react to a broading of the taxable income base. Will they reduce rates or use federal changes as an opportunity to collect more revenues?

I think the article is correct that nothing will happen before the 2012 elections. Neither party has the desire to be portrayed in the press as having provided a tax break to large corporations.

U.S. Business Has High Tax Rates but Pays Less - NYTimes.com

Gas prices: Obama urges repeal of oil company subsidies - latimes.com

I understand that income taxes assessed on oil companies are not directly assessed on American consumers. However, it seems like a relatively simple conclusion that gas prices will likely increase if oil and gas producers are forced pay additional income taxes to the federal and state governments. They are corporations that are working hard to produce earnings for their shareholders. Additional income taxes would seem like a reason for oil and gas producers to further raise prices to support their earnings and stock valuation. Am I missing something here?

Gas prices: Obama urges repeal of oil company subsidies - latimes.com

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business | Congress Repeals Expanded 1099 Reporting Requirements

It took a while to repeal the 1099 reporting requirements that accompanied the health care legislation. Looks like it has been repealed for now...until the politicians think it is a good idea a few years from now. CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business Congress Repeals Expanded 1099 Reporting Requirements

IRS Targets Wealthy With More Audits - FoxNews.com

More news on IRS enforcement actions. IRS Targets Wealthy With More Audits - FoxNews.com

Eight Tips for Deducting Charitable Contributions

I have to give the IRS appropriate credit. The IRS has followed through on their pledge to better educate taxpayers on opportunities available under the law. This summary of tips for properly deducting charitable contributions is a part of this effort and a great reminder about how taxpayers can properly claim charitable contributions.

Eight Tips for Deducting Charitable Contributions

Silver unveils plan to up "millionaires tax" threshold to $1 million a year - NYPOST.com

Looks like NYS is getting closer to a real millionaires tax.

Silver unveils plan to up "millionaires tax" threshold to $1 million a year - NYPOST.com

Check out the TeamDKB Tax Update Webinar

Click on the link title above to listen to our latest federal and state tax update webinar.

Comments and questions are welcome.

Wal-Mart Looks To Poach Amazon's California Affiliates - WSJ.com

Actions on the part of many states continue to reach beyond their physical borders to collect sales and use tax. This has led to concepts like "economic nexus" and "click through nexus". The article below details the impact this is having in the market place. Amazon has threaten to end its affiliate program with web sites in California because California is threatening to require Amazon to collect its sales tax.

Walmart being ever opportunistic has jumped in and offered relationships with Amazon's disenfranchised affiliates. Why? Because Walmart is already required to collect California's sales tax due to the fact that it already has stores in California.

Wal-Mart Looks To Poach Amazon's California Affiliates - WSJ.com