Consistent tax basis reporting by the executor of an estate on the federal estate tax return and the beneficiaries of the estate on their individual income tax returns will be required under section 2004 of the Surface Transportation and Veterans … Continue reading
Category Archives: News
A recent article in the NY Times shows how the patient privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) are often misunderstood. See “Hipaa’s Use as Code of Silence Often Misinterprets the Law.” … Continue reading
In Obergefell v. Hodges, ___ U.S. ___, No 14-556 (6/26/15), the United States Supreme Court held that it was a violation of the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment for states to deny marriages licenses to … Continue reading
The IRS web page with frequently asked questions on estate taxes now states that, effective Jun 1, 2015, estate tax closing letters will be issued only upon request, and requests should be made at least four months after the return...
The Internal Revenue Service has issued T.D. 9725 containing final regulations on electing portability for the deceased spousal unused exclusion (DSUE) amount. Among the revisions that were made (and not made) to the proposed and temporary regulations are the following: … Continue reading
There is an American Bar Association web page with summaries and links to various state opinions on the ethics of storing confidential client information on off-site “cloud computing” services of third parties. Included is a link to Formal Opinion 2011-200...
The Pennsylvania legislature abolished common law marriages entered into after January 1, 2005, but common law marriages before that date will continue to be valid. See Act of November 23, 2004, No. 144, amending 23 Pa.C.S. § 1103. In Whitewood … Continue reading
I feel somewhat vindicated by a recent order of the Supreme Court, which confirms my opinion that In re Estate of Briskman, 808 A.2d 928, 2002 PA Super 287 (2002), was wrongly decided. In Briskman, the Superior Court found that … Continue reading
The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has announced that, for the 2015-2016 attorney registration year, the fee for returned checks will be $100, and the non-waivable late penalty will be $150 for attorneys who fail to register … Continue reading
Not sure why this was necessary, but the Pa. Department of Revenue has issued a bulletin confirming that same-sex marriages will be recognized for inheritance tax and realty transfer tax purposes following the decision in Whitewood v. Wolf, 992 F. … Continue reading