Topics for 2017 National Income Tax Workbook
Topics for the 2017 National Income Tax Workbook
April 23, 2017
Note: This is a preliminary list of topics. The order of the chapters in the workbook will not follow this order. Some topics may be moved from the listed chapter to another chapter based on publishing needs. Every effort will be made to include all listed topics in the workbook. Additional topics and chapters will be added as tax law develops and space permits.
CHAPTERS
New Legislation
This chapter covers tax legislation that was enacted late in 2016 and in 2017. It is organized by subject matter to help participants quickly find topics of interest and includes:
- A brief summary of each provision
- Cross-references to other chapters to help participants find further information on some of the topics
- A table of effective dates to help participants keep track of when provisions expire
Rulings and Cases
This chapter summarizes selected rulings and cases that were issued from September 2016 through August 2017 to give participants an update on issues that are being addressed by the IRS and the courts. The rulings and cases are organized under topic headings that match the titles of other chapters.
Agriculture and Natural Resource Issues
This chapter covers topics that affect farmers, including:
- Agricultural income and expenses
- Buying and selling farmland
- Equipment and land rentals
- Demolition of structures
Business Entity Issues
This chapter discusses issues for partnership and tax exempt entities. Topics include:
- The new partnership audit rules
- Practical considerations in partnership reorganizations and liquidations
- New developments for tax exempt entities
- Organization, taxation, and reporting for homeowners’ associations
Loss Limitations
This chapter provides step-by-step instructions to determine whether a loss is limited. It includes a discussion of at-risk and passive activity loss limitations, basis limitations for an S corporation shareholder and a partner in a partnership, and hobby loss and vacation home loss limitations.
Business Issues
This chapter discusses some of the issues tax practitioners encounter when they prepare returns for clients who have rental property or operate a business. Topics include:
- Expensing real estate improvements
- Start-up and organizational expenses
- Electing out of Subchapter K
- Tax on marijuana and hemp sales
Like-Kind Exchanges
This chapter is a practical guide to like-kind exchanges. It explains the tax implications of an exchange, including basis adjustments and the recognition of gain or loss; and the requirements for a reverse or deferred exchange. It includes a discussion and examples of reporting an exchange. It also explains when a taxpayer can exchange a vacation residence, timberland, easements, and long-term leases.
Trusts and Estates
This chapter covers how (and when) to elect portability on Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, and it explains the new basis consistency rules. It also includes an overview of the various types of trusts, and some of their tax and non-tax purposes.
Ethics Part One
This chapter discusses important issues that help practitioners comply with their ethical obligations. Topics include:
- When client communications are confidential and/or privileged
- Ethical obligations upon the sale or discontinuance of a tax practice
- Nondisclosure rules when hiring independent contractors (with sample confidentiality agreement)
- Tax practitioner’s responsibilities when encountering fraud or other misdeeds
- 10 case studies to illustrate how to handle real-life ethical issues
Ethics Part Two
Tax practitioners store a great deal of confidential information on computers and transmit that
data across networks to other computers and mobile devices. This chapter discusses cybersecurity, and the protection of computers, networks, programs, and data from unintended or unauthorized access, change, or destruction of information. It explains the risks of a data security threat and how to mitigate those risks.
Individual Issues
This chapter covers several issues tax practitioners encounter when preparing individual income tax returns, including:
- Tax issues for individuals in the military
- Charitable contribution deductions, valuation, and substantiation
- New developments under the Affordable Care Act
- Disaster tax relief
- Taxes and the sharing economy (e.g. renting a spare bedroom or providing car rides or household chores)
Foreign Tax Issues
This chapter discusses tax issues that affect US citizens living abroad and nonresident aliens living in the US. Topics include the following:
- Reporting and tax requirements for US citizens living in foreign countries
- The foreign earned income exclusion
- Reporting, withholding, and tax requirements for nonresident aliens with US income
Tax Practice
This chapter contains important tax practices and procedures, including:
- Tips to submit a successful offer in compromise
- Collection statute of limitations and rules that stop the statute from running
- Third party liability, such as transferee and nominee liability
IRS Issues
This chapter covers issues the IRS targets as key issues for practitioners. Topics include:
- The most prevalent identity theft and impersonation scams
- E-Services online tools for tax professionals
- The new IRS use of private debt collectors
- How to use IRS audit techniques guides
Retirement
This chapter covers common retirement tax planning issues including:
- A comparison of different types of retirement plans
- Distributions from retirement plans, including early distributions and required minimum distributions
- The impact of income on social security benefits and Medicare premiums
Tax Rates and Useful Tables
This chapter reports the tax rates, deduction limits, credit limits, and income thresholds and limits that change each year. It includes information for 2016, 2017, and 2018 to the extent that information is available.