Education Commons^™

Disaster Losses And Related Tax Rules, Jc Hobbs

Rural Tax Education

The dollar value of property losses due to fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, lightning, freezes, etc. can be substantial. Federal income tax regulations often provide relief by allowing deductions for losses of both business-use and personal-use property. This fact sheet describes losses to property, the process used to determine if you have a deductible loss, how insurance proceeds and cost share benefits are treated, and how to reconstruct records to document a loss. Examples help explain the rules that apply to property found on the farm including buildings, machinery, livestock, feed, supplies, personal residence and the contents and personal vehicles. A …

Tangible Property Regulations: Using The De Minimis Safe Harbor, Guido Van Der Hoeven

Rural Tax Education

In late 2013, the IRS issued new repair regulations that became effective as of January 1, 2014. Since the new repair regulations were issued, clarifying guidance has been and continues to be issued. The IRS issued Notice 2015–82 in late November 2015, which increased the de minimis amount from $500 to $2,500 beginning January 1, 2016. This increased amount is part of the repair regulations that were issued and found in Treas. Reg. § 1.263(a)–1(f)(1), which applies to taxpayers who do not have an applicable financial statement (AFS). Most farmers and ranchers will not have an AFS. The immediate tax …

Employment Of Family Members, C. Robert Holcomb

Rural Tax Education

The use of family labor in the farm or ranch operation can pose a number of challenges for farm managers as they try to sort through the vast quantity of regulations. While the day-to-day human-relations components of managing family members in the farm/ranch operation will differ substantially from that of non-family labor, the focus of this fact sheet will address the income tax and regulatory aspects of employing family members.

Generally, the wages that you pay to family members who are also your employees are subject to social security (FICA) and Medicare taxes, federal income tax withholding, and under certain …