Tax Reporting for Grantor Trusts
November 6, 2017
by Jennifer R. Pierce
Typically, a trust must file a separate income tax return for each calendar year. However, for most grantor trusts, filing a separate tax return is optional. The general rule and the alternative methods of reporting are described below. When a trust is a “grantor trust” for income tax purposes…
Certain Trust Expenses Still Deductible Until 2026
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), while lowering taxes for most, raised them for a few. One group of those few taxpayers for whom taxes went up under TCJA were certain trusts and estates (generally those with large investment advisory fees or certain other expenses). The issue for these trusts is…
Environmental Criminal Enforcement: Memphis, Tennessee, Environmental Consulting Firm CEO Sentenced for Allegedly Filing False Discharge Monitoring Reports
September 20, 2022
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a September 12th news release stating that DiAne Gordan (“Gordon”) had been sentenced to 36 months in prison for allegedly fabricating discharge monitoring reports (“DMRs”). The DMRs were allegedly submitted to state regulators in Tennessee and…
Investigating Employee Harassment Claims in the Workplace
In the wake of the #MeToo Movement and as again recently seen in media headlines, sexual harassment continues to be a prevalent problem in today’s culture, and no employer is immune from the duty to prevent and resolve harassment claims in the workplace. These claims include not only sexual…
PORTLAND, OREGON LAW FIRM BLOG ITEM/LINK REGARDING MERCURY CLEAN UP AT A HOME COSTING $150,000.00
Author: Walter G. Wright Jill Gibson Odell, a Portland, Oregon lawyer, at O'Donnell, Clark & Crew, LLP, had an interesting item in her blog regarding a homeowner's do-it-yourself project. Specifically, Ms. Odell notes that the homeowner in Oregon City was removing an old boiler which apparently…
Unmanned Aerial Systems/Solar Arrays: Utilization by PMI for Design/Development
September 14, 2022
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The ability of unmanned aerial vehicle systems (i.e., drones) to assist in a variety of activities in the environmental and energy areas has been and is continuing to expand rapidly. A number of environmental service organizations and governmental environmental agencies utilize drones. A February…
West Fork White River Water Quality Improvement: Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division Notes U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recognition
September 9, 2022
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division (“NRD”) issued an August 30th news release noting the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) recognition of the water quality improvement on the West Fork White River (“West Fork”). The West Fork was featured in EPA’s…
Impaired Waters/TMDLs: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Releases 2022-2032 Division for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program
September 19, 2022
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released a September 15th memorandum titled: 2022-2032 Vision for the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Program (“Memorandum”) The Memorandum is transmitted from EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox to the Regional…
Investment Property Exception to $10,000 Cap on Itemized Deduction for State and Local Property Taxes?
November 14, 2019
by Ashley L. Gill
As it relates to individuals, one of the more controversial aspects of the 2017 revenue act (commonly referred to as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act") is the $10,000 cap on itemized deductions for state and local taxes. Historically, the ability to deduct income taxes (or general sales taxes, if elected…
Solar Tax Benefits Now Directly Available to State and Local Governments and 501(c)(3) Organizations
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (or IRA), which provides significant tax and other incentives for qualifying renewable energy facilities including solar generation facilities. Among these are the extension and creation of almost $280 billion in clean energy…