Tax Strategies

Investors are increasingly seeking creative transaction structures to cash in on the heated real estate market.A strategy that uses preconstruction contracts in Section 1031 like-kind exchanges is one way that is gaining acceptance among investors, especially in areas with heavy condominium development.

Every year, Congress and the Internal Revenue Service help us justify a tax preparer's worth to clients by throwing a few new curves into the tax return preparation process. The 2005 tax return filing season is no exception.This year Congress even threw a few curves at the IRS and commercial tax software creators by passing year-end tax legislation with an impact on 2005 returns after the IRS had already done much of the work on its tax forms for the filing season. Here are some items to watch out for as you work through the 2005 return filing season.

Unclaimed refunds totaling more than $2 billion are awaiting about 1.7 million people who failed to file a federal income tax return for 2002, the Internal Revenue Service said.

Expanding the tax types eligible for electronic payment, the Internal Revenue Service is now accepting card payments for certain balance-due business taxes through Official Payments Corp.

President Bush said that he wouldn't allow the elimination of the mortgage interest deduction as part of suggested changes to the tax code.

Executives contemplating cross-border transactions in emerging markets view local legal, tax and accounting systems as the biggest challenges to completing a transaction, according to a poll conducted by Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP.

H.D. Vest Financial Services has issued an open invitation to tax professionals to attend its 20th annual Vest Fest conference in St. Louis.

California's Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against H&R Block in an attempt to halt the tax prep giant's loan program, which allows the company to take a percentage of clients' tax refunds in exchange for an advance.

The Internal Revenue Service has simplified the process for business taxpayers to file for an extension.

Banking firm HVB Group will pay $29.6 million in fines and restitution to avoid criminal prosecution from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, settling charges that it helped wealthy Americans evade more than $500 million in taxes.