Category: Tax Compliance

Highlights From Green’s 2023 Trader Tax Guide

April 18, 2023 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA

Use Green’s 2023 Trader Tax Guide to receive the tax breaks you’re entitled to on your 2022 tax returns and execute tax strategies and elections for tax-year 2023. Our guide covers the impact of recent tax laws on traders.

BUSINESS TRADERS FARE BETTER

Investors have restricted investment interest expense deductions. The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) suspended investment fees and expenses for 2018 through 2025. Investors have a capital-loss limitation against ordinary income ($3,000 per year) and wash-sale (WS) loss adjustments, which can trigger capital gains taxes on phantom income. Investors benefit from lower long-term capital gains rates on positions held for 12 months or more before a sale (0%, 15%, and 20%). If traders have long-term investment positions, this is also available to them.

Traders eligible for trader tax status (TTS) are entitled to many tax advantages. A sole proprietor (individual) TTS trader deducts business expenses, startup costs, margin interest, and home-office expenses. TTS allows them to elect Section 475 MTM ordinary gain or loss treatment promptly. To deduct health insurance and retirement plan contributions, a TTS trader needs an S-Corp to create earned income with officer compensation. TTS traders use a pass-through entity (partnership or S-Corp) to arrange a state and local tax (SALT) cap workaround in many states.

TTS is different from the election of Section 475 MTM accounting. TTS is like an undergraduate university, and Section 475 is like graduate school. The 475 election converts new capital gains and losses into ordinary gains and losses, avoiding the $3,000 capital loss limitation. Only qualified business traders may use Section 475 MTM; investors may not. Section 475 trades are also exempt from WS loss adjustments. The 20% deduction on qualified business income (QBI) includes Section 475 ordinary income but excludes capital gains, interest, and dividend income.

A business trader can assess and claim TTS business expenses after year-end and even go back three open tax years. TTS does not require an election. But business traders may only use Section 475 MTM if they filed an election on time, either by April 18, for 2022 and 2023, or within 75 days of inception of a new taxpayer (i.e., a new entity). For more on TTS, see Chapter 1; for Section 475, see Chapter 2.

CAN TRADERS DEDUCT TRADING LOSSES?

Deducting trading losses depends on the instrument traded, the trader’s tax status, and various elections.

Many traders bought this guide, hoping to find a way to deduct their trading losses. Maybe they qualify for TTS, but that only gives them the right to take trading business expenses on Form 1040/Schedule C.

Securities, Section 1256 contracts, ETNs, and cryptocurrency trading receive default capital gain/loss treatment. Suppose a TTS trader did not file a Section 475 election on securities and commodities on time (i.e., by April 18, 2022) or have Section 475 from a prior year, they are stuck with capital loss treatment on securities and Section 1256 contracts. Section 475 does not apply to ETN prepaid forward contracts (not securities) or cryptocurrencies (intangible property).

Capital losses offset capital gains without limitation, whether short-term or long-term, but a net capital loss on Schedule D is limited to $3,000 per year against other income. Excess capital losses carry over to the subsequent tax year(s).

Once taxpayers get in the capital loss carryover trap, they often face a problem: how to use up the capital loss carryover in the following year(s). If a taxpayer elects Section 475 by April 18, 2023, the 2023 TTS trading gains will be ordinary rather than capital, thereby not utilizing the capital loss carryover. Once a trader has a capital loss carryover hole, they need a capital gains ladder to climb out of it and a Section 475 election to prevent digging an even bigger one. The IRS allows revocation of Section 475 elections if a Section 475 trader later decides they want capital gain/loss treatment again. Chapter 2 covers this topic in depth.

Traders with capital losses from Section 1256 contracts (such as futures) might be lucky if they had gains in Section 1256 contracts in the prior three tax years. On the top of Form 6781, traders can file a Section 1256 loss carryback election. This election allows taxpayers to offset their current-year net 1256 losses against prior-year net 1256 gains to receive a refund of taxes paid in prior years. TTS traders may elect Section 475 MTM on commodities, including Section 1256 contracts. Still, most elect it on securities only to retain the lower 60/40 capital gains tax rates on Section 1256 gains, where 60% is considered a long-term capital gain, even on day trades. The other 40% fall under ordinary income rates.

Taxpayers with losses trading forex contracts in the off-exchange Interbank market may be in luck. Section 988 for forex transactions receives ordinary gain or loss treatment by default, which means the capital-loss limitation doesn’t apply. However, the forex loss isn’t considered a business loss without TTS. It can’t be included in a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward calculation — potentially making it a wasted loss since it also can’t be added to the capital-loss carryover. If the taxpayer has another source of taxable income, the ordinary loss offsets it; the concern is when there is negative taxable income.

A TTS trader using Section 475 on securities has ordinary loss treatment, which avoids wash-sale loss adjustments and the $3,000 capital loss limitation. Section 475 ordinary losses offset income of any kind. However, Section 475 losses and TTS business expenses are subject to the excess business loss (EBL) limitation for tax years 2022 and 2023. Anything over the EBL threshold is a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward.

Those not using Section 475 must deal with wash-sale loss adjustments.

WASH-SALE LOSSES

Day and swing traders inevitably trigger many WS loss adjustments amounting to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Create a WS loss when you take a loss on a security and repurchase it within 30 days (after or before).

A wash sale reduces the cost basis on the position sold and adds the WS loss to the replacement position’s cost basis, creating phantom taxable income and capital gains taxes.

It’s okay to incur WS losses during the year but try to avoid delaying the WS losses to the following year. Deferring a loss from November to December is acceptable; however, postponing a loss from December 2022 to January 2023 is not.

You can “break the WS chain” at year-end. For example, sell your entire position in security A by Dec. 20, 2022, and don’t repurchase it for 30 days — around Jan. 21, 2023. Waiting allows you to deduct the whole year of WS losses in 2022. See more about WS in Chapter 4.

EXCESS BUSINESS LOSS LIMITATION

In 2018, TCJA introduced an excess business loss (EBL) limitation. TCJA also repealed NOL carrybacks (except for farmers) and limited NOL carryforwards to 80% of the subsequent year’s taxable income. Add EBL over the threshold to the NOL carryforward.

The 2020 CARES Act suspended TCJA’s EBL, and NOL changes for 2018, 2019, and 2020 and allowed five-year NOL carrybacks (i.e., a 2020 NOL carryback to 2015). TCJA’s EBL and NOL carryforward rules apply for tax years 2021 through 2028.

See more about EBL and its thresholds in Chapter 2.

TAX TREATMENT ON FINANCIAL PRODUCTS

There are complexities in sorting through different tax-treatment rules and tax rates. It often takes work to tell what falls into each category. To help our readers with this, we cover the many trading instruments and their tax treatment in Chapter 3. Here’s a brief breakdown.

Securities have realized gain and loss treatment and are subject to WS rules and the $3,000 per year capital loss limitation on individual tax returns. Realization means income or loss when sold instead of mark-to-market (MTM) accounting. A Section 475 MTM election on securities avoids this issue.

Section 1256 contracts — including regulated futures contracts on U.S. commodities exchanges — are marked to market by default, so there are no wash-sale adjustments, and they receive lower 60/40 capital gains tax rates. Most TTS traders skip a Section 475 election on commodities to retain lower 60/40 capital gains rates.

Options have a wide range of tax treatments. An option is a derivative of an underlying financial instrument, and the tax treatment is generally the same. Equity options are taxed the same as equities, which are securities. Index options are derivatives of indexes, and broad-based indexes (stock index futures) are Section 1256 contracts. Simple and complex equity option trades have special tax rules on holding periods, adjustments, and more.

Forex receives ordinary gain or loss treatment on realized trades (including rollovers) unless a trader makes a contemporaneous capital gains election. In some cases, lower 60/40 capital gains tax rates on majors may apply under Section 1256(g).

Physical precious metals are collectibles; if a trader holds these capital assets for more than one year, sales are subject to the collectibles’ capital gains rate capped at 28%.

Cryptocurrencies are intangible property taxed like securities on Form 8949, but wash-sale loss and Section 475 rules do not apply because they are not securities.

Foreign futures are taxed like securities unless the IRS issues a revenue ruling allowing Section 1256 tax benefits.

ENTITIES FOR TRADERS

Entities can solidify TTS, unlock health insurance and retirement plan deductions, gain flexibility with a Section 475 election or revocation, prevent wash-sale losses with individual and IRA accounts, enhance a QBI deduction on Section 475 income less trading expenses, and provide a SALT cap workaround. An entity return consolidates trading activity on a pass-through tax return, making life easier for traders, accountants, and the IRS. Trading in an entity allows separation from individual investments.

An LLC with an S-Corp election is generally the best choice for a single or married couple seeking health insurance and retirement plan deductions.

A spousal-member LLC taxed as a partnership can segregate business trading from investments to perfect use of TTS and Section 475 and provide a SALT cap workaround, turning non-deductible state and local taxes as itemized deductions into tax-deductible business expenses. See Chapter 7.

RETIREMENT PLANS FOR TRADERS

TTS S-Corps can unlock a retirement plan deduction by paying sufficient officer compensation in December 2022 when results for the year are evident.

Consider a Solo 401(k) retirement plan with an elective deferral amount up to a maximum of $20,500 (or $27,000 if age 50 or older with the $6,500 catch-up provision). The Solo 401(k) also has a profit-sharing plan (PSP) up to a maximum of $40,500.

The IRS raised the 401(k) elective deferral for 2023 to $22,500 and the catch-up contribution to $7,500. See Chapter 8.

DEDUCTION ON QUALIFIED BUSINESS INCOME

In 2018, TCJA introduced a new tax deduction for pass-through businesses, including sole proprietors, partnerships, and S-Corps. Subject to haircuts and limitations, a pass-through business could be eligible for a 20% deduction on qualified business income (QBI).

Because TTS traders are considered a “specified service trade or business” (SSTB), taxable income above the following thresholds is not deductible: $340,100/$170,050 (married/other taxpayers) for 2022 and $364,200/$182,100 (married/other taxpayers) for 2023.

There is also a phase-out range above the threshold of $100,000/$50,000 (married/other taxpayers). The W-2 wage and property basis limitations apply within the phase-out range. TTS traders with an S-Corp usually have wages, whereas sole proprietor traders do not.

QBI for traders includes Section 475 ordinary income and loss and trading business expenses. QBI excludes capital gains and losses, Section 988 forex income or loss, dividends, and interest income.

For more information, see Chapter 7 and Chapter 17.

SALT CAP WORKAROUND

TCJA capped state and local income, sales, and property taxes (SALT) at $10,000 per year ($5,000 for married filing separately) and did not index it for inflation. About 29 states enacted SALT cap workaround laws.

Generally, elect to make a pass-through entity (PTE) payment on a partnership or S-Corp tax return filed by a business. It doesn’t work with a sole proprietorship filing a Schedule C. PTE is a business expense deduction shown on the state K-1 like a withholding credit. Most states credit the individual’s state income tax liability with the PTE amount. Essentially, convert a non-deductible SALT itemized deduction (over the cap) into a business expense deduction from gross income.

DESK REFERENCE

Some readers use our guide as a desk reference to quickly find answers to specific questions. Others read this guide in its entirety. To accommodate desk-reference readers, we edit each chapter to stand alone, which inevitably means some chapters contain information covered in others.

Table of Contents

Highlights. 

Chapter 1  Trader Tax Status.

Chapter 2  Section 475 MTM Accounting. 

Chapter 3   Tax Treatment of Financial Products. 

Chapter 4  Accounting for Trading Gains & Losses. 

Chapter 5   Trading Business Expenses.

Chapter 6  Trader Tax Return Reporting Strategies.

Chapter 7  Entity Solutions. 

Chapter 8  Retirement Plans.

Chapter 9  Tax Planning.

Chapter 10  Dealing with the IRS and States.

Chapter 11  Traders in Tax Court.

Chapter 12  Proprietary Trading. 

Chapter 13   Investment Management.

Chapter 14   International Tax. 

Chapter 15  ACA Net Investment Income Tax. 

Chapter 16   Short Selling. 

Chapter 17  Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Chapter 18  CARES Act.

 

Tax Extensions: 12 Tips To Save You Money

March 14, 2023 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Individual tax returns for 2022 are due April 18, 2023. However, most active traders aren’t ready to file on time. Some brokers issue corrected 1099Bs right up to the deadline. Many partnerships and S-Corps file extensions by March 15, 2023, and don’t issue Schedule K-1s to partners until after April 18. Many securities traders struggle with accounting for wash sale loss adjustments.

The good news is that traders don’t have to rush the completion of their tax returns by April 18. They should take advantage of a simple one-page automatic extension with payment of taxes owed to the IRS and state. Most active traders file extensions, and it’s helpful to them on many fronts.

You might not have to file an extension if you are eligible for disaster tax relief. However, if you want to elect Section 475 MTM accounting for 2023, then consider filing an extension and attaching the election to that extension. (See Tax Relief In Disaster Situations.)

Tip 1: Get a six-month extension of time
By April 18, 2023, request an automatic six-month extension to file individual federal and state income tax returns due October 16, 2023. Form 4868 instructions indicate how easy it is to get this automatic extension, and the IRS doesn’t require a reason. It’s an extension to file a complete tax return, not an extension to pay taxes owed. Estimate and report what you think you owe for 2022 based on your tax information received.

Tip 2: Avoid penalties from the IRS and state for being late
Learn how IRS late-filing and late-payment penalties apply so you can avoid or reduce them to your satisfaction. 2022 Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) page two states:

“The late payment penalty is usually 1⁄2 of 1% of any tax (other than estimated tax) not paid by the regular due date of your return, which is April 18, 2023. It’s charged for each month or part of a month the tax is unpaid. The maximum penalty is 25%.

The late payment penalty won’t be charged if you can show reasonable cause for not paying on time. Attach a statement to your return fully explaining the reason. Don’t attach the statement to Form 4868. You’re considered to have reasonable cause for the period covered by this automatic extension if both of the following requirements have been met. At least 90% of the total tax on your 2022 return is paid on or before the regular due date of your return through withholding, estimated tax payments, or payments made with Form 4868. The remaining balance is paid with your return.

A late filing penalty is usually charged if your return is filed after the due date (including extensions). The penalty is usually 5% of the amount due for each month or part of a month your return is late. The maximum penalty is 25%. If your return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty is $450 (adjusted for inflation) or the balance of the tax due on your return, whichever is smaller. You might not owe the penalty if you have a reasonable explanation for filing late. Attach a statement to your return fully explaining your reason for filing late. Don’t attach the statement to Form 4868.”

Check these types of penalties with your state, too. 

Tip 3: File an automatic extension even if you cannot pay
Even if you can’t pay what you estimate you owe, file the automatic extension form on time by April 18, 2023. It should help avoid the late-filing penalty, which is ten times more than the late-payment penalty. If you can’t pay in full, you should file your tax return or extension and pay as much as possible.

An example of late payment and late-filing penalties: Assume your 2022 tax liability estimate is $50,000. Suppose you file an extension by April 18, 2023, but cannot pay any of your tax balance due. You file your 2022 tax return on the extended due date of October 16, 2023, with full payment. A late-payment penalty applies because you did not pay 90% of your tax liability on April 18, 2023. The late-payment penalty is $1,500 (six months late x 0.5% per month x $50,000). Some traders view a late-payment penalty as a 6% margin loan, but it’s not tax-deductible.

By simply filing the extension on time in the above example, you avoided a late-filing penalty of $11,250 (six months late x 5% per month [25% maximum], less late-payment penalty factor of 2.5% = 22.5%; 22.5% x $50,000 = $11,250). The IRS also charges Interest on taxes paid after April 18, 2023.

If you don’t expect to owe 2022 taxes by April 18, 2023, it’s easy to prepare an extension with no balance due. Make sure to file it on time to avoid a minimum penalty if you were wrong and owe taxes for 2022.

Tip 4: Add a payment cushion for the first quarter (Q1) 2023 estimated taxes due
Traders with 2023 year-to-date trading gains and significant tax liability in the past year should consider making quarterly estimated tax payments in 2023 to avoid underestimated tax penalties. The IRS increased interest rates in 2022 and 2023, and current rates are 7% for underpayments. (See Interest rates increase for the first quarter of 2023.)

I recommend the following strategy for traders and business owners: Overpay your 2022 tax extension on April 18, 2023, and plan to apply an overpayment credit toward Q1 2023 estimated taxes. Most traders don’t make estimated tax payments until Q3 or Q4, when they have more precise trading results. Why pay estimated taxes for Q1 and Q2 if you incur substantial trading losses later in the year?

It’s better to pay an extra amount for the extension to set yourself up for three good choices: A cushion on 2022 if you underestimated your taxes, an overpayment credit toward 2023 taxes, or a tax refund for 2022 if no 2023 estimated taxes are due.

Tip 5: Consider a 2023 Section 475 MTM election
Traders eligible for trader tax status should consider attaching a 2023 Section 475 election statement to their 2022 federal tax return or extension due by April 18, 2023, for individuals and corporations and March 15, 2023, for partnerships and S-Corps.

Section 475 turns capital gains and losses into ordinary gains and losses, thereby avoiding the capital-loss limitation and wash-sale loss adjustments on securities (i.e., tax-loss insurance). Section 475 gains are eligible for the 20% qualified business income (QBI) deduction. (See How Traders Elect 475 To Maximize Their Tax Savings.)

Tip 6: File tax returns when it’s more convenient for you
Sophisticated and wealthy taxpayers know the “real” tax deadline is October 16, 2023, for individuals and September 15, 2023, for pass-through entities, including partnership and S-Corp tax returns. Pass-through entities file tax extensions by March 15, 2023.

Like most wealthy taxpayers, you don’t have to wait until the last few days of the extension period. Try to file your tax return in the summer months.

Tip 7: Be conservative with tax payments
I’ve always advised clients to be aggressive but legal with tax-return filings and look conservative with cash (tax money). Impress the IRS with your patience on overpayment credits and demonstrate you’re not hungry and perhaps overly aggressive to generate tax refunds. It’s wise for traders to apply overpayment credits toward estimated taxes owed on current-year trading income. You want to look like you will be successful in the current tax year.

The additional time helps build tax positions like qualification for trader tax status in 2022 and 2023. It may open opportunities for new ideas on tax savings. A rushed return does not.

Tip 8: Get more time to fund qualified retirement plans
The extension also pushes back the deadline for paying money into qualified retirement plans, including a Solo 401(k), SEP IRA, and defined benefit plan. The deadline for 2023 IRA contributions is April 18, 2023.

Tip 9: Respect the policies of your accountants
Your accountant can prepare extension forms quickly for a nominal additional cost related to that job. There are no fees from the IRS or state for filing extensions. Be sure to give your accountant the tax information received and estimates for missing data.

Your accountant begins your tax compliance (preparation) engagement, and they cut it off when seeing a solid draft to use for extension filing purposes. Your accountant will wait for the final tax information to arrive after April 18, 2023. Think of the extension as a half-time break. It’s not procrastination; accountants want tax returns finished.

Please don’t overwhelm your tax preparer the last few weeks and days before April 18 with minor details in a rush to file a complete tax return. Accounting firms with high-quality standards have internal deadlines for receiving tax information for completing tax returns. It’s unwise to pressure your accountant, which could lead to mistakes or oversights in a rush to file a complete return at the last minute. That doesn’t serve anyone well.

Tip 10: Securities traders should focus on trade accounting
It doesn’t matter if your capital loss is $50,000 or $75,000 at extension time: Either way, you’ll be reporting a capital loss limitation of $3,000 against other income. In this case, don’t get bogged down with trade accounting and reconciliation with Form 1099Bs until after April 18. The capital loss carryover impacts your decision to elect Section 475 MTM for 2023 by April 18, 2023, but an estimate is sufficient.

Consider wash-sale loss rules on securities: If these adjustments don’t change your $3,000 capital loss limitation, you can proceed with your extension filing. But if you suspect wash-sale loss adjustments could lead to reporting capital gains rather than losses, or if you aren’t sure of your capital gains amount, focus your efforts on trade accounting before April 18. (Consider TradeLog or GNM’s trade accounting service.) Try to do accounting work for year-to-date 2023; it also affects your decision-making on the 475 election.

Section 1256 contract traders can rely on the one-page 1099B showing aggregate profit or loss. Forex traders can depend on the broker’s online tax reports. Wash sales don’t apply to Section 1256 contracts and forex. Cryptocurrency traders should use crypto trade accounting programs to generate Form 8949.

Tip 11: Don’t overlook state extensions and PTE payments
Some states don’t require an automatic extension for overpaid personal tax returns; they accept the federal extension. You must file a state extension with payment if you owe state taxes. States tend to be less accommodating than the IRS in abating penalties, so covering your state taxes first is usually wise if you’re short on cash. Check the extension rules in your state.

For partnerships and S-Corps, don’t overlook pass-through entity (PTE) payments with the Form 7004 extension filing to benefit from the state’s SALT cap workaround solution enacted in about 29 states. (See Tax Tips For Traders Preparing 2022 Tax Returns.)

Tip 12: U.S. residents abroad should learn the particular rules
U.S. citizens or aliens residing overseas are allowed an automatic two-month extension until June 15, 2023, to file their tax return and pay any amount due without requesting an extension. (See Form 4868, page 2, “Taxpayers who are out of the country” and the IRS website.)

Darren Neuschwander, CPA, contributed to this blog post. 

 

 

Tax Relief In Disaster Situations

March 13, 2023 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

There have been many federal disaster situations around the U.S. these past years. See if you qualify to pay taxes and file tax returns after the original deadline.

See Tax Relief in Disaster Situations. For example IRS: May 15 tax deadline extended to Oct. 16 for disaster area taxpayers in California, Alabama and Georgia.

Check with your state(s) to see if they follow the IRS disaster relief —for example, More Time to File State Taxes for Californians Impacted by December and January Winter Storms.

Here’s content from Darren Neuschwander, CPA, Managing Member of Green, Neuschwander & Manning, LLC.

March 9, 2023: Due to the California storms, the IRS and CA Franchise Tax Board (FTB) released numerous press releases relating to the automatic filing extension. In plain English, this email is meant to clarify the extended deadlines as they stand now.

Affected taxpayers

Any taxpayer who resides in, or whose principal place of business is located in, any affected California county is granted an automatic extension of time to file and pay most federal and California tax obligations until October 16, 2023. These taxpayers do not have to be directly affected by the storms.

All counties in California are listed as affected counties except:

  • Imperial;
  • Kern;
  • Lassen;
  • Modoc;
  • Plumas;
  • Shasta; and
  • Sierra.

The extension deadline applies for federal and state tax filing/payment extension purposes if a county is listed in either IRS announcement (CA-2023-01 or CA-2023-02).

Returns

The automatic extension applies to the filing due dates for any of the following types of returns that have a due date (original or extended due date) on or after January 8, 2023, through October 16, 2023:

  • Individual income tax returns;
    •    Corporate income tax returns;
    •    Partnership income tax returns;
    •    Estate and trust income tax returns;
    •    Estate tax returns;
    •    Gift and generation-skipping transfer tax returns;
    •    Annual information returns of tax-exempt organizations;
    •    Payroll tax returns;
    •    Excise tax returns; and
    •    Employee benefit plan returns (Form 5500 series).

Payments

The automatic extension applies to any payments for the listed return types for payments due on or after January 8, 2023, through October 16, 2023, except for payroll tax deposits. The payment extension for payroll tax deposits only applied to deposits due from January 8, 2023, through January 23, 2023, and those deposits were due on January 23, 2023.

In other words, all payments for the above return types due on or after January 8, 2023, through October 16, 2023, are due on October 16, 2023, without incurring late payment penalties. This includes estimated tax payments and the California passthrough entity elective tax March 15, 2023, payment (for calendar-year taxpayers) as well as the June 15, 2023, prepayment for the 2023 tax year. Retirement plan contributions, including employer contributions, are extended to October 16, 2023.

Taxpayers can file their returns now and pay the tax later (although notices may still be sent).

The IRS press releases are available at:

www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations

California press releases are available at:

www.gov.ca.gov/2023/03/02/more-time-to-file-state-taxes-for-Californians-impacted-by-December-and-January-winter-storms/

The FTB’s extension-related FAQs are available at:

www.ftb.ca.gov/file/when-to-file/help-with-disaster-relief.html

A Section 475 MTM election for 2023
The above disaster relief might not apply to 2023 Section 475 MTM elections due on the original tax deadlines of 2022 tax returns. To play it safe, try to file the 2022 extension with the 2023 Section 475 election attached by April 18, 2023, for individuals and March 15, 2023, for partnerships and S-Corps.

Tax Tips For Traders Preparing 2022 Tax Returns

February 15, 2023 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Trader tax status (TTS) is the ticket to tax savings. If you qualify, you can claim some tax breaks, such as business expenses, after the fact and elect and set up other tax breaks — like Section 475 MTM accounting (tax loss insurance) and health insurance and retirement plan deductions through an S-Corp— on a timely basis. 

TTS vs. Section 475 MTM accounting
If you qualified for TTS in 2022, you could claim business expenses on Schedule C. No IRS election was required. Don’t confuse that with a Section 475 MTM accounting election that a TTS trader could have submitted by April 18, 2022, for the tax year 2022.

The 475 election is like applying to graduate school, and TTS is like graduating from an undergraduate university; you need TTS to make and use a 475 election. It’s not too late to use TTS business expenses on your 2022 tax return, but it is too late to use Section 475 MTM to avoid wash sale losses if you missed the 475 election.

How to qualify for TTS

  • Volume: We recommend an average of four transactions per day, four days per week, 16 trades per week, 60 a month, and 720 per year on an annualized basis. Count each open and closing transaction separately, not round trip. Scaling in and out counts, too.
  • Frequency: Execute trades on nearly four weekly days, around a 75% frequency rate.
  • Holding period: The IRS said the average holding period must be 31 days or less. That’s a bright-line test.
  • Trades full-time or part-time for a good portion of the day; the markets are open almost daily. Part-time and money-losing traders face more IRS scrutiny, and individuals face more scrutiny than entity traders.
  • Hours: Spends more than four hours daily, almost every market day, working on their trading business — all-time counts.
  • Avoid sporadic lapses: A trader has few to no intermittent stoppages in the trading business during the year. Vacations are okay.
  • Intention: Has the intention to run a business and make a living. It doesn’t have to be your primary living.
  • Operations: Has significant business equipment, education, business services, and a home office.
  • Account size: Securities traders need to have $25,000 on deposit with a U.S.-based broker to achieve “pattern day trader” (PDT) status. For the minimum account size, we like to see more than $15,000.

Tax reporting for a sole proprietor trading business

Multiple tax forms
The IRS uses multiple tax forms for trading businesses eligible for TTS. It can be confusing to taxpayers, accountants, and the IRS. Traders enter gains and losses, portfolio income, and business expenses in various tax forms.

Which tax form or schedule should a forex trader use? It depends on their circumstances. Which form is correct for securities traders using the Section 475 MTM method? Can trading gains be reported directly on Schedule C? The different reporting strategies for the various types of traders make tax time more manageable.

Schedules C for expenses only
Most sole-proprietorship businesses report revenue, cost of goods sold, and expenses on Schedule C. The IRS can easily see if they are profitable; they cannot do so with sole proprietor traders.

TTS traders qualifying for TTS report only trading business expenses on Schedule C. Trading gains and losses are reported in other tax forms, depending on the situation. If possible, it’s helpful to include a tax return footnote tying the trader schedules together in your tax compliance software to show profitability. Entity tax returns do that.

Schedule D and Form 8949
Sales of securities for each trade (no summary reporting) are reported on Form 8949, which feeds into Schedule D (cash method) with net capital losses limited to $3,000 per year against ordinary income (the rest is a capital loss carryover). Capital losses are unlimited against capital gains.

See IRS instructions for Form 8949 and Form 8949 for 2022 taxes: “Note: You may aggregate all short-term transactions reported on Form(s) 1099-B showing basis was reported to the IRS and for which no adjustments or codes are required. Enter the totals directly on Schedule D, line 1a; you aren’t required to report these transactions on Form 8949 (see instructions).” Most traders have WS loss adjustments, so they must report each trade on Form 8949.

See Securities and Form 8949 & 1099-B Issues. Cost-basis reporting has complicated tax compliance, and traders use trade accounting software for help.

Schedule 4797 for MTM accounting
TTS traders who elected and used Section 475 MTM on securities report each securities trade on Form 4797 Part II. MTM means open securities trades are marked-to-market at year-end prices. Traders still report sales of segregated investments in securities (without MTM) on Form 8949 and Schedule D.

Form 4797 Part II receives ordinary gain or loss treatment avoiding the capital loss limitation and wash-sale loss rules. (It’s “tax loss insurance.”) Profitable traders also can benefit from Section 475 using the qualified business income (QBI) deduction.

Section 475 Election
Existing taxpayers file a Section 475 election statement by the due date of the prior year’s tax return or extension with the IRS and perfect it later with a Form 3115 (change in accounting method) filing by the tax return deadline, including extension. Learn about making a Section 481(a) adjustment to convert from the realization to the MTM method of accounting.

A Section 475 election for 2022 was due by April 18, 2022. The next opportunity to elect 475 is for 2023, by April 18, 2023. Learn the nuances of making a 475 election here.

“New taxpayers” (like a new entity) can elect Section 475 by internal resolution (not with the IRS) within 75 days of inception. New taxpayers don’t file Form 3115 since they have adopted the 475 MTM accounting method.

Excess business losses and net operating losses
The net Section 475 losses and TTS business expenses are subject to the excess business loss (EBL) limitation for the tax year 2022. You can aggregate EBL from all pass-through businesses. The inflation-adjusted 2022 EBL threshold is 540,000 (married)/$270,000 (other taxpayers). The amount over the EBL threshold is a net operating loss (NOL) carry forward.

TCJA repealed net operating loss (NOL) carrybacks (except for farmers) and limited NOL carryforwards to 80% of the subsequent year’s taxable income.

Qualified business income (QBI) deduction
There’s also a tax benefit on net Section 475 gains: the 20% QBI deduction. In a simple scenario, on a QBI of $100,000, the owner can deduct $20,000. That’s a tax deduction without spending any money.

Trading is a “specified service trade or business” (SSTB), which means an income cap applies. If your taxable income is over that cap, there is no QBI deduction. QBI includes Section 475 ordinary income, less TTS expenses, and excludes capital gains, portfolio income, and forex trading income. See the QBI income cap and phase-out range in Green’s 2023 Trader Tax Guide.

Schedule 6781 for futures
Section 1256 contract traders (i.e., futures) should use Form 6781 (unless they elected Section 475 for commodities/futures; those are reported on Form 4797). Section 1256 traders don’t use Form 8949 — they rely on a one-page Form 1099-B showing their net trading gain or loss (aggregate profit or loss on contracts). That amount is entered in summary format on Form 6781 Part I.

Section 1256 contracts enjoy lower 60/40 capital gains tax rates: 60% (including day trades) subject to lower long-term capital gains rates and 40% taxed as short-term capital gains using the ordinary rate. At the maximum tax bracket for 2022, the blended 60/40 rate is 26.8% — 10.2%, lower than the highest regular bracket of 37%.

Most futures traders skip a Section 475 election to retain 60/40 capital gains rates. See Section 1256 Contracts.

Section 1256 loss carry back election.
If a trader or investor has a significant Section 1256 loss, they should consider carrying back the loss three tax years but only apply it against Section 1256 gains in those years. To make this election, check box D labeled “Net section 1256 contracts loss election” on the top of Form 6781 filed on a timely basis.

Cryptocurrencies
For sales of cryptocurrencies, use Form 8949, but not wash sales or Section 475 MTM. See Cryptocurrencies. 

The IRS updated its question about digital assets on the 2022 Form 1040. Instead of asking about “virtual currency,” for 2022, the question asks: “At any time during 2022, did you: (a) receive (as a reward, award or payment for property or services); or (b) sell, exchange, gift or otherwise dispose of a digital asset (or a financial interest in a digital asset)?” (IR 2023-12, 1/24/2023).

Cryptocurrencies: recent bankruptcies: The IRS is considering issuing broader guidance and tax relief for crypto investors “if the crypto is no longer traded on an exchange or the taxpayer is locked out of accessing the currency due to bankruptcy.” See Chief Counsel Memorandum (Number 202302011) and Crypto Investors Facing Losses Could Get IRS Guidance to Help (Bloomberg Law Feb. 10, 2023)

Tax treatment for financial products
We cover U.S. and international equities, U.S. futures, and other Section 1256 contracts, options, ETFs, ETNs, forex, precious metals, foreign futures, cryptocurrencies, and swap contracts.

It’s important to distinguish between securities vs. Section 1256 contracts with lower 60/40 capital gains rates vs. other financial products such as forex or swaps with ordinary income or loss treatment. Various elections are available to change tax treatment. See Tax Treatment On Financial Products.

Form 1099-B and wash sale loss adjustments
Proceeds, minus cost basis, plus wash sale loss adjustments equal net trading gain or loss using the realization method.

For example, the WS loss column could be $500,000, but most of that amount might be included in the cost basis column, so most wash sales are closed by the year’s end. What matters is how much WS loss is open and deferred to the subsequent tax year.

Buying back a losing December 2022 trade within 30 days into January 2023 triggers a 2022 WS loss added to the WS column on the 2022 Form 1099-B. The 2022 WS loss amount is removed from the 2022 cost basis column and is deferred to the 2023 cost basis. That reduces a December 2022 capital loss. Our blog post, How To avoid Phantom Income From Wash Sale Loss.

A TTS trader using Section 475 MTM accounting avoids WS loss adjustments and the $3,000 capital loss limitation. It’s okay to depart from the 1099-B.

Please take a look at 1099-B and the instructions.

Some brokers provide a Form 8949 worksheet, which can be imported into TurboTax.

Trade accounting using TradeLog
We had recommended TradeLog (TL) every year since 2001, when we helped bring Section 475 MTM accounting to the program. Use TL to download your trade history from your broker’s Website (not the 1099-B) and calculate WS according to IRS rules for taxpayers. TradeLog can also calculate WS according to IRS rules for brokers, which should match broker 1099-Bs. TL generates Form 8949 or Form 4797 (for Section 475 MTM).

You can license the TL software to do the trade accounting. Alternatively, TL can do this trade accounting for you as a service. Green, Neuschwander & Manning, LLC (GNM) offers trade accounting services using TradeLog to clients of GNM’s tax compliance service.

Business expenses if qualified for TTS

  • Tangible personal property like a computer, up to $2,500 per item.
  • Section 179 (100%), bonus, and regular depreciation on computers, equipment, furniture, and fixtures.
  • Amortization of start-up costs (Section 195), organization costs (Section 248), and software.
  • Education expenses paid and courses taken after the commencement of the trading business activity. (Otherwise, pre-business education may not be deductible or included a portion in Section 195 start-up costs.)
  • Trader business expenses
  • Books, publications, subscriptions, market data, online and professional services, chat rooms, mentors, coaches, supplies, phone, internet, travel, seminars, conferences, assistants, consultants, and accountants.
  • Home-office expenses for the business use portion of a trader’s home (share of the rent, mortgage interest, real estate tax, depreciation on home, utilities, repairs, insurance, and all other home costs).
  • Margin interest expenses (not limited to investment income).
  • Stock-borrow fees for short-sellers.
  • Internal-use software for automated trading systems.

Business deductions don’t include the following:

  • Vehicles. (Traders don’t use autos daily for business.)
  • Commissions are part of the trading gain or loss.

LLC partnerships and S-Corps
Submit Form 1065 for a general partnership or multi-member LLC choosing partnership treatment. Submit Form 1120-S for an S-corporation. Forms 1065 and 1120-S issue Schedule K-1s to the owners, so taxes are paid at the owner level rather than the entity level, thereby avoiding double taxation. (Partnership K-1, S-Corp K-1.)

Ordinary income or loss (primarily business expenses) is summarized on Form 1040 Schedule E rather than in detail on Schedule C. Section 179 depreciation is broken out separately on Schedule E, along with unreimbursed partnership expenses (UPE), including home-office expenses. For an S-Corp, use an accountable reimbursement plan before year-end rather than UPE.

Trading is not a passive loss activity
Under the “trading rule” exception in Section 469 passive-activity loss rules, trading business entities are considered “active” rather than “passive-loss” activities, so losses are allowed in full on Form 1040 Schedule E in the non-passive income column.

Schedule K-1
Portfolio income (interest and dividends) is stated separately on the partnership and S-Corp Schedule K-1s and passed through to the individual owner’s Schedule B. Capital gains and losses pass through to Schedule D in summary form.

Net taxes don’t change; pay them on the individual level. Pass-through entities file Form 8949 and Form 4797 at the entity level. Schedule K-1 line one, “ordinary business income (loss),” consolidates Form 4797 ordinary income or loss with business expenses, and it’s a net income amount if trading gains exceed business expenses. The entity also reports Section 1256 contracts and passes through lower 60/40 capital gains rates to the owners.

S-Corps arrange deductions for health insurance and retirement plan contributions.
TTS S-Corps provide opportunities for deducting retirement plan contributions and health insurance premiums, two breaks sole-proprietor traders and partnership traders can’t use unless they have earned income.

See Entity Solutions, Retirement Plan Solutions, and 2022 Year-End Tax Planning For Traders.

The 20% qualified business income deduction
Per TCJA, the 2022 partnership and S-Corp Schedule K-1s report QBI (Section 199A) income, wages, and property factors and whether the business is a specified service trade or business (SSTB). S-corp wages can take advantage of the QBI phase-out range. A sole proprietor using Section 475 is also eligible for the QBI deduction. Look to TTS trading gains on Form 4797 Part II, less Schedule C TTS expenses.

See About Form 7203, S Corporation Shareholder Stock and Debt Basis Limitations (www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7203).

Common errors on tax return filings for traders

  • Some accountants intuitively think that TTS traders should enter trading income, loss, and expenses like other sole proprietors on Schedule C. That’s wrong and often causes an IRS notice or exam.
  • Some traders try to deduct significant capital losses on Schedule C after missing the Section 475 MTM election deadline for ordinary gain or loss treatment. They try to evade wash sale (WS) loss adjustments and capital loss limitations.
  • Section 475 trades are reported in detail on Form 4797 Part II ordinary gains and losses, not on Schedule C.
  • Some traders use TTS and 475 when they should not.

SE tax errors

  • Some traders and preparers treat TTS trading gains as self-employment income (SEI) subject to self-employment (SE) tax.
  • That’s incorrect unless the trader is a full-scale member of an options or futures exchange and trading Section 1256 contracts on that exchange (Section 1402i).

Adjusted gross income (AGI) errors

  • Some sole proprietor TTS traders incorrectly contribute to a retirement plan based on trading income and end up with an “excessive contribution” subject to tax penalties.
  • Some mistakenly take an AGI deduction for self-employed health insurance premiums, which also requires SEI, and trading income is not SEI.
  • A TTS trader needs an S-Corp to arrange retirement and health insurance deductions before the year-end.

Net investment tax errors
Include trading gains and losses in net investment income (NII) for calculating ACA 3.8% net investment tax (NIT).

  • Some traders omit to deduct TTS trading expenses from NII.
  • You cannot deduct investment fees and expenses from NII.

See Tax Center: ACA Net Investment Income Tax.

Tax extensions and tax payments are due

Extensions
The 2022 income tax returns for individuals are due by April 18, 2023 — however, most active traders aren’t ready to file a complete tax return by then. Some brokers issue corrected 1099-Bs right up to the deadline or even beyond.

Many partnerships and S-Corps file extensions by March 15, 2023, and don’t issue final Schedule K-1s to investors until after April 18.

Traders don’t have to rush to complete their tax returns by April 18. They can take advantage of a simple one-page automatic extension and pay taxes owed to the IRS and state. Traders can request an automatic six-month extension to file individual federal income tax returns until Oct. 16, 2023.

Most states offer the same extension terms (pay them, too), or they might accept the federal extension if no balance is due the state. Check with your state beforehand.

The 2022 Form 4868 instructions indicate how easy it is to get this automatic extension — no reason is required. It’s an extension to file a complete tax return, not an extension to pay taxes owed. The taxpayer should estimate and report what they think they owe for 2022 based on the tax information received.

Avoid late-filing and late-payment penalties
We suggest taxpayers learn how the IRS and states assess late-filing and late-payment penalties so they can avoid or reduce them.

If taxpayers cannot pay the taxes owed, they should estimate the balance due by April 18 and report it on the extension. Be sure to at least file the automatic extension on time to avoid the late-filing penalties, which are much higher than the late-payment penalty. See the 2022 Form 4868, page two, for an explanation of how to calculate these penalties. 

Avoid underestimated tax penalties
Some traders made significant trading gains in 2022. Some used the estimated tax payment “safe harbor” exception to cover their 2021 tax liability with the fourth quarter (Q4) 2022 estimated tax payment made by January 17, 2023. They plan to pay the balance of taxes owed by April 18, 2023 and should consider setting aside and protecting those funds. Some will risk their tax funds in the markets. Taxpayers should be careful because losing the funds will cause significant trouble later in the year.

Tax relief in disaster situations
There have been many federal disaster situations around the U.S. these past years. See if you qualify to pay taxes and file tax returns after the original deadline.

See Tax Relief in Disaster Situations.

SALT cap workaround
TCJA capped state and local income, sales, and property taxes (SALT) at $10,000 per year ($5,000 for married filing separately) and did not index it for inflation. About 25 states enacted SALT cap workaround laws.

Search “(Your state) SALT cap workaround” to learn the details for your state. Most states follow a blueprint approved by the IRS.

Generally, it would be best if you elected to make a “pass-through entity” (PTE) payment on a partnership or S-Corp tax return filed by your business. It doesn’t work with a sole proprietorship filing a Schedule C. PTE is a business expense deduction shown on the state K-1, like a withholding credit.

Most states credit the individual’s state income tax liability with the PTE amount. Essentially, you convert a non-deductible SALT itemized deduction (over the cap) into a business expense deduction from gross income. Act well before year-end; otherwise, you might delay the benefit to next year. Learn the rules of your state.

See our recent Webinars and recordings covering this content.

Traders Should Focus On Q4 Estimated Taxes Due January 18

January 10, 2022 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Many traders have substantial trading gains for 2021, and they might owe 2021 estimated taxes paid to the IRS quarterly. Unlike wages, taxes aren’t withheld from trading gains. Others can wait to make tax payments until April 18, 2022, when they file their 2021 tax return or extension.

The first three quarterly estimated tax payments were due April 15, June 15, and September 15, 2021, and the quarter four payment is due on January 18, 2022. Many new traders didn’t submit estimated payments for the first three quarters, waiting to see what Q4 brings. Also, some traders view skipping estimated tax payments like a margin loan with interest rates of 3% for Q1 and Q2 2021. With full transparency at year-end, traders can better assess the payment they should make for Q4 payments to minimize their underpayment penalties and interest.

The safe-harbor rule for paying estimated taxes says there’s no penalty for underpayment if the payment equals 90% of the current-year tax bill or 100% of the previous year’s amount (whichever is lower). If your prior-year adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds $150,000 or $75,000 if married filing separately, then the safe-harbor rate rises to 110%. 

Activity in Jan. 2022 can trigger wash sale losses for 2021, thereby creating more income in 2021.

Suppose your 2020 tax liability was $40,000, and AGI was over $150,000. Assume 2021 taxes will be approximately $100,000, and you haven’t paid estimates going into Q4. Using the safe-harbor rule, you can spread out the payment, submitting $44,000 (110% of $40,000) with a Q4 voucher on January 18, 2022, and paying the balance of $56,000 by April 18, 2022. This is an excellent option to consider instead of sending $90,000 in Q4 (90% of $100,000). Consider setting aside that tax money due April 18, 2022, rather than risking it in the financial markets in Q1 2022. I’ve seen some traders lose their tax money owed and get into trouble with the IRS. (See the example below). 

If your 2020 income tax liability is significantly higher than your 2021 tax liability, consider covering 90% of the current year’s taxes with estimated taxes. Check your state’s estimated tax rules, too.

In the above example, the trader should calculate the underpayment of estimated tax penalties for Q1, Q2, and Q3 on the 2021 Form 2210. Consider using Form 2210’s Annualized Income Installment Method if the trader generated most of his trading income later in the year. The default method on 2210 allocates the annual income to each quarter, respectively.

Learn more about estimated taxes at https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes.

A forewarning: The recent market-sell off in January 2022 reminds me of similar circumstances in a few prior years. Here’s an example of what to avoid in 2022. Joe Trader has massive capital gains taxes to pay for 2021. However, due to a market correction in early 2022 and being on the wrong side of many trades, Joe might incur significant capital losses in early 2022 in trading securities (equity options and equities). Unfortunately, Joe might lose much of the tax money he owes the IRS and state for 2021 taxes. Investors will get stuck with a $3,000 capital loss limitation in 2022 and must carry over capital losses to subsequent years. However, Joe is eligible for trader tax status (TTS), so he submits a 2022 Section 475 election to the IRS by April 18, 2022, for ordinary gain or loss treatment with mark-to-market accounting.

With Section 475, Joe’s 2022 trading losses are “ordinary” and offset his other 2022 income, like retirement plan distributions. However, the 2017 TCJA legislation has an “excess business loss” (EBL) limitation in 2022 of $540,00 (married)/$270,00 (other taxpayers). EBL over the limit becomes a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, which offsets income of any kind in subsequent years. Unfortunately, TCJA doesn’t permit net operating loss (NOL) carrybacks for 2022. Before 2018, traders could carry back massive NOLs to replenish their trading capital and stay in business.

Traders and investors in futures contracts can consider a Section 1256 loss carryback election. Rather than use the 1256 loss in the current year, taxpayers may deduct 1256 losses on amended tax return filings, applied against Section 1256 gains only. It’s a three-year carryback; unused amounts carry forward. TCJA repealed most NOL carrybacks, so the 1256 loss carryback is a trader’s only remaining carryback opportunity.

Star Johnson, CPA, contributed to this blog post.

The IRS postponed the 2020 individual tax deadline to May 17

April 6, 2021 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA

The IRS postponed the 2020 individual tax filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021, including the 2021 Section 475 election. For Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana residents, the deadlines are June 15, 2021. 

April 13, 2021: The IRS continues to assert that 2021 first quarter estimated tax payments are due April 15, even though they postponed the 2020 individual tax filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021. See IRS notice Electing To Apply a 2020 Return Overpayment From a May 17 Payment with Extension Request to 2021 Estimated Taxes. 

March 29, 2021: The good news is the individual Section 475 election is due May 17, 2021, with the 2020 tax return or extension. The IRS issued formal guidance Notice 2021-21, “Relief For Form 1040 Filers Affected By Ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.” The IRS notice states, “Finally, elections that are made or required to be made on a timely filed Form 1040 series (or attachment to such form) will be timely made if filed on such form or attachment, as appropriate, on or before May 17, 2021.” The IRS notice also postponed the 2020 IRA and HSA contribution tax deadline to May 17, 2021.

March 17, 2021: Tax Day for individuals extended to May 17: Treasury, IRS extend filing and payment deadline. “The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days. Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This relief does not apply to (2021) estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. The IRS urges taxpayers to check with their state tax agencies for those details.” (IRS Issue Number: IR-2021-59). Intuit: State Tax Deadline Updates. The postponement does not apply to C-Corps, trusts, and estates.

Feb. 22, 2021: For residents of Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, the IRS postponed the April 15, 2021 tax filing and payment deadline until June 15, 2021, after a federal disaster declaration in February 2021 due to winter storms. It also extended the 2021 Q1 estimated income tax payment deadline from April 15 to June 15, 2021. The delay includes various 2020 business returns due on March 15, including partnerships and S-Corps. The postponement also applies to the 2021 Section 475 election for individuals and pass-through entities in these three states.

Traders Should Focus On Q4 Estimated Taxes Due Jan. 15

September 25, 2020 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Many traders have substantial trading gains for 2020 YTD, and they might owe 2020 estimated taxes paid to the IRS quarterly. Unlike wages, taxes aren’t withheld from trading gains. Others can wait on tax payments until April 15, 2021, when they file their 2020 tax return or extension.

The first two-quarters of estimated tax payments were due July 15, 2020 (the postponed date due to Covid), Q3 was due on Sept. 15, 2020, and Q4 is due on Jan. 15, 2021. Many new traders didn’t submit estimated payments for the first three quarters, waiting to see what Q4 brings. With full transparency at year-end, traders can make Q4 payments with more clarity. Some traders view estimated taxes similar to a margin loan with interest rates of 5% for Q1 and Q2, and 3% for Q3.

The safe-harbor rule for paying estimated taxes says there’s no penalty for underpayment if the payment equals 90% of the current-year tax bill or 100% of the previous year’s amount (whichever is lower). If your prior-year adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeded $150,000 or $75,000 if married filing separately, then the safe-harbor rate rises to 110%. 

Suppose your 2019 tax liability was $40,000, and AGI was over $150,000. Assume 2020 taxes will be approximately $100,000, and you haven’t paid estimates going into Q4. Using the safe-harbor rule, you can spread out the payment, submitting $44,000 (110% of $40,000) with a Q4 voucher on Jan. 15, 2021, and paying the balance of $56,000 by April 15, 2021. This is an excellent option to consider instead of sending $90,000 in Q4 (90% of $100,000). Consider setting aside that tax money due April 15 rather than risking it in the financial markets in Q1 2021. I’ve seen some traders lose their tax money owed and get into trouble with the IRS. 

In the above example, the trader should calculate the underpayment of estimated tax penalties for Q1, Q2, and Q3 on the 2020 Form 2210. Consider using Form 2210’s Annualized Income Installment Method (page 4) if the trader generated most of his trading income later in the year. The default method on 2210 allocates the annual income to each quarter, respectively.

If your 2019 income tax liability is significantly higher than your 2020 tax liability, consider covering 90% of the current year’s taxes with estimated taxes. Check your state’s estimated tax rules, too.

Learn more about estimated taxes at https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes.

Employees have another way to avoid underpayment of estimated tax penalties on non-wage income. They can ask employers to increase their wage tax withholding in November and December, which the IRS treats as equally made throughout the year.

Darren Neuschwander CPA contributed to this blog post.

April 15 Tax Deadline Moved To July 15 (Live Updates)

May 20, 2020 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Updates

May 20: 2019 calendar-year partnership and S-Corp tax returns, and 2020 Section 475 elections for partnerships and S-Corps, were due March 16, 2020. These pass-through tax returns and entity 475 elections are not eligible for virus tax relief with the July 15, 2020 postponement deadline. Postponement relief is limited to 2019 tax returns due April 1, 2020, or after, and the March 16 deadline was before April 1. However, fiscal-year partnership or S-Corp tax returns due on April 1, 2020, or later are eligible for the July 15 deadline.

Traders have calendar-year partnerships and S-Corps, so these entities are not eligible for the July 15 postponement date. Most traders filed 2019 partnership or S-Corp extensions by March 16, some along with 2020 Section 475 elections for the entity. Some of these traders asked our firm if their entity could take advantage of the postponed deadline for making a Section 475 MTM election. The answer is no. Individual traders (sole proprietors) are eligible for July 15 relief for filing 2019 individual tax returns, extensions, and 2020 individual Section 475 elections.

April 10: All states with a personal income tax have extended their April 15 due dates. (See AICPA state filing conformity chart that they update.)

April 9: IRS Notice 2020-23, dated April 9, states on page 7: “Finally, elections that are made or required to be made on a timely filed Specified Form (or attachment to a Specified Form) shall be timely made if filed on such Specified Form or attachment, as appropriate, on or before July 15, 2020.”

Good news: TTS traders as sole proprietor individuals now have to July 15, 2020, to elect Section 475(f) for 2020, as the 475 MTM election is an attachment to a specified form, either F1040 or F4868. Previously, we recommended TTS traders elect 475 by April 15, 2020, to play it safe.

The June 15, 2020 deadlines for U.S. residents abroad and also Q2 2020 estimated tax vouchers are also moved to July 15, 2020. (See IR-2020-66, April 9, 2020). The July 15 deadline now also applies to trusts and estates: “Today’s notice expands this relief to additional returns, tax payments and other actions. As a result, the extensions generally now apply to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline falling on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Individuals, trusts, estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers qualify for the extra time. This means that anyone, including Americans who live and work abroad, can now wait until July 15 to file their 2019 federal income tax return and pay any tax due.”

March 25: 

475 elections: Our Darren Neuschwander CPA communicated with the IRS Chief Counsel’s office for making Section 475(f) MTM elections about whether to file a Section 475 MTM election by April 15 or July 15. (See the full update on our separate blog post Massive Market Losses? Elect 475 For Enormous Tax Savings.)

State taxes: AICPA State Tax Filing Relief Chart for Coronavirus: The AICPA has compiled this chart with the latest developments on state tax filings related to coronavirus, including states that conformed to the IRS postponement of the April 15 deadline to July 15. Not all states have conformed; for example, New Jersey had not as of March 25. 

AICPA Calls on Treasury, IRS to Provide Extensive Relief to Taxpayers. IRS Notice 2020-18 and related FAQs are helpful, but I agree with the AICPA that taxpayers need broader relief from Treasury. See the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief page.

March 24: The IRS published FAQs to support Notice 2020-18 for the tax deadline postponement to July 15: Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers. CPA industry groups will likely ask for another round of FAQs to address unanswered questions. It’s important to note that FAQs are not yet “substantial authority,” as tax notices are, and the IRS often changes FAQs at a future date like it recently did with cryptocurrency.

Here’s what we know:

  • The IRS moved the IRA and HSA contribution deadlines from April 15 to July 15 (Q17 and Q21).
  • July 15 extensions: FAQ A12. “If you are an individual, you can request an automatic extension to file your Federal income tax return if you can’t file by the July 15 deadline. The easiest and fastest way to request a filing extension is to electronically file Form 4868 through your tax professional, tax software, or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses, including trusts, must file Form 7004. You must request the automatic extension by July 15, 2020. If you properly estimate your 2019 tax liability using the information available to you and file an extension form by July 15, 2020, your tax return will be due on Oct. 15, 2020. To avoid interest and penalties when filing your tax return after July 15, 2020, pay the tax you estimate as due with your extension request.”
  • Elections: The FAQs don’t mention the word “elections,” including the Section 475 election for TTS traders. The Section 475 MTM election wording comes directly from Rev Proc 99-17, which states:

    “The (election) statement must be filed not later than the due date (without regard to extensions) of the original federal income tax return for the taxable year immediately preceding the election year and must be attached either to that  return or, if applicable, to a request for an extension of time to file that return.”

    It seems logical to conclude that a 2020 Section 475 election is due July 15, but this has not been confirmed yet. If the IRS does not explicitly address this question, then a TTS trader with a massive 2020 YTD trading loss might want to file a protective extension request with 475 election statement attachment by April 15 to play it safe.

March 23: After Treasury moved the tax deadline to July 15, a newer version of the CARES Act bill removed the section about shifting the tax deadline “and elections” to July 15. The IRS has not yet addressed moving elections and IRA and HSA deadlines to July 15. The open question is: Can TTS traders submit a 475 election by July 15, 2020? The regular due date for a 475 election is April 15. Treasury and the IRS promised FAQs about the deadline postponement soon, and hopefully, it will answer open questions about elections, IRAs, and HSAs.

March 20: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced President Trump’s directive to move the April 15 tax deadline to July 15, 2020, thereby postponing tax filings and tax payments for all taxpayers. The new rules in Notice 2020-18 remove the $1M cap on individuals included in the superseded Notice 2020-17, so all tax payments are penalty and interest-free until July 15. Mnuchin said the extension would give “all taxpayers and business this additional time” to file returns and make tax payments “without interest or penalties.” The Treasury Department promised FAQs soon. Hopefully, all states will follow suit with this federal change, so taxpayers don’t face conflicting rules.

Congress should proceed with new legislation like the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide additional tax relief, beyond the Treasury Department moving tax deadline to July 15. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s CARES Act bill temporarily suspends the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act business loss limitations, including reauthorizing NOL five-year carrybacks, repealing the excess business loss (EBL) limitation, and loosening the business interest expense limitation. That’s fantastic news, as businesses need tax relief for losses ASAP. Here are the related CARES Act provisions:

  • 2203: Section 172(b)(1) – “Net Operating loss carrybacks and carryovers” – Special Rule for losses arising in 2018, 2019 and 2020, such loss shall be a net operating loss carryback to each of the five taxable years preceding the taxable year of such loss.
  • 2203: Temporary repeal of 80% income limitation to deduct a 2018 and forward NOL for year beginning before 2021.
  • 2204: Repeal of 461(l) for 2018, 2019, and 2020 – excess business losses
  • 2206: 163(j) special rules for 2019 and 2020, increasing ATI percentage from 30% to 50% for limitation on business interest

CPA industry groups are also asking Congress to raise the $3,000 capital loss limitation, which they never indexed for inflation. Stay tuned.

March 19: Senator John Thune introduced a two-page bill Tax Filing Relief for America Act “To extend the due date for the return and payment of Federal income taxes to July 15, 2020, for taxable year 2019.” Treasury and the IRS recently issued guidance to delay certain tax payments for 90 days until July 15. Still, Treasury did not postpone the April 15 tax filing deadline, putting an undue burden on taxpayers and accountants. Thune’s legislation syncs tax filings with tax payments in a simple manner, whereas Treasury’s guidance is causing tremendous confusion. Leader McConnell just introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which incorporates Thune’s bill. Thanks to the AICPA for pushing Congress and Treasury hard to get this critical April 15 tax relief. See the AICPA Coronavirus Resource Center. Stay tuned.

March 18: Treasury issued guidance in Notice 2020-17. It’s now official: As usual, individuals must file extensions on Form 4868 by April 15. Submitting this form with little tax information avoids excessive late-filing penalties, which are 5% per month up to 25% maximum on balance-due payments. The coronavirus relief only allows individuals to defer income tax payments up to $1M until July 15, without application of interest and “penalties,” and I think they mean late-payment penalties of 0.5% per month up to 5% maximum. Taxpayers can file a one-page extension Form 4868 without making tax payments until July 15. That should make quick work of the extension, which is essential as many taxpayers and accountants are overwhelmed with the impact of coronavirus. This Treasury guidance includes deferral for Q1 2020 estimated tax payments due by April 15, but not Q2 on June 15. (See IRS Notice 2020-17 with highlights.)

March 17: Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said if you owe a tax payment to the IRS, you can defer up to $1M as an individual and $10M as a C-corp. Tax payments will be interest and penalty-free if you file within 90 days of the April 15 deadline. “All you have to do is file your taxes,” he said. “You’ll automatically not get charged interest and penalties.” We need to see the fine print; there are many open questions. Mnuchin’s statement indicates taxpayers should still file an automatic extension on Form 4868 by April 15 to extend the tax return filing deadline six-months until Oct. 15. If a taxpayer cannot file an extension by April 15 due to the impact of coronavirus, then the IRS would be hard-pressed to deny reasonable cause for abatement of late-filing penalties.

— Per Bloomberg Tax, “Updates to make clear that taxpayers still must file by April 15 or seek an extension.” And, “The administration is also considering delaying the estimated quarterly tax payments that self-employed workers and businesses pay the IRS throughout the year, according to two people familiar with the matter. The first payment is typically due April 15.”

— Traders should file Section 475 elections by the April 15, 2020 deadline, since Treasury didn’t change the April 15 deadline; it is providing a 90-day extension for tax payments. I doubt Treasury wants to give traders 90 more days of hindsight on making 475 elections.

March 15: AICPA News: “Based upon our conversations, we anticipate that Treasury and the IRS will announce this week an extension of the April 15 deadline by as much as 90 days, and a waiver of penalties and interest for most taxpayers. Additionally, Treasury and the IRS are aware of the major deadline for businesses tomorrow, March 16, and the challenges facing taxpayers and tax preparers in meeting that deadline. They have indicated that they would be generous in determining reasonable cause abatement of any penalties for taxpayers and tax preparers unable to file in a timely manner.”

March 13 at 3 pm ET: Per Tax Talks, “President Trump declared a national emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in response to the coronavirus. This declaration allows the Treasury Department and the IRS to extend the deadline for certain taxpayers and small businesses to pay taxes until December 31, 2020 as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin suggested earlier this week.”

Per Bloomberg Law News (with this declaration), “The IRS can choose from a range of powers: abating penalties for failing to file or pay taxes, or postponing federal tax filing and payment deadlines without interest or penalties accruing, according to the agency’s Internal Revenue Manual posted on its website.”

March 13 at 1 pm ET: The president will probably use federal emergency powers today to direct the Treasury Department to provide tax filing and late payment relief. I hope the Treasury Department considers the AICPA proposals. (See the AICPA coronavirus resource center and the AICPA state filing conformity chart that they will update.)

The original blog post, dated March 12, 2020:

The Administration and Congressional leaders are negotiating stimulus measures to provide relief for the coronavirus pandemic, which might include loosening rules for the April 15 tax deadline.

In his Oval Office speech on March 11, the president proposed tax-payment relief for “certain individuals and businesses.” That might be too narrow, and hopefully, this relief will apply to all taxpayers since the virus is spreading fast around the county and causing wide-spread economic harm. It would be challenging to identify “federally declared disaster areas” eligible for tax relief. Blanket across the board tax relief is warranted. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said the delay would cover “virtually all Americans other than the super-rich.”

Under current law, individual taxpayers must file 2019 income tax returns or an automatic extension form 4868 by April 15, 2020. An extension filing delays this for six months (Oct. 15). However, the IRS and states want taxpayers to make 2019 tax payments on time by April 15, 2020. The IRS uses a complicated regime of penalties and interest charges to incentivize taxpayers to make tax payments by April 15.

If a taxpayer misses the April 15 deadline, the IRS charges them a “late-filing penalty” of 5% per month, up to a maximum of five months for a total penalty of 25%. It would be unconscionable for the IRS to charge a coronavirus victim such a hefty penalty because they couldn’t file a one-page extension on time. I expect that IRS relief should make this automatic extension genuinely “automatic” by doing away with a requirement to submit a form 4868.

The IRS “late-payment penalty” addresses when a taxpayer should make tax payments that are due. IRS coronavirus relief should loosen the late-penalty rules, too. Under current law, the IRS would charge a late-payment penalty if the taxpayer did not pay at least 90% of their tax liability by April 15. The late-payment penalty is 0.5% per month, up to five months for a maximum of 2.5%. The IRS allows the taxpayer to request abatement of late-payment and late-filing penalties based on a “reasonable cause.” Contracting coronavirus sounds like a reasonable cause. The IRS calculates penalties and interest based on the tax payment paid after April 15. The current interest rate on late payments is 4.5%.

Hopefully, states follow suit with the IRS and enact coordinated tax relief over the April 15 deadline. States might use a different payment percentage to avoid late-payment penalties.

Accounting industry group weighs in
The AICPA issued a press release AICPA Calls for Indiv. & Business Tax Relief Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, dated March 11, 2020. My partner Darren Neuschwander CPA serves on the AICPA Individual & Self-Employed Tax Technical Resource Panel and helped draft this AICPA letter. (Darren will be serving as the vice-chair of the panel effective May 21, 2020, for the 2020-2021 year.)

The AICPA letter recommended an automatic extension for all taxpayers, without having to submit form 4868. The AICPA also suggested reducing the 90% payment rule to 70%, figuring the IRS might then provide the relief to all taxpayers. The AICPA letter further recommends: “Waive interest through October 15, 2020; and waive underpayment penalties for 2020 estimated tax payments if paid by September 15, 2020.” See the letter for their other recommendations.

On CNBC this morning, Jim Cramer called for tax payment relief across the board for all taxpayers and businesses. It seems the public and media’s first impression of this story is that no tax payments will be due April 15 with an automatic extension and 100% relief for interest and all types of penalties. The fine print of the penalty regime has always been confusing to many. Let’s wait to see the final tax law changes if any.

Special issues for traders
A 2020 Section 475 election is due by April 15 for individual traders eligible for trader tax status (TTS). (It’s March 16 for existing partnerships and S-Corps.) The election procedure requires a taxpayer to attach a 2020 Section 475 election statement to their 2019 tax return or extension filing made by the April 15, 2020 deadline. The IRS might allow an automatic extension, or it could extend the filing date altogether. However, I don’t expect the IRS to address 475 elections specifically. Therefore, it’s safer to mail the IRS a Form 4868 automatic extension and staple the election statement to it by April 15, 2020, according to current law. Alternatively, file a complete 2019 tax return and include the 475 election by April 15. This year traders are counting on a 475 election to convert year-to-date capital losses into ordinary losses due to massive volatility in Q1 2020. (See Massive Market Losses? Elect 475 For Enormous Tax Savings.)

It’s worth noting that the late-payment penalty is small and sort of like a margin loan; a maximum amount of 2.5% isn’t that bad for six months’ use of money.

If you do choose to postpone tax payments, be careful not to risk your tax funds owed the IRS in the financial markets as that might compound your cash flow problems.

This tax relief is like interest forbearance where banks allow a delay in mortgage payments, which many financial institutions offered to do in this crisis. It’s time for the U.S. Treasury to provide tax-payment forbearance, too.

See our blog post on extensions from last year Tax Extensions: 12 Tips To Save You Money.

Please share this blog post with Administration and Congressional leaders.

Darren Neuschwander, CPA, contributed to this blog post.

 

CARES Act Allows 5-Year NOL Carrybacks For Immediate Tax Refunds

April 9, 2020 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Live Updates:

April 13: “IRS Provides NOL Guidance and Deadline Extension:  Rev. Proc. 2020-24 issues guidance on IRC Sec. 172(b)(1), amended by Sec. 2303 of the CARES Act, which requires taxpayers to carry back NOLs arising in tax years beginning in 2018, 2019, and 2020 to the five preceding tax years, unless the taxpayer elects to waive or reduce the carryback period.” (Checkpoint.)

April 9: 
IRS provides guidance under the CARES Act to taxpayers with net operating losses. IR-2020-67, April 9, 2020 — “The Internal Revenue Service today issued guidance providing tax relief under the CARES Act for taxpayers with net operating losses. Recently the IRS issued tax relief for partnerships filing amended returns.”

The six-month extension of time for filing NOL forms: In Notice 2020-26 (PDF), “the IRS grants a six-month extension of time to file Form 1045 or Form 1139, as applicable, with respect to the carryback of a net operating loss that arose in any taxable year that began during the calendar year 2018 and that ended on or before June 30, 2019.  Individuals, trusts, and estates would file Form 1045 (PDF), and corporations would file Form 1139 (PDF).” (The IRS is temporarily allowing taxpayers to fax in these forms.)

Good news: TTS traders have until June 30, 2020, to file a 2018 Form 1045 for a 2018 NOL. They should get moving on these NOL carrybacks ASAP. Otherwise, they need Form 1040X which takes longer to process by the IRS.

March 28: On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This bill includes significant economic aid and tax relief provisions. Some tax relief applies retroactively to 2018, 2019, and 2020. Today, I focus on NOL carrybacks.

If you have a net operating loss (NOL) from business activities in 2018, 2019, and 2020, you should consider filing NOL carryback claims going back five years. 

Active traders who are eligible for trader tax status (TTS) are considered businesses with NOLs. A TTS trader might have significant trading expenses or Section 475 ordinary losses comprising an NOL. 

CARES temporarily suspends tax-loss limitations from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) for 2018, 2019, and 2020. TCJA had repealed two-year NOL carrybacks, only allowing NOL carryforwards limited to 80% of the subsequent year’s taxable income. As you may remember, TCJA introduced the excess business loss (EBL) limitation, where aggregate business losses over an EBL threshold ($500,000 for married and $250,000 for other taxpayers for 2018) were considered an NOL carryforward. 

CARES lifts these TCJA limitations and allows taxpayers to recalculate 2018 and 2019 NOLs and file refund claims going back five years for immediate tax relief. Taxpayers will be able to carryback 2020 NOLs five years, too, but not until they file 2020 tax returns in 2021. 

TTS traders with Section 475 ordinary losses and those without 475 but who have significant NOLs from expenses (i.e., borrow fees on short-selling) should consider NOL carrybacks, too. 

Here’s an example

Joe Smith, a TTS trader with Section 475, filed a 2018 income tax return showing a $400,000 NOL. Joe’s NOL came from trading expenses ($50,000) and Section 475 trading losses ($350,000); he had no other income or loss.

Under TCJA, Joe’s only option is an NOL carryforward; therefore, his draft 2019 tax return has a low income, utilizing a small portion of his NOL. Joe has more trading losses and expenses YTD for 2020, so he is holding a deferred tax asset. Joe is thrilled that CARES opens the door to NOL carrybacks because he had substantial taxable income from other activities in years previous to 2018. 

We await IRS and state guidance on CARES to indicate precisely how Joe and his tax preparer should proceed with NOL recalculation and carryback returns. We have questions:

  1. Must taxpayers with EBL limitations amend 2018 tax returns to remove EBL and recalculate NOLs? Is CARES retroactive application to 2018 and 2019 an optional or mandatory requirement? Some taxpayers might prefer to leave things the way they are under TCJA.
  2. CARES allows taxpayers to carryback NOLs from 2018, 2019, and 2020 five years. Usually, tax years close after three years, so how will this work for 2018 NOL five-year carrybacks? For example, 2016 income tax returns filed by April 15, 2017, might close three years after by April 15, 2020. Is that postponed to July 15, 2020, with the IRS relief? Can a taxpayer go back five years before 2018? 
  3. The usual tax deadline for filing a 2018 Form 1045 (Application for Tentative Refund) for NOL carrybacks was Dec. 31, 2019. Will this deadline be extended? (We prefer using this form since the IRS must address the form within 90 days.) Alternatively, taxpayers may use Form 1040X (Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) for each NOL carryback year, which often takes the IRS six months or more to address and pay the refunds. Will the form be expedited during this unprecedented time? There are other procedural questions beyond the scope of this blog post.
  4. Which states will conform with CARES on these tax changes, especially NOL carryback refund claims? During the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009, stimulus tax legislation allowed generous NOL carrybacks. However, some states decoupled from federal law on those changes. For example, California did not allow NOL carrybacks at all, and it restricted NOL carryforwards in several ways. 

Stay tuned to our blog post as we seek answers to these questions. I plan to cover other CARES tax changes that affect TTS traders, too. 

March 27: Congress and President Trump enacted into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This “virus bill” includes significant economic aide and tax provisions to help all taxpayers. The House did not make any changes to the Senate version.

March 25: Senate Passes Updated Economic Relief Plan (CARES Act) for Individuals and Businesses (Tax Foundation). The final version of the law includes the tax-loss provisions covered in the March 20 update below. Here are the code sections from Thomson Reuters CheckPoint:

  • “NOLs arising in a tax year beginning after December 31, 2018 and before January 1, 2021 can be carried back to each of the five tax years preceding the tax year of such loss. (Code Sec. 172(b)(1) as amended by Act Sec. 2303(b)(1))
  • temporarily removes the taxable income limitation to allow an NOL to fully offset income. (Code Sec. 172(a), as amended by Act Sec. 2303(a)(1))
  • temporarily modifies the loss limitation for noncorporate taxpayers so they can deduct excess business losses arising in 2018, 2019, and 2020. (Code Sec. 461(l)(1), as amended by Act Sec. 2304(a))
  • temporarily and retroactively increases the limitation on the deductibility of interest expense under Code Sec. 163(j)(1) from 30% to 50% for tax years beginning in 2019 and 2020. (Code Sec. 163(j)(10)(A)(i) as amended by Act Sec. 2306(a)).” (See special rules for partnerships.)

March 20: Congress should proceed with new legislation like the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, to provide additional tax relief, beyond the Treasury Department moving the April 15 tax deadline to July 15, 2020.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s CARES Act bill temporarily suspends the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) business loss limitations, including reauthorizing NOL five-year carrybacks, repealing the excess business loss (EBL) limitation, and loosening the business interest expense limitation. That’s fantastic news, as businesses need tax relief for losses ASAP. Here are the related CARES Act provisions:

  • 2203: Section 172(b)(1) – “Net operating loss carrybacks and carryovers” – Special Rule for losses arising in 2018, 2019, and 2020, such loss shall be a net operating loss carryback to each of the five taxable years preceding the taxable year of such loss.
  • 2203: Temporary repeal of 80% income limitation to deduct a 2018 and forward NOL for year beginning before 2021.
  • 2204: Repeal of 461(l) for 2018, 2019 and 2020 – excess business losses.
  • 2206: 163(j) special rules for 2019 and 2020, increasing ATI percentage from 30% to 50% for limitation on business interest.

CPA industry groups are also asking Congress to raise the $3,000 capital loss limitation, which was never indexed for inflation.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced President Trump’s directive to move the April 15 tax deadline to July 15, 2020, thereby postponing tax filings and tax payments for all taxpayers. Mnuchin said the extension would give “all taxpayers and business this additional time” to file returns and make tax payments “without interest or penalties.” I expect Treasury and the IRS will issue specific guidance soon. Hopefully, all states will follow suit with this federal change, so taxpayers don’t face conflicting rules.

Traders and 475 elections: Although it’s not guaranteed, I think the IRS might accept a 2020 Section 475 election submitted by July 15, 2020, since that is the new tax filing date. It would afford traders 90 days of additional hindsight. IRS FAQs might not address elections, although the CARES Act includes moving of election deadlines, too. If you have a massive Q1 2020 trading loss as a TTS trader, and you are counting on an NOL carryforward, or carryback if allowed, then it might be wise to file an extension by April 15, 2020, and attach a 2020 Section 475 election statement. I think you should be able to revise the election by July 15, 2020, if warranted. (See Massive Market Losses? Elect 475 For Enormous Tax Savings.)

March 19: Senator John Thune introduced a two-page bill Tax Filing Relief for America Act “To extend the due date for the return and payment of Federal income taxes to July 15, 2020, for taxable year 2019.” Treasury and the IRS recently issued guidance to delay certain tax payments for 90 days until July 15, 2020. Still, Treasury did not postpone the April 15 tax filing deadline, putting an undue burden on taxpayers and accountants. Thune’s legislation syncs tax filings with tax payments in a simple manner, whereas Treasury’s guidance is causing tremendous confusion. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which incorporates Thune’s bill. Thanks to the AICPA for pushing Congress and Treasury hard to get this critical April 15 tax relief. Why rush an April 15 tax filing, exposing clients and accountants to coronavirus, if Treasury already postponed tax payments? See the AICPA Coronavirus Resource Center.

For prior updates, see Updated: April 15 Tax Deadline Moved To July 15.

March 16 Is Tax Deadline For S-Corp And Partnership Extensions And Elections (Live Updates)

February 27, 2020 | By: Robert A. Green, CPA | Read it on

Updates

May 20: 2019 calendar-year partnership and S-Corp tax returns, and 2020 Section 475 elections for partnerships and S-Corps, were due March 16, 2020. These pass-through tax returns and entity 475 elections are not eligible for virus tax relief with the July 15, 2020 postponement deadline. Postponement relief is limited to 2019 tax returns due April 1, 2020, or after, and the March 16 deadline was before April 1. However, fiscal-year partnership or S-Corp tax returns due on April 1, 2020, or later are eligible for the July 15 deadline.

Traders have calendar-year partnerships and S-Corps, so these entities are not eligible for the July 15 postponement date. Most traders filed 2019 partnership or S-Corp extensions by March 16, some along with 2020 Section 475 elections for the entity. Some of these traders asked our firm if their entity could take advantage of the postponed deadline for making a Section 475 MTM election. The answer is no. Individual traders (sole proprietors) are eligible for July 15 relief for filing 2019 individual tax returns, extensions, and 2020 individual Section 475 elections.

March 24: The IRS published FAQs to support Notice 2020-18 for the April 15 tax-deadline postponement to July 15: Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions and Answers. Unfortunately, 2019 partnership and S-Corp tax returns or extensions that were due March 16, 2020, are not eligible for this IRS relief. 

March 13: The president declared a national emergency (Stafford Act), allowing the IRS to postpone tax filings/payments and to remove penalties and interest. Partnership and S-Corps are due March 16, so I hope the IRS acts fast! (See April 15 Tax Deadline.Might Get Coronavirus Relief)

Original blog post, dated Feb. 27, 2020

March 16 is the deadline for filing 2019 S-Corp and partnership tax returns, or extensions, 2020 S-Corp elections for existing entities, and 2020 Section 475 elections for a pass-through entity. Don’t miss any of these tax filings or elections; it could cost you.

2019 S-Corp and partnership tax extensions
Extensions are easy to prepare and file for S-Corps and partnerships since they pass-through income and loss to the owner, usually an individual. Generally, pass-through entities are tax-filers, but not taxpayers.

S-Corps and partnerships use Form 7004 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns). Extensions give six additional months to file a federal tax return — by Sept. 15, 2020.

Some states require a state extension filing, whereas others accept the federal extension. Some states have S-Corp franchise taxes, excise taxes, or minimum taxes, and payments are usually due with the extensions by March 16. LLCs filing as partnerships may have minimum taxes or annual reports due to the extension by March 16. States assess penalties and interest, often based on payments due.

See S-Corp 2019 Form 1120-S instructions, “Interest and Penalties” on page 4:

“Late filing of return. A penalty may be assessed if the return is filed after the due date (including extensions) or the return doesn’t show all the information required, unless each failure is due to reasonable cause. See Caution, earlier. For returns on which no tax is due, the penalty is $205 for each month or part of a month (up to 12 months) the return is late or doesn’t include the required information, multiplied by the total number of persons who were shareholders in the corporation during any part of the corporation’s tax year for which the return is due. If tax is due, the penalty is the amount stated above plus 5% of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month the return is late, up to a maximum of 25% of the unpaid tax. The minimum penalty for a return that is more than 60 days late is the smaller of the tax due or $435.

Failure to furnish information timely. For each failure to furnish Schedule K-1 to a shareholder when due and each failure to include on Schedule K-1 all the information required to be shown (or the inclusion of incorrect information), a $270 penalty may be imposed. If the requirement to report correct information is intentionally disregarded, each $270 penalty is increased to $550 or, if greater, 10% of the aggregate amount of items required to be reported. The penalty won’t be imposed if the corporation can show that not furnishing information timely was due to reasonable cause. See Caution, earlier.

If the corporation receives a notice about penalties after it files its return, send the IRS an explanation and we will determine if the corporation meets reasonable-cause criteria. Don’t attach an explanation when the corporation’s return is filed.”

See partnership 2019 Form 1065 instructions, “Penalties” on page 6:

“Late Filing of Return. A penalty is assessed against the partnership if it is required to file a partnership return and it (a) fails to file the return by the due date, including extensions, or (b) files a return that fails to show all the information required, unless such failure is due to reasonable cause. The penalty is $205 for each month or part of a month (for a maximum of 12 months) the failure continues, multiplied by the total number of persons who were partners in the partnership during any part of the partnership’s tax year for which the return is due. If the partnership receives a notice about a penalty after it files the return, the partnership may send the IRS an explanation and the Service will determine if the explanation meets reasonable-cause criteria. Do not attach an explanation when filing the return.

Failure To Furnish Information Timely. For each failure to furnish Schedule K-1 to a partner when due and each failure to include on Schedule K-1 all the information required to be shown (or the inclusion of incorrect information), a $270 penalty may be imposed for each Schedule K-1 for which a failure occurs. The maximum penalty is $3,339,000 for all such failures during a calendar year. If the requirement to report correct information is intentionally disregarded, each $270 penalty is increased to $550 or, if greater, 10% of the aggregate amount of items required to be reported. There is no limit to the amount of the penalty in the case of intentional disregard.”

2020 S-Corp elections

Traders qualifying for trader tax status (TTS) and interested in employee benefit plan deductions, including health insurance and retirement plan deductions, probably need an S-Corp. They should consider a 2020 S-Corp election on Form 2553 for an existing trading entity, due by March 16, 2020, or form a new company and file an S-Corp election within 75 days of inception. Most states accept the federal S-Corp election, but a few states do not; they require a separate S-Corp election filing by March 16. If you overlooked filing a 2019 S-Corp election by March 15, 2019 and intended to elect S-Corp tax treatment as of that date, you may qualify for IRS relief. (See Late Election Relief.) (Sole proprietor traders do not have self-employment income, which means they cannot have self-employed health insurance and retirement plan deductions. TTS partnerships face significant obstacles in achieving self-employment income.)

2020 Section 475 MTM elections for S-Corps and partnerships

TTS traders should consider attaching a 2020 Section 475 election statement to their 2019 tax return or extension due by March 16 for partnerships and S-Corps or by April 15 for individuals. Section 475 turns 2020 capital gains and losses into ordinary gains and losses, thereby avoiding the capital loss limitation and wash sale loss adjustments (tax loss insurance). Section 475 income, net of TTS expenses, is eligible for the “qualified business income” (QBI) deduction subject to taxable income limitations.

If a TTS partnership or S-Corp wants to revoke a prior-year Section 475 election, a revocation election statement is due by March 16, 2020.

If you need help, consider a consultation.