In the late 1990s, former Atlanta Braves players John Smoltz and Ryan Klesko formed Big K Farms (“Big K”), a partnership that, over the years, acquired approximately 1,500 acres of land in Georgia for around $4 million. From...more
In the latest victory for taxpayers, the Tax Court determined that the Treasury failed to follow federal law in enacting a conservation easement perpetuity rule known as the “proceeds regulation.” The majority opinion held...more
Two recent tax court cases paint an ominous picture for professionals and investors who participated in listed syndicated conservation easement transactions. Coming on the heels of the Fisher conviction and his lengthy...more
3/7/2024
/ Appraisal ,
Charitable Donations ,
Conservation Easements ,
Fair Market Value ,
Income Taxes ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
IRS ,
Tax Court ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Fraud ,
Tax Liability ,
Tax Planning
On September 22, 2023 a federal jury convicted two promoters, CPA Jack Fisher and attorney James Sinnott, in the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) first criminal trial over allegedly abusive syndicated conservation easements...more
9/27/2023
/ Acquittals ,
Charitable Donations ,
Conservation Easements ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fair Market Value ,
Investment ,
IRS ,
Jury Verdicts ,
Real Estate Market ,
Tax Avoidance ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Liability ,
Tax Planning
Only months after the U.S. Tax Court and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the IRS failed to adhere to the Administrative Procedures Act when it promulgated Notice 2017-10 and designated most Syndicated Conservation...more
1/12/2023
/ Charitable Donations ,
Conservation Easements ,
Federal Budget ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
IRS ,
Pass-Through Entities ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Liability ,
Tax Planning ,
Tax Reform
As the IRS and the Department of Justice continue to focus enforcement efforts on conservation easements, the Supreme Court has been asked to settle a dispute regarding the validity of the “protected in perpetuity”...more
On November 2, 2017, the House Ways and Means Committee released the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (H.R. 1). Key elements include reducing the tax rate on corporations to 20%, and reducing the tax rate paid on income earned by...more
11/3/2017
/ 401k ,
Alternative Minimum Tax ,
Business Taxes ,
Charitable Donations ,
Child Tax Credit ,
Contribution Limits ,
Corporate Taxes ,
Employee Benefits ,
Estate Tax ,
Income Taxes ,
Local Taxes ,
Mortgage Interest ,
Pass-Through Entities ,
Retirement Plan ,
State and Local Government ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Rates ,
Tax Reform ,
Trump Administration