As lawmakers of the federal government struggle to deal with our ever-increasing national debt, Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code has come under scrutiny and may face extinction. Now that Republicans control both sides of the Congress (and the White House), Section 1031 could be seriously
The (Relatively) Uncharted Territory of Bitcoin Taxation
Though still largely unfamiliar to the general public, the cryptocurrency known as “bitcoin” has received more and more attention in the last several years. This is due in part to its impressive rise in market value -- as of today, bitcoin’s market value fluctuates in the low $4,300 range, but only
Cuts to Benefit Programs Indispensable to Trump’s New Budget Plan
As we discussed in our feature article on Trump’s tax reform proposal, President Trump’s plan is to consolidate the existing tax bracket structure by reducing the number of brackets from seven down to three. This consolidation will positively impact very high earning Americans and negatively impact
A Few Thoughts on Seattle’s New Tax on the Wealthy
On Monday, July 10, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved a new city income tax targeted toward Seattle’s highest-earning residents. The new tax will collect 2.25 percent on incomes above $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly. Expectedly, the measure has
A Few Thoughts on the New Seattle Soda Tax
On Monday, June 5, 2017, the Seattle City Council passed a motion which will implement a tax on sugary soft drinks (soda). This new “soda tax” is designed to reduce statewide obesity rates, particularly among children, and to raise additional funds for public projects. Expectedly, the passage of the
Top Areas for Future Home Buyers in the Greater Seattle Region
Though many of our clients are homeowners, quite a few of our clients are currently in the market (or plan to be in the market) for a new home. For this reason, in our present article we’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the hottest areas for real estate purchases in the greater Seattle
Trump’s New Tax Proposal Could Have Substantial Impact on Seattle Homeowners
President Donald Trump has developed a proposal to rewrite the tax code in such a way that it may render the mortgage interest deduction meaningless for all but a small minority of wealthy homeowners. Opponents argue that this provision would take away an important incentive of homeownership;
Investment Property & the Personal Residence Exclusion
Contrary to what many may suppose, the initial purpose underlying the acquisition of a property does not necessarily bar future invocation of the principal residence exclusion (under IRS section 121). As we've discussed earlier, Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code allows homeowners to exclude
