12/19/2011 - ’Tis the Season for LP/LLC Year-End Planning
This alert includes a list of year-end administrative issues for Texas limited partnerships and limited liability companies (“LP/LLC”).

06/28/2011 - The Crackdown on Foreign Account Holders Continues: The 2011 Voluntary Disclosure Initiative and the Updated Filing Requirements for Foreign Financial Accounts
With budgetary pressures increasing and deficits mounting, the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is continuing its campaign to find U.S. citizens and residents who have failed to report both (1) their worldwide income on their U.S. federal tax returns and (2) all non-U.S. financial accounts in which they have a financial interest or over which they have signature authority.

06/02/2011 - IRS Focusing on Unrelated Business Taxable Income
The IRS has apparently increased its focus on unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”) of tax-exempt organizations. At a conference last month, IRS officials indicated they are looking closely at UBTI in all contexts with respect to exempt organizations, including conducting a long-term study on college and university treatment of UBTI.

02/14/2011 - Voluntary Disclosure Plan for Offshore Assets - Take #2
On February 8, 2011, the IRS announced a second voluntary disclosure program that will allow U.S. taxpayers to disclose offshore accounts that were previously kept secret from the IRS. U.S. citizens and resident foreign nationals are required to pay U.S. federal income tax on their worldwide income.

01/24/2011 - Increased Filing Threshold for Form 990-N
In prior years, certain tax-exempt organizations whose gross receipts did not normally exceed $25,000 were exempt from filing the standard Form 990. Now, this threshold is $50,000, and for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2010, such organizations must submit a Form 990-N “e-Postcard” annually (rather than the Form 990-EZ or Form 990 required of larger organizations).

12/10/2010 - FLASH - December 9 Senate Estate Tax Proposal
The Senate introduced an amendment to the House Tax Bill on December 9, 2010 that makes significant changes in estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax rules for this year (2010), and for the next two years. This alert outlines the most significant estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax features of the Tax Bill.

12/09/2010 - Year-End Limited Partnership/Limited Liability Company Administrative Considerations
This alert lists a number of administrative and compliance issues for Texas limited partnerships or limited liability companies (“LP/LLC”) that you might consider as December 31 approaches.

12/08/2010 - Do You Know Which 990 to File for 2010…And Will You Have the Necessary Information?
Those who have filed – or at least reviewed – the “new” Form 990 since it was revised in 2008 are well aware of its comprehensive nature.

11/29/2010 - 2010 Tax Planning - to Gift or not to Gift
As 2010 is nearing an end, there are several gift options to consider. Lower interest rates, depressed values and lower gift tax risk make gifts or sales to younger generations more attractive in 2010.

10/13/2010 - Items to Consider in Determining Whether to Sell Your Business in 2010
This article highlights the imminent changes to the tax laws in 2011 (e.g., the sunset of the Bush era tax cuts) and changes that will arise in later tax years (e.g., tax provisions contained in certain parts of the recently enacted health care legislation) that may affect a decision to sell your business this year. The article was originally published as a four-part series of alerts.

10/06/2010 - Traps for the Unwary - The Risks of Fundraising
Charitable fundraising activities in multiple states - and even in multiple cities, municipalities, and counties within Texas - can potentially create a compliance risk. Although not regulated by the IRS, many state and/or local authorities have adopted charitable solicitation registration and reporting requirements. In addition, the revised Form 990 requires a disclosure regarding compliance with state rules.

08/26/2010 - Items to Consider in Determining Whether to Sell Your Business in 2010 - Part 4 of 4
This is the fourth client alert in a series of four generally describing (i) the tax changes that will occur on January 1, 2011 and in later tax years as a result of the recently enacted health care legislation, (ii) some of the steps a business owner should consider taking in order to prepare his or her business for sale, (iii) the sale process, and (iv) several key factors to consider in this process in an effort to maximize the after-tax benefits to the owners and to help ensure a smooth sales process.

08/25/2010 - Traps for the Unwary - Tips to Ensure Enforceability of Charitable Pledges
When a donor attempts to cancel or withdraw from a charitable pledge, many organizations choose not to enforce the pledge in the spirit of donor and public relations. However, it is important to understand that charitable pledges can be legally enforceable obligations. This alert provides a summary of Texas law regarding enforceability of pledges.

08/18/2010 - Items to Consider in Determining Whether to Sell Your Business in 2010 - Part 3 of 4
This is the third client alert in a series of four alerts generally describing (i) the tax changes that will occur on January 1, 2011 and in later tax years as a result of the recently enacted federal legislation, (ii) some of the steps a business owner should take in order to prepare his or her business for sale, (iii) the sale process, and (iv) several key factors to consider to maximize the net after-tax benefits to the owners and to help ensure a smooth sales process.

08/10/2010 - Items to Consider in Determining Whether to Sell Your Business in 2010 - Part 2 of 4
This alert is the second in a series of four generally describing (i) the tax changes that will occur on January 1, 2011 and in later tax years as a result of the recently enacted health care legislation, (ii) many of the steps a business owner should consider taking in order to prepare his or her business for sale, (iii) the sale process, and (iv) several key factors to consider in this process in an effort to maximize the after-tax benefits to the owners and to help ensure a smooth sales process.

08/03/2010 - Items to Consider in Determining Whether to Sell Your Business in 2010 - Part 1 of 4
This alert highlights the imminent changes to the tax laws in 2011 (e.g., the sunset of the Bush era tax cuts) and the changes that will arise in later tax years (e.g., tax provisions contained in certain parts of the recently enacted health care legislation) that may affect a decision to sell your business this year.

07/29/2010 - One-Time Filing Relief for Failure to File Forms 990
Small organizations at risk of losing their tax-exempt status for failure to file annual returns for 2007-2009 (including the Form 990-N or “e-Postcard,” required for organizations whose annual gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less) can maintain their tax-exempt status by filing returns by October 15, 2010.

05/03/2010 - Traps for the Unwary - Loans to Directors and Officers
With increased scrutiny and regulation by Congress and the Internal Revenue Service, it is becoming more important for non-profits to focus on compliance with both federal and state rules.

04/01/2010 - Elimination of Advance Ruling Process for Public Charities
Although the regulations eliminating the advance ruling process have been in place since the end of 2008, we continue to receive questions from public charity clients regarding the need to prove public support after an organization’s first five tax years.

03/09/2010 - Texas Business Organizations Code Now Applicable to Non-Profit Corporations
The Texas Business Organizations Code (the “TBOC”) – enacted in 2003 and generally effective January 1, 2006 – combined the laws found in a number of Texas statutes (including the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act and the Texas Unincorporated Non-Profit Association Act), standardized filing requirements and fees for Texas entities, made other substantive changes, and implemented new terminology.

02/17/2010 - Issues on the IRS Horizon for Tax-Exempt Organizations in 2010
As the tax-exempt environment continues to become increasingly complex and focused on compliance and governance, it becomes more important to be aware of issues significant to the IRS. We have highlighted below a few of the issues on the IRS’ radar for 2010.

07/31/2009 - Traps for the Unwary in the Non-Profit Sector - Fundraising
With increased scrutiny and regulation by Congress and the Internal Revenue Service, it is becoming more important for non-profits to focus on compliance with both federal and state rules, including those regulating fundraising and solicitation. Whether conducting a raffle, holding galas or other events, or soliciting corporate sponsorships, seemingly ordinary fundraising activities can raise a number of tax and legal issues.

05/08/2006 - Businesses Will Bear Brunt of Shifting Tax Load
In order to comply with certain U.S. Treasury regulations, we are informing you that any U.S. federal tax advice that may be contained in this document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by any person for the purpose of (i) avoiding any tax penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service or any other U.S. federal taxing authority or agency or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

Final Regulations Regarding Disregarded Entities Released