The IRS has extended the deadline for providing 2018 Forms 1095-C to employees from January 31, 2019, to March 4, 2019.  The IRS has also extended the “good-faith effort” standard to 2018 reporting.  As in previous years, the IRS did not extend the deadline for filing 2018 Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS (leaving the deadline to file such reports with the IRS at February 28, 2019, for paper filers and April 1, 2019, for electronic filers). No Additional Extensions for Providing Forms 1095-C to Employees.  Because the IRS is providing an automatic extension for distributing 2018 Forms 1095-C to employees, no… Read more

Disabilities affect families in all socio-economic strata. Everyone knows someone who is challenged by a disabling condition — whether it is a physical, mental or intellectual disability that is no one’s fault (such as Down Syndrome or Autism), or one that is caused by the actions or inactions of third parties (such as in a personal injury scenario). Addressing the “special needs” that result from such disabilities can be a tremendous challenge. Families trying to secure the future of loved ones with disabilities are becoming fierce advocates for them, as they assemble teams of allied professionals with specific expertise designed… Read more

“Lacking a coherent view of how people might live successfully all the way to their very end, we have allowed our fates to be controlled by the imperatives of medicine, technology, and strangers.” -Dr. Atul Gawande, Being Mortal A Common Story John Smith has an inoperable brain tumor and is showing early signs of dementia. Five years ago, while in good health, John met with his attorney and signed a Health Care Directive, naming his second wife, Betty, as his Health Care Agent. In his Health Care Directive, John indicated his treatment preferences: if he was in a terminal condition or… Read more

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Ombudman’s report to Congress for 2015 confirms what many employers and their representatives already knew – we continue to face high rates of requests for evidence (RFEs) and denials of high-skilled nonimmigrant petitions, and a very low chance of success challenging such denials in administrative appeals. Some interesting facts and figures from the report include: Nearly 25% of H-1B petitions receive an RFE.  The California Service Center’s RFE rates were higher than that of the Vermont Service Center.  RFEs challenging whether the H-1B position was a specialty occupation were found to be unduly restrictive…. Read more

Estate planning for family business owners is big business for many wealth advisors, not only because of the large (and increasing) federal estate tax exemption but also because Congressional leaders perennially raise the possibility of raising estate and gift tax rates or cutting exemptions. Those ever-present human emotions of opportunity and fear seem to be the active ingredients in motivating families to consider transferring their wealth, including the family business, to their descendants. Preserving the business over generations certainly requires, among other ingredients, good estate planning – not adequately preparing for estimated estate taxes can impede the transfer of a… Read more

Citizens of 43 countries, including the US, are now able to enter India and obtain a 30 day tourist visa upon arrival at the airport there.  The sole purpose of visiting India must include recreation, sight-seeing, a casual visit to meet friends or relative, short duration medical treatment or casual business. An application must be filed on-line at least 4 days and no more than 30 days before the traveler is set to arrive in India.  Their passport should have at least six months validity from the date of arrival in India, and should have at least two blank pages. … Read more

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has fully implemented its program to automate Form I-94 at all air and seaports.  CBP also provides the arrival and departure records going back five years for nonimmigrants.  Their website provides limited access to records maintained in the CBP’s Nonimmigrant Information System (NIIS). Accordingly, only the last issued I-94 and limited travel history can be obtained through the website. There is an extensive FAQ on the website that addresses the most common issues. Also, the system is passport driven. Consequently, every passport number used by the foreign national for the past five years must… Read more

Many of our clients will begin this New Year contemplating how to make more effective use of their philanthropically committed dollars. So, I thought it wise to help clients understand some important themes that will make the planning process more effective and the results more satisfying. Rarely do clients think of the word “teamwork” and its application to charitable planning. Unfortunately, too many clients think that the planning process primarily involves establishing a private foundation, a donor-advised fund, or some type of charitable trust for tax planning purposes. Often, clients minimize a focus on the process within and among the… Read more