Tax Reform Brings New Changes to Section 1202

Tax Reform Brings New Changes to Section 1202

Tax reform is here, love it or hate it. So, with the New Year here that means it’s time to start working under different tax law. To be clear, the 2017 tax year, for which you will file a return this year, is not affected by the recent tax reform passed by lawmakers in Washington. However, going forward in 2018, things are changing. We’ve already discussed several of the most important changes in recent articles. In addition, you can continue to rely on GROCO to keep you up to date on all the latest tax reform happenings.

Learn how they might affect you

What is IRC Section 1202?
To that end, let’s talk about another important change brought on by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; it’s official name. The new Act passed by lawmakers in December will have an impact on Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS), which falls under section 1202 of the tax code 1202. According to Investopedia, Section 1202 is, “A section of the Internal Revenue Code which provides for capital gain from select small business stock to be excluded from federal tax. Section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) only applies to qualified small business (QSB) stock that has been held for more than five years.”

How Does it Work?

This tax break has been around for years, but it only became permanent in 2015 as part of The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act. Furthermore, QSBS before or after certain dates, as shown in the table below, may be subject to 50% or even 75% favorable gain exclusion. The unexcluded portion of the gain was still subject to a 28 percent tax. Additionally, when computing your AMT (alternative minimum tax) a portion of the gain excluded for federal income tax was unfavorable adjustment. So effectively, Section 1202 offered lower exclusion percentage to taxpayers. The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, P.L.111-240, amended Section 1202 in 2010, so QSBS purchased after September 28, 2010, will have entire gain from the sale of a QSBS stock 100 percent eligible for tax exclusion. Essentially, that means you could sell your business for cash and pay ZERO tax on the gain.

Date Acquired Exclusion %
On or before Feb. 17, 2009, 50%
Feb. 18, 2009 – Sept. 27, 2010 75%
Sept. 28, 2010, or later 100%
Who Can Qualify?
Since 2010, Section IRC 1202 has become an additional incentive for non-corporate taxpayers to invest in small businesses. However, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act now in place, there are additional changes (Section 199A) to Section 1202 that you should know. First off, only C corporations qualify for Section 1202. Additionally, you have to meet certain criteria, namely:

• Your corporation’s gross assets must be valued no more than $50 million since the timed it was formed until the time right after you receive your stock.

• You must acquire the stock in exchange for cash, property, or services directly from the C corporation.

• The corporation cannot be a disqualified service business. That means it cannot be in certain fields, including law, health, and accounting, or any other business where the principal asset is the skill or reputation of the owner or its employees. The new section 199A requires these business owners to be subject to a complete phase-out on the 20 % business income deduction at $415, 000 for joint filers ($207,500 for single filers).

• You must hold the stock for at least five years before you sell it.

Taxation of Pass-Through Entities

Thus, the same types of businesses that cannot be qualified small businesses (and issue QSBS) under section 1202 are also subject to more restrictive phase-outs for the new business income deduction under section 199A of the 1202 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. On the other hand, if your QSBS meets all the above criteria and some other than 100% of your gain is excluded from being taxed under Section 1202, with one small caveat. The exclusion is subject to a limit of either $10 million or 10 times the basis of the stock, whichever is greater.

Alan Olsen

CPA, MBA

 

We hope you found this article about “Tax Reform Brings New Changes to Section 1202” helpful.  If you have questions or need expert tax or family office advice that’s refreshingly objective (we never sell investments), please contact us or visit our Family office page  or our website at www.GROCO.com.  Unfortunately, we no longer give advice to other tax professionals gratis.

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Alan Olsen, is the Host of the American Dreams Show and the Managing Partner of GROCO.com.  GROCO is a premier family office and tax advisory firm located in the San Francisco Bay area serving clients all over the world.

Alan L. Olsen, CPA, Wikipedia Bio

 

 

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