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Louis Vlahos

Louis Vlahos practices tax law and has extensive experience in corporate, individual and partnership income taxation, and in estate and gift taxation, including tax planning, ruling requests and tax controversy.

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Have you ever wondered whether you were barking up the wrong tree? That the solution to a problem may be found, not in the approach to which you were already committed and invested, but in an altogether different direction?

Query whether Congress, if it ever experienced such an epiphany or moment of realization, would be capable of changing course and adopting what may prove to be a more fruitful, though politically more challenging, solution.  Continue Reading The Closely Held Business and The Tax Gap

History is replete with examples of leaders who chose to battle, or who were forced into defending against, enemies on two fronts. Rarely did it end well for the combatant that occupied the middle ground.

In a sense, New York has stumbled into a similar situation with two of its neighbors, New Jersey to the west and Connecticut to the east.[i] The three states,[ii] which comprise the Tri-State Area centered on New York City, are openly competing with one another for badly needed tax dollars.Continue Reading New York’s Convenience of the Employer Rule – New Jersey and Connecticut Respond

“Don’t Come Around Here”[i]

There have been some interesting developments of late with respect to the ownership of real property in parts of the English-speaking world. For example, Canada has imposed a temporary ban on the purchase of such property by foreigners. In Australia, a foreigner has to be granted permission by a federal governmental body before they can purchase real estate. Florida is considering a ban on foreign ownership of residential and farm properties.

The principal rationale given by these jurisdictions for limiting foreign ownership of residential property within their boundaries: wealthy foreigners have been parking their cash in such properties and, in the process, have priced too many local residents out of the market. Continue Reading Foreign Individuals Holding U.S. Real Property, or Left Holding the Bag?

On Monday, February 20, we celebrate the birthday of George Washington.[i]

We honor this extraordinary individual who, in 1775, was unanimously selected by the otherwise fractious Continental Congress as the commander in chief of the Continental Army, whose dedication to the Cause and loyalty to his men held the Army together during the most challenging times of the Revolution, who voluntarily returned to private life following the surrender of the British,[ii] who was unanimously chosen to preside over the Constitutional Convention of 1787, who was unanimously elected[iii] in 1789 as the first President of the United States, who served two four-year terms[iv] as President before voluntarily returning once again to private life, who was posthumously promoted in 1976 to the rank of General of the Armies of the United States, and whose birthday the U.S. Senate has observed every year since 1896 with the reading of his Farewell Address.[v]Continue Reading George Washington on Debt and Taxes

State of the “Union”
Did you watch the President’s state of the union address the other night? Was it as you expected? Were you hoping for something more? Were you disappointed? Did you find it informative? Maybe entertaining? Embarrassing?

Speaking for myself: yes, yes, yes, yes, no, somewhat, and definitely.[i]

Mind you, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of tax policy; after all, the GOP controls the House. That said, I did hope for more than yet another reference to a billionaires’ tax.[ii]Continue Reading Applying FIRPTA to Short Sales

Farewell New York

According to a report issued by the National Association of Realtors a couple of days ago, last year saw a large outmigration of people from California and New York, while Florida and Texas experienced a comparably large influx.[i] I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised by these findings as they reflect the continuation of what has already been a multiyear trend.[ii]Continue Reading You “Placed Your Trust” In New York? You May Be Sorry You Did

Tax The Rich

Last Thursday, New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, who represents the 33rd District (basically, the northwestern quadrant of The Bronx), proposed legislation that seeks to collect more taxes from the State’s high-income and high net worth residents.

Specifically, the stated purpose of the legislation is “amend the New York tax law to introduce an additional tax on investment income (capital gain), for the purposes of correcting the unfair federal tax benefit for income earned from investing rather than working.”Continue Reading Will New York Increase Taxes On Investment Income?

Debacle

Understanding the etymology of a word often enables us to better understand or appreciate its use in contemporary speech. For example, the word “crypto” is derived from the Greek word “krypto,” which describes something that is hidden or concealed.[i]

For many months now, cryptocurrency – “crypto” for short – has received a lot of attention in the media,[ii] none of it favorable. Indeed, many of the stars in the crypto firmament have recently burnt out and fallen,[iii] and others are certain to follow.[iv]Continue Reading Tax Losses Realized During the Crypto Winter

“Gentleman Farmer”?

Every now and then, some well-meaning colleague will ask how I spend my free time. I usually pause before responding – to gather my thoughts – which prompts them to restate their question with what they believe is greater specificity; for example, how do I relax or what do I do for fun? After further delay on my part, the exasperated colleague will ask what I plan to do in retirement. Continue Reading Generating Tax Losses as a Hobby

The Returns

Last Friday, December 30, 2022, during the final hours of the 117th Session of Congress, the House Ways and Means Committee – through which all tax legislation passes[i] – released redacted versions of six years of Mr. Trump’s annual federal income returns.

I told myself months ago that I would not waste my time reviewing the returns if they were ever made public. However, after several acquaintances peppered me with questions regarding the returns over the long holiday weekend, I relented and quickly skimmed the earliest of the returns, for 2015.Continue Reading Trump’s Returns and Congress – Lessons, Next Steps?