As the end of the year draws near, many of us are paying close attention to tax deductions. Did you know that if you met with an estate planning attorney within the past year, your legal expenses may be tax deductible?
In both Merians v. Comm’r, 60 TC 187 (1973) (involving estate planning using an irrevocable trust) and Wong v. Comm’r, TC Memo. 1989-683 (1989) (involving estate planning using a revocable trust), the Tax Court ruled that twenty percent (20%) of a non-itemized estate planning bill was deductible as tax advice under Section 212(3).
Attorney’s fees are deductible only to the extent they exceed 2% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income and they are subject to a phase out when the adjusted gross income exceeds a certain amount. They cannot be taken into account in computing the alternate minimum tax. In order to take advantage of the 2% rule, the client should pay all deductible legal fees in one year.
Attorney’s fees are deductible to the extent they are incurred*:
- to produce income that is includable in the recipient’s gross income;
- for the management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for the production of income;
- in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax;
- to the extent they are paid for tax planning advice**
Expenses, to be deductible under section 212, must be “ordinary and necessary.” Thus, such expenses must be reasonable in amount and must bear a reasonable and proximate relation to the production or collection of taxable income or to the management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for the production of income.* When deductible, attorney’s fees are treated as “miscellaneous itemized deductions.”
Here at Farr Law Firm, P.C., we suggest that 20% of the total fees that you paid to our firm can appropriately be considered deductible tax advice. If you haven’t yet had the chance to meet with an Estate Planning Attorney, make an appointment for a consultation by calling us at 703-691-1888. Mention this article and receive a 20% discount on Estate Planning before the end of 2012.
Sources:
* IRC § 212, Regs §1.212-1
** (IRC § 212(3); Carpenter v. United States, 338 F.2d 366 (Ct.Cl.1964); Rev. Rul. 72-545, 1972-2 CB 179).
About Evan H Farr, CELA, CAP
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