Nov 2019 : QDROs Present a Tax-Smart Option Following Elimination of Section 71 Alimony Deductions

View / Download November 2019 Article – PDF File

Tax Trends and Developments Column – Michigan Family Law Journal


With the elimination of taxable/deductible Section 71 payments effective January 1, 2019, using a QDRO transfer of an interest in a defined contribution plan (e.g., 401(k), 403 (b) account) by which a business owner spouse buys out the other spouse’s marital interest is a good fit in many situations.

General

In the past, Section 71 payments provided a means by which one spouse could buy out the other’s marital interest in a business with pretax dollars. But, with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 repeal of the alimony deduction, this method is no longer available as of January 1, 2019.
However, use of a transfer of an interest in a defined contribution plan account via a QDRO can be a “tax-smart” way to structure a business buy-out.

Example

  • H, 45 years old, owns ABC Company (ABC) which has been valued at $250,000 for his and W’s divorce settlement.
  • However, there are not sufficient other suitable marital assets to award W to offset the $250,000 business value.
  • But, H has a 401(k) account with a balance of $400,000.
  • His tax savvy lawyer proposes that H use his half of the 401(k) account to buy out W’s $125,000 interest in the business.
  • He tells H that he has the (1) business and (2) many years to replenish his 401(k) account for his future security.
  • He adds that, by using the 401(k) account, He will not need to use his personal cash or that of ABC for the buy-out.
  • Further, he states, since W no longer has the business as part of her future security, receiving additional 401(k) funds is ideal for her.
  • Since the $250,000 business value is largely after-tax and the 401(k) account is 100% pre-tax, the transfer to W must be tax affected.
  • So, assuming W federal and state tax rate will be 20%when she draws the 401(k) in the future, H transfers via a QDRO $156,250 of his $200,000 share of the 401(k) to W, the equivalent of $125,000 after-tax.

Observations

  1. Avoiding using cash for the buy-out may be particularly beneficial if H has spousal and/or child support obligations.
  2. Use of part of a 401(k) can also be used to buy-out an alimony obligation, as follows:
    • The present value of the projected stream of spousal support payments is calculated.
    • Then, the 401(k) amount is tax affected at the recipient’s tax bracket to its after-tax equivalent similar to what was done in the example.
    • The recipient can access the transferred amount from the 401(k) without the 10% penalty regardless of either parties’ age.

About the Author

Joe Cunningham has over 25 years of experience specializing in financial and tax aspects of divorce, including business valuation, valuing and dividing retirement benefits, and developing settlement proposals. He has lectured extensively for ICLE, the Family Law Section, and the MACPA. Joe is also the author of numerous journal articles and chapters in family law treatises. His office is in Troy, though his practice is statewide.

Download the PDF file below… “QDROs Present a Tax-Smart Option Following Elimination of Section 71 Alimony Deductions”
View / Download November 2019 Article – PDF File

Complete Michigan Family Law Journal available at: Michigan Bar website – Family Law Section (subscription required)

April 2019 : IRC Section 529 Plans Expanded to Include K through 12 Public, Private, and Religious School Tuition

View / Download April 2019 Article – PDF File

Tax Trends and Developments Column – Michigan Family Law Journal


Section 529 Plans – Prior to 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Changes (Tax Reform Act)

Internal Revenue Code Section 529 allows states to establish a tax-advantaged savings program that permits a person to contribute to an account for a designated beneficiary’s qualified higher education expenses (QHEE).

Distributions from such accounts – including earnings – are not taxable provided such distributions do not exceed the
beneficiary’s QHEE.

QHEEs include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment – including technology equipment – required for attendance at a qualified institution of higher education (as defined in the 1998 Amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965 – generally, any public college or university).

Distributions for QHEE are limited to $10,000 per beneficiary annually. If there is more than one Section 529 account for a beneficiary – e.g., one maintained by each set of grandparents – the $10,000 limit applies to distributions from all accounts on a combined basis.

Funds in a Section 529 account can be rolled into another Section 529 account for another beneficiary. So, if an account’s
funds exceed a beneficiary’s QHEE at time of graduation, the excess funds can be transferred to another beneficiary.

Grandparents, as well as parents, often use Section 529 plans to fund future educational expenses of loved ones.

Tax Reform Act Changes to Section 529 Plans

Under the Tax Reform Act, effective in 2018, tuition – and only tuition – for kindergarten through high school qualifies for the tax benefits under Section 529.

Further, this expansion applies to public, private, and religious school tuition for K through 12.

The definition of qualified expenses remains broader for post-secondary education.

Michigan Education Savings Program

Michigan has established the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) – a Section 529 program. Some features of the MESP:

  1. Investment Options – The MESP offers many investment options for differently aged beneficiaries. The investment risk level options include Aggressive, Moderate, and Conservative.
  2. Tax Benefits – A person filing as single can deduct up to $5,000 in MESP contributions annually for Michigan income tax purposes. The limit is $10,000 for a couple filing a joint Michigan income tax return.
  3. So, at Michigan’s 4.25% tax rate, every $1,000 of contributions saves $42.50 in Michigan taxes.
  4. Of course, the primary tax saving is the exclusion from federal income tax of the earnings in the account.
  5. Fees – There are no enrollment or account maintenance fees. There is a modest program management fee and a fee on underlying investments.
  6. Not Restricted to Michigan Educational Institutions – Distributions for QHEE can be for an educational institution
    outside Michigan

Relevance to Divorce

Provision for educational expenses – particularly K-12 private school and post-secondary education – is often an objective in divorce settlements. Use of Section 529 may offer a tax-advantaged way of doing so – particularly now for K-12 private school tuition.


Private or Religious Grade & High School Example:

  • Dad agrees to pay a child’s private school tuition of $10,000 annually.
  • Using a 529 plan to do so saves $425 of Michigan tax each year.
  • And, any earnings in the account are tax free if all used for qualified education expenses.

For public college and university expenses, it is advantageous to start when children are young and, hence, the savings horizon is long enough to establish significant funds for education.

College Example:

  • Contributing $250 a month for a 5 year-old child, invested at 2%, will result in over $44,000 at the child’s age 18.
  • The $8,000 earnings will be free of federal and state income tax if used for qualified education expenses.
  • And, the Michigan tax savings total $1,530 over the 13 years.

About the Author

Joe Cunningham has over 25 years of experience specializing in financial and tax aspects of divorce, including business valuation, valuing and dividing retirement benefits, and developing settlement proposals. He has lectured extensively for ICLE, the Family Law Section, and the MACPA. Joe is also the author of numerous journal articles and chapters in family law treatises. His office is in Troy, though his practice is statewide.

Download the PDF file below… “IRC Section 529 Plans Expanded to Include K through 12 Public, Private, and Religious School Tuition”
View / Download April 2019 Article – PDF File

Complete Michigan Family Law Journal available at: Michigan Bar website – Family Law Section (subscription required)

January 2019 : 2019 Federal Income Tax Rates & Brackets, Etc., and 2019 Michigan Income Tax Rate and Personal Exemption Deduction

View / Download January 2019 Article – PDF File

Federal Income Tax

In the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in December 2017, federal tax rates were reduced and the tax brackets were expanded effective for tax year 2018. Also, the standard deduction was almost doubled while the deduction for personal exemptions was eliminated, as were some itemized deductions.

The following are inflation adjusted tax rates and the standard deduction for 2019 as announced by the IRS:

2019 Federal Income Tax Rates & Brackets and Related Information

2019 Federal Income Tax Rates & Brackets and Related Information

Standard Deduction

  • Single $12,200; $13,850 if 65 Years Old
  • Married Filing Jointly $24,400; $25,700 if one spouse is 65, $27,000 if both are
  • Head of Household $ 18,350; $20,000 if 65

Personal Exemption

There is no personal exemption. It was eliminated by the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act.

Estimated 2019 Long-Term Capital Gain Rates

  • 0% for taxpayers in the 10% or 12% brackets.
  • 15% for:
    • Single filers with taxable income between $39,475 and $519,300
    • Married Filing Jointly with taxable income between $78,951 and $612,350
    • Head of Household with taxable income between $52,850 and $510,300
  • 20% for taxpayers with taxable incomes exceeding the high end of the above ranges

2018 Tax Forms – 2018 federal income tax forms are accessible at www.irs.gov


Michigan Income Tax

Tax Rate

The Michigan income tax rate remains unchanged at a 4.25% flat rate.

Personal Exemption

The number of personal exemptions a Michigan taxpayer could claim had previously been tied to the number claimed for federal tax purposes. With the elimination of federal tax personal exemptions, Michigan enacted Senate Bill 748 (Bill), signed by Governor Snyder on February 28, 2018.

Under the Bill, the reference to federal exemptions is removed and the Michigan personal exemption deduction is increased from the $4,000 2017 allowance as follows:

  • 2018 – $4,050
  • 2019 – $4,400
  • 2020 – $4,750
  • 2021 – $4,900

About the Author

Joe Cunningham has over 25 years of experience specializing in financial and tax aspects of divorce, including business valuation, valuing and dividing retirement benefits, and developing settlement proposals. He has lectured extensively for ICLE, the Family Law Section, and the MACPA. Joe is also the author of numerous journal articles and chapters in family law treatises. His office is in Troy, though his practice is statewide.

Download the PDF file below… “2019 Federal Income Tax Rates & Brackets, Etc., and 2019 Michigan Income Tax Rate and Personal Exemption Deduction”
View / Download January 2019 Article – PDF File

Complete Michigan Family Law Journal available at: Michigan Bar website – Family Law Section (subscription required)

December 2018 : Strategy for Allocating the Property Tax Deduction in Year of Divorce to Minimize Effect of New Limits on Deducting Taxes

View / Download December 2018 Article – PDF File

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act limits the annual itemized deduction for state and local taxes to $10,000. Such taxes include (1) state and local income tax, sales tax, and property tax.

The $10,000 cap does not apply to taxes on land used for farming or a rental property. It does, however, apply to second homes – e.g. a cabin up north – and to investment property.

In the year of divorce, for which each party will file a separate tax return, it is common for real property taxes to have been paid from a joint account before date of divorce. Under federal tax law, payments made from a joint account in which both spouses have an equal interest are presumed made equally by them.

That presumption can be rebutted by evidence that funding of the account was other than equal.

Example

  • Assume that H, the higher earning spouse, contributed 80% to the account and W 20%. The property tax deduction is allocated accordingly.
  • But as the higher earner, H will have higher state (and possibly local) income taxes.
  • Depending on the amount of these taxes relative to the $10,000 cap, it may be advisable to split the deduction 50:50 even though H provided substantially more funds to the account.
  • This also provides W with 50% vs. 20% of the tax deduction if she itemizes deductions on her tax return.

Observations

So, as a practical matter, the parties have some flexibility on the allocation of the property tax deduction. Factors to consider are:

  • Amount of other taxes of each party relative to the $10,000 limit.
  • Funding of the joint account from which taxes were paid prior to the divorce.
  • Whether either party will likely use the increased standard deduction.

It is often advisable to provide for the allocation in the property settlement agreement to avoid post-divorce problems at tax return preparation time.

The following summarizes some general aspects of payments of mortgage interest and property taxes in a divorce context. It is drawn from the author’s Taxation Chapter in ICLE’s Michigan Family Law.

Payments Made in a Divorce Context

The deductibility of mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, maintenance, etc., in a divorce context depends on the following:

  • ownership of the home
  • use of the home as a personal residence
  • liability on the mortgage loan
  • whether payments are made pursuant to a qualifying divorce or separation instrument.

Ownership. While some homes may be owned individually by one of the spouses during marriage, it is more common that a marital residence is owned by the spouses as tenants by the entireties, a form of ownership that is not severable and that provides survivorship rights for each party. A tenancy by the entireties is converted to a tenancy in common incident to divorce under Michigan law unless an alternative provision is made in the governing divorce instrument. MCL 552.102. Tenants in common do not have survivorship rights but do have a severable half interest in the home. It is not unusual for one of the parties to be awarded the family residence, often the custodial parent in cases involving minor children. It is also common for such a home to be owned as tenants in common subject to sale when the youngest child reaches the age of majority or graduates from high school.

As explained below, the form of ownership may affect the deductibility of payments related to the residence.

Use of the Home as a Qualifying Residence. IRC 163(h) permits the deduction of home mortgage interest, or “qualified residence interest,” on a taxpayer’s principal residence and a second qualifying home used by the taxpayer as a residence. If a noncustodial parent vacates the family residence and lives elsewhere, he or she may select the family residence as an “other residence” provided he or she uses the home for personal purposes for at least 14 days during the year. In this regard, the use of the home by a taxpayer’s child—again, for as little as 14 days—is attributed to the taxpayer. IRC 280A(d)(1).

IRC 164(a) allows a taxpayer to deduct property taxes that he or she (1) pays and (2) is personally obligated to pay. The obligation to pay generally tracks with ownership.

Liability on the Mortgage Loan. Spouses who own their marital residence as tenants by the entireties usually have joint and several liability on the mortgage loan on which the home is pledged. It is also not uncommon for both parties to remain jointly and severally obligated on the loan after the divorce since lending institutions often will not release one party from the debt even if the other has been assigned full responsibility for its payment in the divorce settlement.

About the Author

Joe Cunningham has over 25 years of experience specializing in financial and tax aspects of divorce, including business valuation, valuing and dividing retirement benefits, and developing settlement proposals. He has lectured extensively for ICLE, the Family Law Section, and the MACPA. Joe is also the author of numerous journal articles and chapters in family law treatises. His office is in Troy, though his practice is statewide.

Download the PDF file below… “Strategy for Allocating the Property Tax Deduction in Year of Divorce to Minimize Effect of New Limits on Deducting Taxes”
View / Download December 2018 Article – PDF File

Complete Michigan Family Law Journal available at: Michigan Bar website – Family Law Section (subscription required)

November 2018 : Beware: Spousal Support Tax Treatment Changes January 1, 2019

View / Download November 2018 Article – PDF File

As previously reported in this column, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Act), signed into law in December 2017, radically changes the tax treatment of alimony/spousal support beginning in 2019. The other changes made by the Act affecting divorce took effect January 1, 2018.

Thus, there is a small window within which to decide whether to have existing law – or the new law – apply to divorces that can be finalized this year or next.

The New Law

In a total reversal, alimony/spousal support will not be deductible by the payer or taxable to the payee for divorce and separation judgments and decrees entered on or after December 31, 2018.

This also applies to modified judgments of divorce or separation effective after 2018.

Additionally, it applies to divorce and separation decrees entered before December 31, 2018 if the parties elect to have
the new law apply.

The Act is Not Applicable to Divorce and Separation Decrees Entered Before December 31, 2018

For all existing divorce settlements and those entered by year-end, alimony will continue to be taxable/deductible.

Hence, a window of opportunity before year-end for the many situations in which the alimony payer is in a meaningfully higher tax bracket than the payee. This has set the stage for creative uses of “Section 71 payments” under which the disparity in tax brackets can be used to provide a tax subsidy. Examples include using Section 71 payments to:

  • Divide non-qualified deferred compensation on a taxable/ deductible basis.
  • Structure installment payments of a business buy-out of the non-owner spouse’s marital interest on a taxable/deductible basis.
  • Pay attorney fees on a taxable/deductible basis.

However, after 2018, these opportunities and similar others will no longer be available. In situations where there is significant disparity in brackets, using Section 71 payments in such circumstances may no longer be beneficial.

Effect of Judgment Amendments Post 2018

If a pre-2019 divorce or separation judgment or decree is amended on or after December 31, 2018, the new nontaxable/nondeductible law applies.

Query: Would this be the result even if the amendment does not pertain to spousal support? If the answer has not become clear by year-end, the distinct possibility of losing taxable/deductible status of spousal support payments must be considered before advising the post-2018 amendment of a pre-2019 judgment providing for taxable/deductible alimony.

Fundamental Change in the Dynamic of Alimony/Spousal Support

When the alimony deduction was enacted in 1948, the theory was that, if a former family’s income is split between the parties in some manner post-divorce, the tax treatment should correspond.

The result in many cases has been less combined tax paid on the payer’s income. Because of budgetary concerns—including the enormous cost of the Act—eliminating the alimony deduction became a revenue raising option to help alleviate the Act’s deficit-increasing effect.

This creates a new paradigm for divorce practitioners and alimony guideline providers. That is, we will need to think in terms of after-tax dollars for spousal support, similar to child support.

How to Avoid Paying Alimony with After-Tax Dollars Under the New Law?

One approach is to negate the adverse tax consequences of the new law by using 401(k) funds. As we know, more and more employees have 401(k) accounts than in years past.

Example

  • H, 40 years old, is a middle-management employee at a small company. He earns $60,000 a year. He has a combined 26% federal-state income tax bracket.
  • W is a stay-at-home mom who works part time and earns $10,000 annually. Hence, as head-of-household, her standard deduction offsets her income for federal taxable tax. Her income is subject to minimal Michigan tax.
  • The parties agree on alimony of $1,250 a month, i.e., $15,000 annually, for 5 years when their youngest child will be either working or in community college.
  • H has a 401(k) balance of $150,000, which is split evenly with W receiving $75,000 and H receiving $75,000.
  • In addition to W receiving her $75,000 share, the parties agree that H will transfer his $75,000 share of the 401(k) to W in lieu of spousal support. She can withdraw $15,000 annually, paying approximately $2,000 in tax. H will pay W $2,000 per year to reimburse her for the taxes she will pay on her withdrawals. Thus, W will have $15,000 per year, which is $1,250 a month after-tax spousal support.
  • While W ends up with $15,000 a year after tax either way, using the 401(k) account saves H tax as follows:
Not Use 401(k) Use 401(k)
Payments Over 5 Years:
Payments $75,000 $10,000
Tax at 26% to Provide Funds $26,000 $3,500
401(k) Funds 0 $75,000
Total Cost to H $101,000 $88,500

Observations

  1. The example shows that, in relatively modest circumstances, use of a 401(k) account can result in considerable tax savings.
  2. It provides a means of using pre-tax dollars to fund aftertax obligations – an advantage where there is disparity in brackets.
  3. In the example, the tax on H’s $75,000 share of the 401(k) was shifted to W – at her lower bracket – incident to satisfying his after-tax spousal support obligation.
  4. At 40, H has ample time for his 401(k) account to be replenished.
  5. Using 401(k) funds for a spousal support obligation as shown in the example requires that the plan allow for annual withdrawals, Many plans do not do so. But, a small business plan, as in the example, often does.
  6. A 401(k) account can be used for other purposes, such as buying out the other spouse’s marital interest in (1) a business or (2) a cottage up north.

About the Author

Joe Cunningham has over 25 years of experience specializing in financial and tax aspects of divorce, including business valuation, valuing and dividing retirement benefits, and developing settlement proposals. He has lectured extensively for ICLE, the Family Law Section, and the MACPA. Joe is also the author of numerous journal articles and chapters in family law treatises. His office is in Troy, though his practice is statewide.

Download the PDF file below… “Beware: Spousal Support Tax Treatment Changes January 1, 2019”
View / Download November 2018 Article – PDF File

Complete Michigan Family Law Journal available at: Michigan Bar website – Family Law Section (subscription required)