Consolidating LLCs Under a Wyoming Holding Company: Is It the Right Move?

It’s our last Tax Tuesday episode of 2024! In this episode, Anderson attorneys Amanda Wynalda, Esq., and Eliot Thomas, Esq., address several listener questions on a variety of tax topics. They cover the tax implications of moving into a rental property, including how it affects capital gains and depreciation. They discuss the possibility of using an LLC as a management company for rental properties, allowing for contributions to a personal IRA. Eliot and Amanda also explain how negative cash flow from rentals can affect deductions and tax filings, the importance of staying organized with rental property expenses, and the consequences of transferring ownership in a 1031 exchange. Other topics include options for offsetting passive income with retirement accounts, consolidating LLCs under a Wyoming holding company, deductions for 529 plans, and the stepped-up basis for gifted stocks. Tune in for expert advice on these and more!

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Highlights/Topics:

• What are the tax implications of moving into one of our rentals? Bought the property 13 years ago, have never lived in it, taken expenses and depreciation on the returns or should we just rent it from ourselves through our property manager? - Just moving in, no real tax consequence. Once you move in you’re not paying capital gains. The 13 years will be considered ‘non-conforming use’. Don’t rent it to yourself.
• I own three rental properties. Can I use that LLC as a management company? Take a 10 to 15% management fee and use that money as an earned income to allow contribution to my personal IRA. Would that contribution be deducted from my rental income as cost to the rentals and Schedule E? When is the deadline for the contribution. My LLC has some expenses too. If my net income is only $3,000, can I still contribute $7,000 to my personal IRA and deduct that amount? - You’re running passive rental income through a mgmt company to make it ‘active’ income, yes you can do this. You need a management agreement that you actually pay before December 31st.
• Can I use negative cash flow as a deduction towards income /capable gains? I'm in California and nothing cash flows for at least a few years. If I'm negative $1,000 or more cash flow, is this a deduction against passive income or capital gains? - Capital gains come in when you sell the property. You can pull passive losses from other properties you own.
• What expenses are incurred for rental properties or tax deductible and what is the best way to stay organized when keeping records of bills and expensive for rental properties to make it easier at tax time? - Google IRS Schedule E page 1. There is a list there to refer to. Good bookkeeping is essential.
• Can I transfer the ownership of a property owned by an LLC tax as a partnership that I purchased as a replacement property in a 1031 exchange or will that trigger a taxable event? - Yes you can transfer, but it will trigger a taxable event.
• My wife receives income from multiple sources, real estate rental, consulting, etc. We plan to set up a C Corp to consolidate the passive income and offset some of that income with retirement contributions into a solo 401 (k). Unfortunately, we did not set up the C Corp in time for the tax year 2024. What options do we have with respect to retirement accounts to offset her passive income for 2024. What can we still do? - Consulting is not usually passive income.
• Can multiple individual LLCs mix of small business and rentals be consolidated into one tax return under a Wyoming holding company? If so, is that a recommended practice? Adding in a small business? - For rentals this is a standard protection structure, one property per LLC. You can add the active, but we would not recommend it.
• How much can we deduct with a 529 plan for our kids?- Some states may give