Applying New York’s Convenience Rule to a Former Resident, Truly Remote Non-Resident Employee
July 08, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Business | Income Tax | New York State
Can It Get Worse? I’m certain that most of us were disappointed with the Appellate Department’s decision last week in Prof. Zelensky’s continuing dispute with New York over its application of the notorious “convenience of the employer” test;[i] disappointed, but not entirely surprised.[ii] One can still hope that the Courts…
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With Tax Increases Lurking Just Over the Horizon, and With Large Dispositions of Wealth Underway, Now’s the Time to Identify and Correct Earlier Missteps
June 30, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Business | Estate | Federal
Here It Comes According to many, the long-awaited intergenerational transfer of assets from the Baby Boomer generation, and from what remains of the Silent Generation, to younger members of their families[i] – estimated by some to exceed $100 trillion in total, worldwide, over the next two decades – is well…
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When is a Remote Employee Not Remote Enough to Escape New York Tax?
June 24, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | New York State | State Tax Issues
A client tells you that many, if not most, of their employees work remotely. How would you interpret that statement? It’s a matter of context, right? In most cases it suggests that the employer-client has some sort of hybrid arrangement with their employees that requires them to be present at…
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If I Own the Corp, and the Corp Owns the Assets of the Business, Aren’t  Those Assets Mine?
June 18, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Business
Personal Use “But it’s mine!” That’s not some toddler speaking. You’ve just advised an entrepreneurial client for the “Nth” time that they should not treat the corporation[i] they control, and out of which they operate their business, as their personal bank account. Such behavior may jeopardize the limited liability protection that…
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“For Want of a Nail” – A Poor Reason to Lose a Charitable Contribution Deduction
June 11, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Federal | Income Tax
Encourage But Verify “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”[i] Undoubtedly, you’re familiar with the foregoing proverb that seeks to encourage “charitable behavior” among the members of society, and to dissuade them from pursuing only their innately selfish proclivities.[ii] The Code recognizes the conflict that an individual taxpayer…
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No Matter How Bad it Gets . . . Pay Your Withholding Taxes?
June 02, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Business | Federal
State of the Economy? According to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for the twelve-month period ending Dec. 31, 2025, bankruptcy filings by businesses rose 7.1 percent and non-business filings increased by 11.2 percent. Total filings have increased each quarter since June 2022, though they remain…
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Purchasing Residential Property in NYC: Coordinating State Tax and Beneficial Ownership Rules
May 27, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | LLCs | New York State | Real Estate
Acquiring a NYC Residence According to a recent report, Manhattan boasted the most expensive residential real estate market in the country last year. “Manhattan residents spend nearly five times the national average for housing.”[i] That shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering what has been, at least up to this point, Manhattan’s status…
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Tax Considerations for Individuals Targeted by New York’s Assault on Real Property Ownership
May 20, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | New York State | Real Estate
New York’s Assault on Real Property Last month, New York’s governor announced that the State’s FY 2027 budget will include the enactment of an annual surcharge on second homes[i] in New York City that are valued at $5 million or more.[ii] Query how much greater the city’s deficit must be…
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Observations on the Wealthy’s Change in Attitude Toward Taxes
May 12, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Federal
Perception of Taxes Since I started practicing almost forty years ago, there have always been a relatively few well-to-do individuals for whom the payment of any taxes – whether personal or business – under any circumstances, seemed to be the most odious and excruciating task they were ever required to…
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Tax Planning and The Political Pendulum
April 21, 2026 | Louis Vlahos | Federal
Reality Check? A few days ago, Sen. Wyden, the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, introduced a bill to tax carried interests as ordinary income on a current basis.[i] A day earlier, Sen. Van Hollen introduced a bill to reduce the federal estate tax exemption to $3.5 million and…
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