Earlier today, December 22, 2016, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the IRS may proceed in its investigation into allegedly overvalued conservation easement appraisals prepared by a Georgia appraiser. Specifically, the appraiser will be required to provide the IRS with his client lists and other information from his files. Continue reading Clower: IRS Investigation Into Abusive Appraisals May Proceed
Easement Valuation
First Circuit Decides Kaufman V, Rules Against Landowners in Easement Valuation Dispute
In an opinion dated Friday, April 24, 2015, the First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against Gordon and Lorna Kaufman in their long-running easement fight with the IRS. In its published opinion (which you can read here), the First Circuit held that the Kaufmans could properly be assessed a 40% penalty for claiming $220,800 in charitable deductions for the donation of a façade easement that was later shown to be valueless. Let’s walk through the Kaufman case together and discover how it might be relevant to those wishing to donate conservation easements in Virginia. Continue reading First Circuit Decides Kaufman V, Rules Against Landowners in Easement Valuation Dispute