Strategies to manage the repeal of the advisory fee deduction (2024)

Strategies to manage the repeal of the advisory fee deduction (1)

Bill Cass, CFP®, CPWA®, 01/23/19

This tax season, as investors gather records and prepare to meet with advisors, they will see the impact of tax reform for the first time. Advisors anticipate that most of the leading questions from taxpayers will focus on changes to popular tax deductions.

While many tax code changes were covered widely in the media, such as the limitation on state and local taxes (the SALT deduction), other changes may not have garnered much attention.

The repeal of miscellaneous deductions, for example, may have a significant impact on some taxpayers’ filings.

With the industry shift from commission-based investments to advisory accounts, one change in particular may impact many investors: the repeal of the deduction for investment advisory fees. Previously, advisory fees were considered a miscellaneous 2% deduction meaning that a taxpayer could deduct these expenses once the total amount exceeded 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI). Additionally, like other miscellaneous 2% deductions, the deduction for investment advisory fees was not available as a deduction for alternative minimum tax (AMT).

Strategies to manage the repeal of the advisory fee deduction (2)

Consider deducting advisory fees directly from retirement accounts

While these fees are no longer deductible from income, existing tax law does allow fees to be deducted directly from retirement accounts without penalty or taxes.* In this case, the taxpayer benefits from using pretax retirement funds to pay the fee. Note that this approach generally does not benefit Roth accounts, where “outside” funds should be used to pay the advisory fee, rather than withdrawing funds from a tax-free Roth. Also, investors cannot deduct funds from a retirement account to pay an advisory fee on the non-retirement portion of the advisory portfolio.

Utilize a trust as owner of the advisory account

Individuals can no longer deduct advisory fees, but a trust as owner may still be able to take this deduction. The repeal on deducting advisory fees under the new law may not apply to irrevocable (i.e., non-grantor) trusts or estates. In Notice 2018-61, the IRS clarified that, post TCJA, trusts could still deduct certain fees (tax preparation, appraisal, and fiduciary fees, for example). With respect to investment advisory fees, an irrevocable, non-grantor trust may still be able to deduct them depending on the specific facts and circ*mstances of the situation, and the determination of the tax professional filing the trust tax return. A key variable would be whether or not the fee is related to “incremental” services being performed specifically due to the assets being held in the trust structure (as opposed to individual ownership).The IRS intends to issue additional regulations in this area, which may impact the interpretation of these types of deductions for trusts.

Consult a tax professional

With the complexities of the tax code changes, investors considering these types of strategies should consult with a tax professional.

* See Treasury regulation 1.404(a)-3(d)

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For informational purposes only. Not an investment recommendation.

This information is not meant as tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate tax or legal professional regarding your particular circ*mstances before making any investment decisions. Putnam does not provide tax or legal advice.

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Strategies to manage the repeal of the advisory fee deduction (2024)

FAQs

When did financial advisor fees stop being tax deductible? ›

If you paid $6,000 in fees to your advisor, $2,000 of that would have been eligible for the deduction. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, however, eliminated these deductions beginning with the 2018 tax year. This change to the tax code, along with others established by the act, are set to remain in effect through 2025.

Are advisory fees tax deductible in 2022? ›

You could take a deduction on the investment advisory fees on your tax return only if it has exceeded more than 2% of your adjusted gross income. You can pay investment management fees structured as a percentage of assets straight from your managed IRA account.

Are advisory fees deductible on a trust tax return? ›

If an advisor provides specialized advice to the trust that goes above and beyond what is traditionally provided to individuals, this extra portion may be deductible to the trust, he says.

Can you still deduct investment management fees? ›

No. Any fees you pay to buy, sell, or hold an asset or to collect interest or dividends are not eligible for income tax deduction. This would include brokerage or transaction fees, management and advisor fees, custodial fees, accounting costs, and fund operating expenses.

Can you deduct advisory fees for net investment income tax? ›

Examples of deductions, a portion of which may be properly allocable to Gross Investment Income, include investment interest expense, investment advisory and brokerage fees, expenses related to rental and royalty income, tax preparation fees, fiduciary expenses (in the case of an estate or trust) and state and local ...

Are Edward Jones Advisory Solutions fees tax deductible? ›

As long as the fees were not for a retirement account, they can be included in other miscellaneous itemized expenses. The total of these is only allowed to the extent it exceeds 2% of your adjusted gross income.

What financial advice fees are tax deductible? ›

Sometimes you might receive advice to alter the mix of investments held. If this is part and parcel of managing your investments, then these costs will be deductible. But if the costs relate to drawing up an investment plan, then it isn't allowed as a deduction.

What consulting fees are tax deductible? ›

Top Tax Deductions for Consultants
  • Business Startup and Office Costs.
  • Education, Research, and Certifications.
  • Advertising and Client Service Costs.
Dec 4, 2022

Are mortgage arrangement fees deductible 2022? ›

Arrangement fees are fully tax-deductible against rental profits – finance fees are NOT capital costs.

What portion of the fiduciary fees is deductible? ›

When we refer to "fiduciary fee," we mean that portion of the bundled fee allocable to trust or estate administration. Any portion allocable to investment management — an expense commonly or customarily incurred by an individual — is a miscellaneous itemized deduction, and subject to the 2% floor.

Are financial advisors worth their fees? ›

Ultimately, whether or not a financial advisor will be worth your money depends on your specific situation and the financial advisor you choose to team up with. If they align with your goals, listen to your needs and act in your best interests, they will most likely be a good financial investment.

At what income level do you lose mortgage interest deduction? ›

At what income level do you lose the mortgage interest deduction? There is no income limit for the home mortgage interest deduction. All taxpayers with a qualified home who itemize their deductions can take advantage of this tax deduction.

How many years can you carry forward investment interest expense? ›

Any excess investment interest expense that is disallowed is carried forward indefinitely until net investment income is recognized.

Can you deduct advisory fees on Form 8960? ›

On form 8960, miscellaneous investment expenses on line 9c can be deducted only to the extent these items are deductible in Schedule A. As the new tax law has suspended the itemized miscellaneous deduction, these expenses are not deductible on form 8960 either.

How do you avoid net investment income tax? ›

If we can increase investment expenses to lower our net income, that is another way to avoid the Net Investment Income Tax. Examples of expenses are rental property expenses, investment trade fees, and state and local taxes.

What triggers IRS Form 8960? ›

If your net investment income is $1 or more, Form 8960 helps you calculate the NIIT you might owe by multiplying the amount by which your MAGI exceeds the applicable threshold or your net investment income—whichever is the smaller figure—by 3.8 percent.

Is Charles Schwab better than Edward Jones? ›

Compare company reviews, salaries and ratings to find out if Charles Schwab or Edward Jones is right for you. Charles Schwab is most highly rated for Work/life balance and Edward Jones is most highly rated for Work/life balance.
...
Overall Rating.
Overall Rating3.93.8
Culture3.83.6
4 more rows

Is Edward Jones worth the fees? ›

Is It Worth It? There's no question that Edward Jones charges some hefty fees. But again, it offers an experience that you can't get at every firm. If you prefer working with a single advisor who can build a long-term, in-person relationship with you, EJ could be worth considering.

How trustworthy is Edward Jones? ›

With Edward Jones, your advisor is a reliable, professional contact to help you manage your investments. Passive investing: Some account types permit a very hands-off approach. Established company: Edward Jones has been trading for 100 years. It's much safer than many newer platforms that haven't been tested.

Are fiduciary fees fully deductible? ›

Fiduciary fees, also known as the amount that executors, trustees, or personal representatives charge for their services. All of those expenses and deductions are calculated against the taxable income figure.

Can consulting fees be expensed? ›

Financial consulting fees are typically classified as 'Professional Services'. This expense category covers a broad range of financial consulting services, including financial planning, investment advice, and tax preparation.

Are consulting fees capitalized or expensed? ›

The fees you paid the consultant to determine the amount of the credit are operating expenses and should be recorded as expense, just like any other accounting services fee or temporary service. You cannot capitalize that type of fee under GAAP or for US tax purposes.

What professional fees are not tax deductible? ›

Fees which relate to capital items are deemed to be capital in nature and are not deductible in computing taxable profits. By contrast, fees that relate to revenue items are deductible.

What is Section 24 tax loophole? ›

Section 24 Tax only affects private Buy to Let landlords who are higher rate tax-payers. This is because finance costs are no longer regarded as a legitimate business expense for private landlords. Instead, a tax credit of 20% of finance costs is applied to reduce your tax bill.

Can I claim tax relief on mortgage fees? ›

Mortgage interest tax relief over the years

The reduction is the basic rate value of 20% of the lowest of: Finance costs like mortgage interest, loads to buy furnishings, and fees acquired when taking out or repaying mortgages/loans. Property business profits. Adjusted total income over the Personal Allowance.

What mortgage origination fees are tax deductible? ›

Points may also be called loan origination fees, maximum loan charges, loan discount, or discount points. Points are prepaid interest and may be deductible as home mortgage interest, if you itemize deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040), Itemized Deductions.

What can be deducted from a 1041 for an estate? ›

Just like with personal income taxes, deductions reduce the taxable income of the estate or trust, indirectly reducing the tax bill. On Form 1041, you can claim deductions for expenses such as attorney, accountant and return preparer fees, fiduciary fees and itemized deductions.

How is executor fee reported to IRS? ›

If you are in the trade or business of being an executor, report fees received from the estate as self-employment income on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business.

Should I take executor fee? ›

An executor doesn't have to accept compensation, and some choose to waive their right to it. If the executor is also a primary beneficiary in the will, it often makes no sense to take compensation, as the compensation is taxable while a will bequest is usually tax-free.

What is the average return from a financial advisor? ›

Industry studies estimate that professional financial advice can add between 1.5% and 4% to portfolio returns over the long term, depending on the time period and how returns are calculated.

Why do financial advisors make so much money? ›

Commissions. In this type of fee arrangement, a financial advisor makes their money from commissions. Advisors earn these fees when they recommend and sell specific financial products, such as mutual funds or annuities, to a client. These are often payable in addition to the above client fees.

Who is the best financial advisor company? ›

The Best Financial Advisors of 2022
  • Best Overall: Fidelity Investments. ...
  • Best for Mixing Robo-Advice with a Human Touch: Vanguard Personal Advisor Services. ...
  • Best for Commission-Free Advisors: Zoe Financial. ...
  • Best for Low-Cost Unlimited Access to Advisors: Betterment.

Why am I not getting a tax break for mortgage interest? ›

You Don't Itemize Your Deductions

The home mortgage deduction is a personal itemized deduction that you take on IRS Schedule A of your Form 1040. If you don't itemize, you get no deduction. You should itemize only if your total itemized deductions exceed the applicable standard deduction for the year.

What is the most mortgage interest you can deduct? ›

Before the TCJA, the mortgage interest deduction limit was on loans up to $1 million. Now the loan limit is $750,000. That means for the 2022 tax year, married couples filing jointly, single filers and heads of households could deduct the interest on mortgages up to $750,000.

Who benefits from mortgage interest deduction? ›

Homeowners with higher incomes tend to have more expensive homes and thus more mortgage interest to deduct. The deduction's value depends on a household's marginal tax rate, so households in higher tax brackets benefit more.

What is the 7 year rule for investing? ›

According to Standard and Poor's, the average annualized return of the S&P index, which later became the S&P 500, from 1926 to 2020 was 10%.  At 10%, you could double your initial investment every seven years (72 divided by 10).

What is the 10 year rule on investing? ›

Why do we have our Ten Year Rule? According to Ibbotson's Yearbook, over a 10-year holding period, stocks outperform any other asset class 83% of the time. If you look at a 20-year holding period, stocks outperform 98.5% of the time.

What happens to unused investment interest expense? ›

Any leftover interest expense gets carried forward to the next year and potentially can be used to reduce taxes in the future. To determine your deductible investment interest expense, you need to know the following: Your total investment income for investments taxed at your ordinary income rate.

Are financial adviser fees tax deductible? ›

Financial advice fees for servicing an existing investment portfolio are allowed as a tax deduction. However, to be fully deductible, the fees must relate to earning income.

Are investment advisory fees tax deductible in 2017? ›

There is no change for those filing 2017 taxes, as investment expenses, like your advisory fees, are deductible as a "miscellaneous itemized deduction" if they exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

Are fiduciary fees deductible? ›

Fiduciary fees, also known as the amount that executors, trustees, or personal representatives charge for their services. All of those expenses and deductions are calculated against the taxable income figure.

How do I reduce capital gains tax on a property sale? ›

How do I avoid capital gains tax on property sale? A. If the sale occurs after 24 months of the purchase of the property, one can avoid paying the STCG tax. If you are holding the property for more than five years, you need to invest the gains to buy a new property.

What percentage of fiduciary fees are tax deductible? ›

When we refer to "fiduciary fee," we mean that portion of the bundled fee allocable to trust or estate administration. Any portion allocable to investment management — an expense commonly or customarily incurred by an individual — is a miscellaneous itemized deduction, and subject to the 2% floor.

Can a trust deduct executor fees? ›

To qualify, the fees must be paid to a person whose principal business includes the provision of such services. Provided the amounts paid are reasonable, the total fees can be deducted from the income of a trust, even though part or all of the fees may have been charged to the capital account of the trust.

Are executors allowed to claim expenses? ›

The role can be onerous and time-consuming as well as involve numerous expenses. Dealing with the administration of an estate can be complex. An executor cannot claim for the time they have incurred; however they are entitled to be reimbursed for the reasonable costs of the administration.

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