Tax-related court cases

40 critical regulations, court decisions, laws, IRS proposals and other major changes to the tax landscape from the past 12 months.

A look at the biggest regulations, legislation and court cases in the field from the first half of the year.

Prosecutors said Robert Shapiro used investor money for his $6.7 million home and $3.1 million for chartering planes and for personal travel.

After a booking error by an advisor, a client barely avoided being taxed on $500,000 and dodged more than $200,000 in taxes and penalties.

“The more ties you cut, the better — auditors like to see a moving van and an itemized list of what was moved,” one lawyer says.

The Supreme Court recently reversed an appeals court ruling on what constitutes “money remuneration.”

The Tax Court rules that creditors must have hard evidence that an obligation is uncollectable before they deduct it.

Entrepreneurs who suffer continuous losses could find their work classified as a hobby by the IRS.

There are risks to this approach, however.