Congressional Research Service Report Released: Energy Tax Incentives: Measuring Value Across Different Types of Energy Resources

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the public policy research arm of Congress, just issued the report Energy Tax Incentives: Measuring Value Across Different Types of Energy Resources (Sept. 18, 2012). The 27 page report authored by Molly F. Sherlock provides,

an analysis of the value of energy tax incentives relative to primary energy production levels. Relative to their share in overall energy production, renewables receive more federal financial support through the tax code than energy produced using fossil energy resources. Within the renewable energy sector, relative to the level of energy produced, biofuels receive the most tax-related financial support.

Congressional Research Service Report Released: Carbon Tax: Deficit Reduction and Other Considerations

The Congressional Research Service (CRS), the public policy research arm of Congress, just issued the report Carbon Tax: Deficit Reduction and Other Considerations (Sept. 17, 2012). The 37 page report authored by Jonathan L. Ramseur, Jane A. Leggett and Molly F. Sherlock discusses the possibilities and difficulties associated with implementing a carbon tax at the federal level as an alternative for raising revenue.  For more information see CRS Report: Reducing the Budget DeficitTax Policy Options (July 13, 2011).

Pleasing Mother Earth and the IRS: Conservation Easement Donations in the New Age of IRS Oversight Lessons from Recent Court Developments... ABA CLE

Pleasing Mother Earth and the IRS: Conservation Easement Donations in the New Age of IRS Oversight Lessons from Recent Court Developments and Practical Drafting Advice.

The IRS has been aggressively auditing taxpayers who have donated conservation easements and claimed federal tax benefits, with a reported 1,459 landowners having been audited during 2005 to 2009. In addition, since 2006, the Tax Court, District Courts, and Circuit Courts have collectively issued fifteen court decisions addressing various issues relating to compliance with the federal tax law requirements applicable to conservation easement donations. Our panelists will discuss:

•Lessons to be learned from the recent case law;
•Practical drafting tips;
•The IRS’s perspective on the audits and the recent case law (based on the IRS panel discussion at the recent Land Trust Alliance national conference).

Advance preparation is the best way to avoid an IRS audit of tax benefits claimed with respect to conservation easement donations. Join us and learn how to draft conservation easements and otherwise structure easement donation transactions to avoid or at least minimize the risk of an IRS audit and litigation.

This American Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Telecast and webcast takes place on:

Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Format: Teleconference and Live Audio Webcast
Duration: 90 minutes

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Central
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Mountain 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Pacific

Protect Your Land Trust! Drafting Conflict of Interest and Whistleblower Policies -- Land Trust Alliance Webcast

Date and Time of Webinar: November 9, 2010 / 7:00 pm ET
Audience: Beginner-Intermediate
Cost: $50
Capacity: 30 connections

The IRS New Form 990 asks nonprofits to provide considerably more information concerning their governance, their activities and their policies. Needed written policies include those covering conflicts of interest and whistleblowers. Do you have these policies and do you follow them consistently? If you do, are they up-to-date and contain current best practices? And how should your organization use these policies to avoid and manage potentially damaging issues involving insiders? If you do not have good answers to these questions, this webinar is for you.

You will learn:
• What the IRS expects
• Best current practices to include in your policies
• How to use your policies effectively to avoid or manage problems

Tax Incentives for the “Green” Industry

This BNA live audioconference covers available tax incentives for green industries and understanding how to take advantage of them.

This includes:
Overview of Available Tax Incentives
Tax Credits
Grants
Depreciation
Deductions
Eligibility of Taxpayers To Take Advantage of the Incentives
The Energy Production Tax Credit
The Energy Investment Tax Credit
Electing a Tax-Free Grants In Lieu of Tax Credits
Special Depreciation and Deductions

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Public and Private Municipal Financing of Renewable Energy Projects and Green Expenditures

This CLE Teleconference program sponsored by the American Bar Association will take place on Wednesday, September 30 at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern Time.

This teleconference will explore the various ways municipal bonds can be utilized in connection with the public and private development of new energy technologies and renewable energy projects. Our panel will identify and discuss the panoply of municipal bonds available to finance the different types of energy facilities including Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, Qualified School Construction Bonds, Solid Waste Exempt Facility Bonds, Build America Bonds, Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, Cogeneration Exempt Facility Bonds and Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds etc.