01.24.19
Real Estate Activities Versus Investments: Why it Matters
The characterization of a real estate entity’s activities as a business or an investment makes a big difference to the bottom line when it comes to taxation. In Conner v. Commissioner, a developer whose plans were derailed by the Great Recession recently learned this lesson the hard way.

12.20.18
Is it a Gain or a Loss?
The U.S. Tax Court regularly hears cases regarding the proper tax treatment of property sales. Recently, though, the court addressed a real estate-related situation in Simonsen v. Commissioner that it described as a “conundrum only tax lawyers could love.”

11.29.18
Investing 101: Tips for What to Look for Before Buying
In any real estate portfolio, the goal is to be profitable. While the commercial real estate market has improved significantly since the lows seen during the Great Recession, investing still involves understanding the market. Let’s take a look at steps you can take to help bolster your investment portfolio.

02.06.19
Real Estate Group Newsletter – Winter 2019
Our Real Estate Group's Winter 2019 Newsletter discusses seller financing and if it's a viable option for investors, as well as insight on the Opportunity Zone tax incentive.

12.07.18
Real Estate Group Newsletter – Fall 2018
Our Real Estate Group's Fall 2018 Newsletter offers insight on the new lease accounting standards, and well as the adjustments to like-kind exchanges under the new tax law.

09.05.18
Real Estate Group Newsletter – Summer 2018
How to opt out of the new partnership audit rules Anita Wescott, CPA Many real estate businesses are formed as partnerships. Beginning this year, the IRS is applying new procedures to its partnership audits. Under the procedures, any adjustments and penalties after an audit generally will be assessed against the partnership itself, rather than against […]

11.15.18
Tax Planning Trends and Tips for the Real Estate Industry
The cyclical nature of the real estate industry, coupled with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, presents a new set of challenges for real estate investors, owners, operators and other professionals in the industry. But with these challenges come various opportunities for growth through creative tax-planning strategies. Join ORBA for […]

01.02.19
ORBA Ranked Among Crain’s 2018 Largest Accounting Firms
CHICAGO — Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), a full-service accounting, tax and business consulting firm, has been ranked as one of the largest accounting firms in Chicago, according to an annual survey published by Crain’s Chicago Business. This year, ORBA ranks as the 18th largest accounting firm with 147 professional staff members.

07.30.18
ORBA Named Among Top 200 Public Accounting Firms for 2018 by INSIDE Public Accounting
CHICAGO – Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, has been named as one of the country’s Top 200 Firms for 2018 by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA). ORBA is ranked #125 on the list in the annual report. IPA 100, 200 and 300 firms are ranked by U.S. net revenues […]

07.11.18
ORBA Elects New Directors
CHICAGO — Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is proud to announce that Adam Pechin, CPA, MST, and Thomas Vance, JD, LLM, have been promoted to Directors of the firm effective July 1, 2018. “We are excited to have Adam and Tom join our growing group of young, […]

02.11.19
Supreme Court to Address the Power of States to Tax Trusts
More than $120 billion of our nation’s income flows through trusts, and the Supreme Court will hear a case that may clarify how much states are able to tax.

01.31.19
2019 Tax Calendar
To help make sure that you do not miss any important 2019 deadlines, we have provided this summary of when various tax-related forms, payments and other actions are due.

01.29.19
IRS Provides QBI Deduction Changes Just in Time for Filing
The tax law signed in December 2017 included a dramatic cut in corporate tax rates and also a generous deduction for the qualified businesses income (QBI) of businesses that operate as pass-through entities (PTE)— sole proprietors, S corporations and partnerships (including LLC electing to be S corporations or partnerships).

01.02.19
Various Media – Crain’s Business Ranks ORBA Among Chicago’s Largest Accounting Firms
ORBA was recently mentioned in the media for being ranked 18th out of the 25 largest accounting firms in Chicago, listed by Crain’s Chicago Business. Reporting media include MarketWatch, Pittsburgh Business Times, the Daily Herald, Daily Penny Alerts and Chicago City Room. Click here to view the official press release.

07.30.18
Various Media – ORBA Ranked Among IPA Top 200 Public Accounting Firms
ORBA was mentioned in the media for being named among the Top 200 Public Accounting Firms of 2018 by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA). Reporting media include: Yahoo! Finance, MarketWatch, Chicago Business News, the Daily Herald, and Chicago CityRoom  

07.13.18
Various Media – ORBA Elects New Directors
ORBA  is proud to announce that Adam Pechin, CPA, MST, and Thomas Vance, JD, LLM, have been promoted to Directors of the firm effective July 1, 2018. Reporting media include Accounting Today, the Washington Business Journal, the Triangle Business Journal, Yahoo! Finance, the Daily Herald, and Chicago City Room. Click here to view the official press release.

01.02.19
ORBA Ranked Among Crain’s 2018 Largest Accounting Firms
CHICAGO — Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), a full-service accounting, tax and business consulting firm, has been ranked as one of the largest accounting firms in Chicago, according to an annual survey published by Crain’s Chicago Business. This year, ORBA ranks as the 18th largest accounting firm with 147 professional staff members.

07.30.18
ORBA Named Among Top 200 Public Accounting Firms for 2018 by INSIDE Public Accounting
CHICAGO – Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, has been named as one of the country’s Top 200 Firms for 2018 by INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA). ORBA is ranked #125 on the list in the annual report. IPA 100, 200 and 300 firms are ranked by U.S. net revenues […]

07.11.18
ORBA Elects New Directors
CHICAGO — Ostrow Reisin Berk & Abrams, Ltd. (ORBA), one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is proud to announce that Adam Pechin, CPA, MST, and Thomas Vance, JD, LLM, have been promoted to Directors of the firm effective July 1, 2018. “We are excited to have Adam and Tom join our growing group of young, […]