ARTICLES

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a preliminary list of nearly 70 jobs that qualify for “no tax on tips.” The occupations include a wide range of services spanning from Rickshaw drivers to digital content creators.

On August 20, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court decided Chicago Title Land Trust Co. v. Watkin, 2025 IL App (1st) 241354 (August 20, 2025). At issue in Watkin was whether the expiration of the statute of limitations barring enforcement of a mortgage also extinguishes the mortgage lien.

The Illinois General Assembly has updated the Probate Act of 1975 to improve the small estate affidavit process for settling estates without formal probate. Effective immediately, this amendment offers significant benefits for Illinois residents managing a loved one's estate.

Recently, OEMs like Tesla and Rivian implemented a direct-to-consumer approach that many state motor vehicle dealer laws are intended to prohibit. On May 27, 2025, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) submitted a Public Comment, defending state franchise laws.

On August 7, 2025, the IRS announced that, as part of its phased implementation of the July 4th One Big Beautiful Bill Act, there will be no changes to certain information returns or withholding tables for tax year 2025 related to the new law. The IRS outlined key relevant changes to tax filers effective for '25 - '28.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted on July 4, 2025, as Pub. L. No. 119-21, permanently extends and modifies key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) while introducing new tax benefits and limitations. The law affects individuals, seniors, children, businesses, and charitable organizations.

In commercial leases, particularly those involving retail or office spaces, tenants typically pay not only base rent but also a share of additional operating expenses. These include Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges, property taxes, and insurance premiums. The reconciliation of these expenses is a key process.

Attorneys drafting or reviewing indemnification clauses and notice provisions in a sale or acquisition governed by Delaware law should be aware of the recent Delaware Supreme Court decision in Thompson Street Capital Partners IV L.P. v. Sonova U.S. Hearing Instruments, LLC.

Beginning July 1, Illinois residents will face a series of tax increases related to the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which takes effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. These increases are from the $55+B state budget that is supposed to generate $700+M of new taxes ranging from gasoline, short-term rentals, and more.