Monthly Archives: June 2005

Let’s Raise Taxes….

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Russ

They’re at it again. The California Public Employees Unions are, according to this story in the San Jose Business Journal, gathering signatures on an initiative that would cause all non-residential property to be reassessed annually. While this would be a … Continue reading →

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Psssst: I’ve Got a Secret…

Posted on June 27, 2005 by Russ

After being gone over the weekend, I discover that the World’s Greatest Newspaper (the Chicago Tribune) ran a story on the infamous Kanter case. In this case, the US Tax Court’s Chief Judge apparently reversed the finding’s of the trial … Continue reading →

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Define “Tax Evasion” and Win $10,000!

Posted on June 24, 2005 by Russ

The above headline is not a joke. It seems that in Russia tax evasion may mean whatever the prosecutorgovernment wants it to mean. The recent Yukos case is a good example of this. In any case, the Russian Presidential Administration … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | 6 Comments

The Big Three?

Posted on June 23, 2005 by Russ

When I was in graduate school, and being recruited to the Big Eight (no, not what is now the Big Twelve), I spurned them all. Can anyone name the big eight accounting firms from 1985? [Answer below] We’re currently at … Continue reading →

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Taking the Fifth

Posted on June 20, 2005 by Russ

Almost everyone knows the text of the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases … Continue reading →

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More Bad Paperwork From the FTB

Posted on June 19, 2005 by Russ

I recently wrote a post about my company’s receipt of a letter mandating participation in California’s electronic tax payment program. Two weeks following receipt of that letter I received a call from someone at the FTB acknowledging that my company … Continue reading →

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Is Orange County Following San Diego?

Posted on June 19, 2005 by Russ

San Diego may be the city with the best climate in the world; however, its’ pension system has driven the city to near bankruptcy. John Moorlach, Orange County’s Treasurer-Tax Collector, wrote an op-ed piece in today’s Register about the parallels. … Continue reading →

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NIMBY and Home Prices

Posted on June 16, 2005 by Russ

In a comment to my post on real estate prices, Andrew asked if I had any backup for my statement that restrictions (environmental and otherwise) are increasing the costs of new homes. And there’s plenty available in the literature. This … Continue reading →

Posted in California | 3 Comments

Indepndent Contractors

Posted on June 16, 2005 by Russ

The Franchise Tax Board and the Employment Development Department don’t believe there is such a thing as an independent contractor. Indeed, California’s rules and regulations on independent contractors are much stricter than the IRS’s rules. So it should come as … Continue reading →

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A Bubble? Or Taxes? Or Supply and Demand?

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Russ

Real estate prices in Southern California (where I reside) continue on an upwards trajectory. The Los Angeles Times (one-time registration required) has an interesting article that speculates on why people are not selling their homes. The article notes property taxes … Continue reading →

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