Monthly Archives: September 2010

Making Lives Miserable in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Russ

I used to reside in Kent, Washington. The Pacific Northwest is (during clear weather) one of the most beautiful places in the country. The combination of the Cascades, the ocean, Puget Sound, and Lake Washington makes the Seattle area a … Continue reading →

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Russ’ PTIN Adventure, Part 2

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Russ

This morning, I attempted again to re-register my PTIN. I used an email address that didn’t go through my server and, voila, success. I was able to re-enter all my information (except for my PTIN) on the IRS PTIN registration … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | 1 Comment

Online PTIN Application Now Available, But…

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Russ

The IRS released the final regulations for the new PTIN process for tax professionals. There’s an FAQ available, too. The first step of the process is too sign up for an account with the PTIN system. If my experience is … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | 4 Comments

No Budget Yet

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Russ

There’s no budget, but negotiations are scheduled to continue tomorrow. This story in the San Jose Mercury leads me to believe we’re still a couple of days away from an agreement, and likely at least a week from a vote. … Continue reading →

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Budget Framework Reportedly Reached

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Russ

News reports state that a “framework for a budget deal has been reached” and that the Big Five (Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democratic and Republican legislative leaders) plan on working through the weekend to hammer out the details. The goal … Continue reading →

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Sacramento Bound

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Russ

California doesn’t have a budget. When I return home from Sacramento on Sunday, California will not have a budget. It’s probable that when we vote in the mid-term elections in 40 days that California will not have a budget. Why … Continue reading →

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Congress, Obama, and Small Business

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Russ

I’m a small business owner. I’m now reasonably successful, but I look warily at what’s coming down the pipeline in Washington (and Sacramento, for that matter) and don’t like what I see. Today, I read a great post on the … Continue reading →

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Bozo Preparer Gets Four Years

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Russ

When I last reported on this story, I noted that Gayle McIntyre only received 54 years the previous time she committed tax fraud. Luckily for her, that sentence was suspended. She didn’t learn from the past. In January she was … Continue reading →

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It Depends on the Meaning of the Word “Is” Is

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Russ

I’m sure many of you remember this humorous interlude during the presidency of Bill Clinton: Why do I bring this up? Because it goes to the heart of a question asked by fellow tax blogger Robert Flach. Mr. Flach, who … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | 1 Comment

Sugar, Sugar

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Russ

When I think of sugar, I think of the sweetener you put into a cup of coffee. Or perhaps this song: But this is a tax blog, so we’re going to deal with something different…something very different. The Sugar House … Continue reading →

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