Monthly Archives: February 2012

A Poll Tax–No, That’s a Pole Tax in Illinois?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Russ

Leave it to the Land of Lincoln for an inventive way to raise money. Illiniois State Senator Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) is sponsoring a $5 per person pole tax. The tax would impact strip clubs. The strip clubs are not … Continue reading →

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The Dirty Dozen

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Russ

It’s time for the Dirty Dozen. No, not the movie; rather, the IRS’ annual listing of the worst tax scams. On top of the IRS’ list is identity theft. It is a major problem, and the IRS is trying to … Continue reading →

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Another California Tax Preparer Ignores Her Continuing Education

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Russ

I say that because of news that comes from the small (California) Central Valley town of Livingston. The Department of Justice announced that Nohemi Villarreal Noriega of Patterson has been arrested on charges of tax evasion and structuring. Ms. Noriega … Continue reading →

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Taxes and Gambling Series

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Russ

About once a year I get asked, “I won some money gambling, but I didn’t get a W-2G. Do I really have to declare that income?” The answer is easy: All income is taxable unless Congress exempts it, and gambling … Continue reading →

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Well, She Didn’t Get Charged with Impersonating a CPA…

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Russ

Every so often a client asks me to send a mortgage company a letter noting that I prepared their tax returns, and verifying their income for those years. I haven’t been asked to send a letter to a mortgage company … Continue reading →

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Funding the Payroll Tax Cut Extension: Online Poker?

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Russ

Late last year, Congress extended the 2% cut in the payroll (FICA) tax for just two months. That extension expires in 18 days. Congress and the President appear to want it to be extended, but there’s a catch. The extension … Continue reading →

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California Tax Revenues $528 Million Under Budget in January

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Russ

In what must be considered to be a complete non-shock to all but officials of the Brown Administration, California’s tax revenues came in $528 million under budget. According to Bloomberg, most of this is from a $525 billion shortfall in … Continue reading →

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FATCA Regulations Issued

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Russ

Earlier this week the IRS issued proposed regulations to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The press release from the Department of the Treasury states, After many months of intensive discussions with foreign governments, the Treasury Department today … Continue reading →

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Burning Down the House

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Russ

Let’s say you own a fixer-upper of a home. Let’s suppose you find that home in another part of town, so you decide to donate your home to the local fire department so they can burn it down. You get … Continue reading →

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Good Riddance: Reconciliation of Credit Card Deposits on Tax Returns Won’t Happen

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Russ

As I noted last week, the problem of entering 1099-K’s for recipients of those forms was deferred until 2012. It turns out that the IRS acquiesced to complaints from tax professional and other groups, including the Retail Industry Leaders Association … Continue reading →

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