Monthly Archives: August 2015

IRS: Free Identity Protection Services After a Data Breach Isn’t Includable in Income

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Russ

The IRS noted Announcement 2015-22 today, that states: [T]he IRS will not assert that an individual whose personal information may have been compromised in a data breach must include in gross income the value of the identity protection services provided … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | 3 Comments

There’s Innocent FBAR Violations, and There’s This

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Russ

It’s one thing when Aunt Sally inherits €8000 in the old country, it sits in the bank for one day, and she then gets the money the next day in the US. Yes she should have filed an FBAR, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | Tagged | 1 Comment

Why Rob Banks, Redux

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Russ

Back in 2012 I noted that gangs were looking at identity theft as the successor to bank robbery. From Los Angeles comes the news that the California Attorney General’s Office, along with the Long Beach Police and the US Postal … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Tax Fraud | Tagged | 1 Comment

Up In Smoke…Again

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Russ

Another medical marijuana dispensary owner found himself at Tax Court today. And another marijuana dispensary owner isn’t happy with the results, though in this case much of the damage was self-inflicted. Jason Beck owned two medical marijuana dispensaries in California … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Court | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Last Roundup at Nifty Fifty’s

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Russ

Last Thursday William Frio was sentenced to five years at ClubFed. Mr. Frio was the accountant for Nifty Fifty’s, the Philadelphia-area restaurant chain with food themed from the 1950s and a tax strategy from the 1850s. Beginning in 1986, Frio … Continue reading →

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Speaking: Ethics in the Digital World

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Russ

I’ll be back in my old stomping grounds of Orange County next Tuesday; I’ll be speaking to the Orange County Chapter of the California Society of Enrolled Agents on “Ethics in the Digital World.” I’ll be noting all the bad … Continue reading →

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Not Remitting Employment Taxes Doesn’t Work in Japan Either

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Russ

In the United States, one of the quickest ways of getting in tax trouble is by withholding employment taxes and not remitting those taxes to the IRS. The rate of investigation is as close to 100% as you can get–and … Continue reading →

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Criminal Charges Dropped Against Roni Deutch

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Russ

Back in 2009, the law firm of Roni Deutch was a huge deal. She was the “Tax Lady,” and her face and advertisements were plastered all over television. Then she was sued by the state of California. And then came … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Scams | Tagged | 1 Comment

Scammers Now Mailing Phony IRS Letters

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Russ

The phone scammers are now going to the US mail. According to both the IRS and tax professionals, the scammers are broadening their efforts. Sure, they’re now committing mail fraud but since they’re already committing one crime what’s another? So … Continue reading →

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Deadline Changes for 2016 Tax Returns and 2016 FBAR

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Russ

Congress passed and President Obama signed the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 in late July. That law’s primary function has nothing to do with tax; however, it will have a major impact on entity … Continue reading →

Posted in International, IRS | Tagged | 1 Comment