Monthly Archives: November 2015

Don’t Go to Lawrence Siegel to Have Your Taxes Done

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Russ

There are good tax preparers, bad tax preparers, and then there’s Lawrence Seigel. Mr. Siegel, who resigned from the California bar in 1994 and lost his CPA license in 1997 after being convicted of tax evasion (among other crimes) also … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 1 Comment

Colorado Voters to Get the Chance to Add 10% Payroll Tax for Single-Payer Health Insurance

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Russ

Colorado voters will get the chance to add a 10% payroll tax next year to fund universal health insurance. The 10% payroll tax–which is on top of all other federal and state taxes–would be on employees pay. Self-employed individuals would … Continue reading →

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The Real Winners of the World Series of Poker (2015 Edition)

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Russ

Nine individuals came to Las Vegas over the last three days to compete for the championship at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Who would be the lucky winner? And who really got to keep the money? Last year the … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling | 8 Comments

DFS Gets the Boot in New York

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Russ

New York State’s Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, sent a letter to DraftKings and Fan Duel ordering them to cease offering their Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) wagers games to New Yorkers. According to both ABC and ESPN, Attorney General Schneiderman sent … Continue reading →

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About 9,000 Businesses Left California During Good Economic Times

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Russ

Yesterday a friend sent me a link to Joseph Vranich’s report on businesses leaving California. I should know: I’m one of the 9,000 businesses that did so. Mr. Vranich analyzed business relocations from 2008-2014. He identified 1,510 “disinvestment events”–companies leaving … Continue reading →

Posted in California | 1 Comment

Cleveland Loses on Monday (and They Didn’t Even Play)

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Russ

Pity the poor Cleveland Browns. Last Thursday they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10. This morning, the City of Cleveland lost at the US Supreme Court, 2-0. The Supreme Court refused, without comment, to hear Cleveland’s appeal of their “Jock … Continue reading →

Posted in Ohio | Tagged | 1 Comment

Chaka Fattah, Jr. Guilty of Tax and Fraud Charges

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Russ

Chaka Fattah Jr., son of Democratic Congressman Chaka Fattah Sr. (D-PA), was found guilty on Friday of 22 of 23 tax and fraud charges. As the Department of Justice press release notes, Between 2005 and 2012, Fattah Jr.: made false … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 1 Comment

Time Running Out on the Miccosukee Tribe’s Battle with the IRS

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Russ

I have sympathy when taxpayers battle the IRS over legitimate issues. Indeed, I’m all for fighting the IRS when they’re (imho) wrong. However, fighting quixotic battles when you are wrong isn’t a good idea. The Miccosukee Tribe in Florida is … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling, IRS, Tax Court | Tagged | 1 Comment

Where I Agree (In Part) With IRS Commissioner John Koskinen

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Russ

It’s rare for me to agree with IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. However, he spoke to some tax practitioners today and I do agree with some of what he said. From Accounting Today: Once again, Congress has been working on legislation … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged , | 1 Comment

I’m Sure Their Vacation in Arizona Will Impress the Sentencing Judge

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Russ

Back in October 2014, Ronald and Dorothea Joling were convicted of tax evasion. As the US Department of Justice noted in the press release, Evidence at trial detailed the Jolings’ illegal efforts over close to twenty years to keep the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | 2 Comments