Author Archives: Russ

No, Fido & Lulu Can’t Own Your Business

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Russ

Sometimes you read a story and wonder if it’s really true. Such was the case when I read this DOJ press release on Matthew and Sandra Zuckerman. It starts like many cases: The Zuckermans didn’t like filing and paying taxes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 2 Comments

Punt Blocked; National Audit Defense Network Heading to ClubFed

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Russ

Back in 2000, a company made the following boast on the Internet: Oryan Management has developed a simple, “Turn-Key” method for you, the ordinary taxpayer to receive these Tax Credits and Deductions while keeping your costs low. Depending on how … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 1 Comment

The Only Thing Not Thrown at the Petitioner Was the Kitchen Sink

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Russ

There’s a time to be a protester and there’s a time not to be. In Tax Court, it’s imperative you have legitimate arguments; you can pay a very high price for frivolity. Today’s petitioner learned that…perhaps. The petitioner neglected to … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Court | Comments Off on The Only Thing Not Thrown at the Petitioner Was the Kitchen Sink

Something New From the IRS that We Can All Like!

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Russ

I’ve been bashing the IRS recently, but I’ve had lots of good reasons to do so. The new signature verification policy is somewhere between stupid and useless; the IRS’s response to the current IRS scandal is poor; and customer service … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | 1 Comment

Staking and the 2014 WSOP: Nothing Has Changed

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Russ

The poker world is about to descend on Las Vegas. Over the next several weeks, many players who enter the myriad of poker tournaments from expensive tournaments at the World Series of Poker to more affordable tournaments at Binion’s and … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling | Tagged | 3 Comments

New Identification Rules Go Over Like a Lead Balloon

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Russ

Joe Kristan had a post this morning noting the reaction of 250 Iowa tax professionals to the new rules on third-party verification rules. The reaction was “You must be kidding me.” The problem was that the IRS wasn’t kidding. Jason … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | 1 Comment

One Good Crime Deserves Another

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Russ

I’ve written about Nifty Fifty’s before. It’s a Philadelphia-area chain featuring food themed from the 1950s. The owners of the chain used ideas from the 1850s to help their profitability: They skimmed cash, paid employees in both paychecks and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | Tagged | 2 Comments

Deadlines for Us, But Not for Them (Part 2)

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Russ

Back in March I wrote about my client who received an IRS notice regarding his 2012 tax return. I had immediately sent a reply in to the IRS. The IRS received it and it went into the queue. In March, … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | 1 Comment

Tax-Exempt Tax Filing Deadline Today

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Russ

Today, May 15th, is the day that calendar year tax-exempt organizations must file their Form 990 series tax returns. This includes the 990 postcard form, Form 990-EZ, Form 990-PF, and Form 990. What do you do if you’re not ready? … Continue reading →

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Florida Doctor Does Much Wrong on her Way to ClubFed

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Russ

Dr. Patricia Hough was a successful entrepreneur. She owned two medical schools in the Caribbean. That’s the good portion of this story. It’s what she did with the profits of the business (and the sale of the business)–or better put, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 1 Comment