Author Archives: Russ

Regulating Tax Preparers Always Prevents Tax Preparer Fraud (Not True, of Course)

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Russ

I’m generally a supporter of the National Association of Enrolled Agents and its policies. However, I disagree with the idea that both the NAEA and the IRS have that regulating tax preparers will magically make preparer fraud go away. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Preparation | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Your Check Might Not be in the Mail

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Russ

I used to live in Orange County, California. Earlier this week a US Postal Service caught fire as it was heading toward an airport after leaving the Santa Ana mail sorting center. So if you mailed something on Monday, March … Continue reading →

Posted in California, IRS | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Las Vegas Culinary Union Should Look at a Calendar Before Calling EAs in March

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Russ

The Las Vegas Culinary Union (formally, Local 226 of the Culinary Union) doesn’t like non-union casinos here in Las Vegas. One such casino is the Cosmopolitan Hotel. It’s one of the newest of Las Vegas’s mega-resorts, and it’s a beautiful … Continue reading →

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Deadlines for Us, but Not for Them

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Russ

I was on the phone today with the IRS about a client. Back in October he received an IRS notice regarding his 2012 return. We believed the IRS notice was incorrect. With this particular notice the only option was to … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | 3 Comments

“Just Pay the Five Dollars….”

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Russ

That’s one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies, North by Northwest. In that classic movie, Cary Grant’s character gets drunk and, well, I’ll be giving away some of the movie if I went on. In any … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | Comments Off on “Just Pay the Five Dollars….”

Former Chairman of Woodland Park, NJ Democratic Committee Bribes His Way to ClubFed

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Russ

The IRS has its problems, but accepting bribes isn’t one of them. The former chairman of the Woodland Park, New Jersey Democratic Committee found that out the hard way. Michael Kazmark didn’t pay his 1997-2005 federal taxes; he owed just … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey, Tax Fraud | 1 Comment

He Cracked the Code (but Won’t be Happy with the Result)

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Russ

Back in 2007, Peter Hendrickson wrote a book titled Cracking the Code: The Fascinating Truth About Taxation in America. I haven’t read it, nor would I advise you to. Today, Judge Buch of the Tax Court demolished each and every … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Court | Tagged , | 2 Comments

No Margin for Error

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Russ

Nevada is known for low taxes. It’s also known for subpar schools and relatively low teacher salaries. The Nevada State Education Association (aka the teachers union) decided that a solution to the problem of subpar schools was a tax on … Continue reading →

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California State Senator Ron Calderon Indicted on Bribery & Tax Charges

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Russ

This hasn’t been a good year for Democratic state senators in California. Back in January State Senator Roderick White of Inglewood was convicted of five counts of voter fraud, two counts of perjury, and one count of filing a false … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Tax Fraud | Tagged | 1 Comment

Taxes and Daily Fantasy Sports: The Duck Test

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Russ

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it just may be a duck. So said someone (this quote has been attributed to Walter Reuther among others), and it’s one of those … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling | Tagged | 4 Comments