Author Archives: Russ

Bankruptcy Trumps a Deemed Sale

The Wilshire Courtyard is a 1-million square foot office complex in Los Angeles’s “Miracle Mile” district. The complex’s mortgage debt was acquired through bankruptcy by a consortium led by McCarthy Cook, Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, and Merrill Lynch. California’s Franchise … Continue reading

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Did IRS Give Black Nonprofits Preferential Treatment?

Investors Business Daily reported in an editorial that the IRS “selectively advised black churches and other Democrat nonprofits on how far they can go in campaigning for President Obama and other Democrats” during the 2012 campaign. IBD reported that Attorney … Continue reading

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The Apprentice, IRS Style

The IRS made videos parodying Star Trek and Gilligan’s Island. It’s time for another: The Apprentice, IRS Style: On the bright side, this video only cost us taxpayers $10,000; the Star Trek and Gilligan’s Island parodies cost a reported $60,000 … Continue reading

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California to Require Annual Reporting of Like-Kind Exchanges for Out-of-State Property

Section 1031 exchanges are a popular means of deferring taxation on commercial property. Suppose in 1970 you purchased a commercial property in Los Angeles for $500,000. You decide to sell it, and discover that it’s now worth $2.5 million. One … Continue reading

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IRS Interest Rates Unchanged for the Fourth Quarter

The IRS announced today that interest rates for the fourth quarter (beginning October 1, 2013) will be unchanged: 3% for overpayments (2% for corporate overpayments); 3% for underpayments; 5% for large corporate underpayments; and 0.5% for corporate overpayments exceeding $10,000. … Continue reading

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IRS Is Big Hindrance in Social Security’s Matching of Social Security Numbers and Names

I am on the distribution list for TIGTA (the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) audit reports. These reports (which generally review IRS operations) are quite useful. I don’t read all of the other federal agencies’ Inspector General reports. There … Continue reading

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All Legal Same-Sex Marriages Will be Recognized for Federal Tax Purposes

The Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced last week that all same-sex marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes. That means that if you are in a legal same-sex marriage, you must file as married filing jointly … Continue reading

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IRS Targeting Apparently Continues

If the IRS and the Obama Administration was hoping the IRS crisis would blow over, it’s just not going to happen…and the IRS continues to ensure that’s the case. Reports have surfaced that the IRS is requiring the American Legion … Continue reading

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There Are Better Methods of Paying Off the IRS than Bungling a Burglary

Let’s assume you owe the IRS $10,000 in back taxes. What would you do? Perhaps obtain a payment plan? Maybe you can negotiate an Offer in Compromise? Or maybe you have so little funds on hand than you can go … Continue reading

Posted in IRS, New York | 1 Comment

Good Bye, Disclosure Authorization

A couple of months ago the IRS announced that they were “retiring” Disclosure Authorization from IRS e-Services. For the laypeople who read this blog, this means that if you come to my office and we need to print a transcript … Continue reading

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