Author Archives: Russ

Is There Something in the Water In Seattle?

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Russ

First, it was Sharon Kukhahn and her ridiculous decoding strategy. Now, I get the joy of reporting about David Myrland. Mr. Myrland will be sentenced on December 2nd after pleading guilty to a tax charge. Mr. Myrland is a believer … Continue reading →

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Kukhahn Gets 7 Years

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Russ

Sharon Kukhahn found out what buying a yacht instead of paying her taxes would cost her: seven years at ClubFed. That was her sentence this past week; Joe Kristan has more.

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Greenspan Sues California

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Russ

Last month I wrote about the Kafka-esque saga of Aaron Greenspan and California. I received an update this evening that Mr. Greenspan has filed a civil case against the state alleging that California’s actions violate the federal constitution (the interstate … Continue reading →

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“California — Toxic for Business”

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Russ

Wendell Cox and Steve Malanga penned an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that’s worth your perusal. They argue what I’ve been saying for some time: “Unless Sacramento moves to improve the business climate, California’s reputation as one of the … Continue reading →

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The Secret Decoder Ring Strikes Again!

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Russ

I’ve written about Sharon Kukhahn before. Ms. Kukhahn thought that there was some magical way to decode your IRS file and magically make your taxes disappear! Ms. Kukhahn sold her packages to the public and pocketed $2,000 – $3,000 per … Continue reading →

Posted in Scams, Tax Fraud | 1 Comment

California Revenues Continue Below Budget

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Russ

October is usually a good month for California collections (of taxes). After all, it’s the extension deadline and many residents send more money to Sacramento. This month, though, revenues were $810 million below budget; the deficit year to date is … Continue reading →

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The Real Winners of the 2011 World Series of Poker

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Russ

Nine individuals came to Las Vegas this past weekend to compete for the championship at the World Series of Poker. Who would be the lucky winner? And who really got to keep the money? This year’s World Series of Poker … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling | 12 Comments

The Tax Court Expects a Tax Preparer to Know How to Substantiate Deductions

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Russ

An unenrolled tax professional found herself in Tax Court yesterday. The IRS claimed that her claimed deductions weren’t valid; she felt she had even more deductions coming. The Court had to determine who was right. First, I’m an enrolled tax … Continue reading →

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“Unwritten, Arbitrary, and Capricious Policies”

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Russ

While I just praised the Board of Equalization for doing something smart, it’s time for a dose of reality in dealing with the world of California bureaucracy. A gentleman named Aaron Greenspan developed a product called FaceCash. California has a … Continue reading →

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The BOE Does Something Smart

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Russ

One of my clients received a letter from the California Board of Equalization: Our records of your qualified purchaser use tax account indicate that you have filed “zero returns” (no use tax to report) for three consecutive years. Therefore, this … Continue reading →

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