Author Archives: Russ

A Big Whoops in Wisconsin

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Russ

Within a couple of weeks, taxpayers around the country will be receiving their tax packages in the mail from the IRS and their state (and local) tax agencies. Taxpayers in Wisconsin will get a special surprise: their social security numbers … Continue reading →

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Did John Doe Lead to California’s Budget Surplus?

Posted on January 2, 2007 by Russ

Dan Waters, columnist for the Sacramento Bee, reports today that he’s been told that one individual paid the Franchise Tax Board $200 million in back taxes under California’s amnesty program last year. An examination of California’s budget shows that the … Continue reading →

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Hello, 2007

Posted on January 1, 2007 by Russ

Happy New Year, everyone. Hopefully this year will see at least one of the following: (a) no tax rate increase [1]; (b) simplification of the Tax Code [2]; (c) no mandatory California health care coverage for all [3]; and/or (d) … Continue reading →

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Murphy Undone

Posted on December 26, 2006 by Russ

Thanks to Paul Caron of the TaxProf Blog for letting us know that the D.C. Circuit has vacated the Murphy decision. The Murphy case was the one that said that the 16th Amendment made unconstitutional taxes on the recovery of … Continue reading →

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The IRS Shoots Itself in the Feet

Posted on December 26, 2006 by Russ

The Tax Court today once again had to look at the case of Raymond Wright. Back in 2002 Mr. Wright’s case had been reviewed by the Tax Court; the case was then appealed to the Second Circuit and remanded back … Continue reading →

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Mandated Health Care in California’s Future?

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Russ

State Senator Don Perata would like all Californians to have health insurance. Having everyone covered isn’t a bad idea. Senator Perata would do this by mandating that all businesses provide health insurance for their employees (with minimum coverage guarantees), or … Continue reading →

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Fraud in the Swamplands

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Russ

If you’re going to submit phony tax returns, it’s a good idea to vary the names you use. Even poorly run tax agencies might catch on if they receive several hundred refund checks from the same address. That bring us … Continue reading →

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Definitely Not in Vogue

Posted on December 16, 2006 by Russ

Two months ago I wrote about the owner of Club Vogue (a strip club) in Columbia, Missouri. James Andrew Yaeger, the owner, paid his lap dancers in cash, and didn’t report the income. He got caught, and is looking at … Continue reading →

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A Bit More Fraud

Posted on December 14, 2006 by Russ

While I was in Palm Springs there was more fraud and evasion. In New York, an operator of a trucking company pleaded guilty to evading federal taxes to the tune of $2.5 million. Anthony Guido, of Pelham, New York, took … Continue reading →

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Off the Deep End

Posted on December 14, 2006 by Russ

Mike Finneran was the head diving coach for North Carolina State University. College athletics pays reasonably well, even for a “minor” sport such as diving; Mr. Finneran made between $60,000 and $180,000 a year. However, that’s not what he allegedly … Continue reading →

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