Author Archives: Russ

State Senate Majority Leader Drops Support for Prop. 82

Posted on March 3, 2006 by Russ

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, State Senator Don Perata (D-Oakland) has dropped his support of Rob Reiner’s Proposition 82, the mandatory preschool/increase income tax/Help Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado Initiative, because it was too expensive. Perata noted that the estimated … Continue reading →

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Spend the $4.50….

Posted on March 2, 2006 by Russ

When I send out a tax return to a client, and it has to be mailed to a tax agency, I always state, in my letter, “mail, using certified mail, return receipt requested….” Joe Kristan of Roth Tax Updates today … Continue reading →

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Another Hobby Loss

Posted on March 1, 2006 by Russ

In a recent unpublished opinion, the Eighth Circuit looked at a hobby loss case, Montagne v. Commissioner. One of the points we continually make is to document, document, document. The Montagnes had a horse-breeding “business,” but the Tax Court ruled … Continue reading →

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Professor Maule Disects Ready Return

Posted on March 1, 2006 by Russ

The Franchise Tax Board is in its second year of the “Ready Return Program.” Under this program, the FTB prepares returns for individuals who have very simple returns — just wage income, single, no dependents. But the program has been … Continue reading →

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Proposition 82

Posted on February 28, 2006 by Russ

Proposition 82 on the June 6th California Primary Election Ballot is titled, “Preschool Education. Tax On Incomes Over $400,000 for Individuals; $800,000 for Couples….” A better name for this misguided statute is the “Preschool Education Bureaucracy. Driving Jobs from California … Continue reading →

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We’re Number 40!

Posted on February 27, 2006 by Russ

The Tax Foundation today released its business climate survey of the 50 states. For the record, here are the top ten states: Wyoming South Dakota Alaska Florida Nevada New Hampshire Texas Delaware Montana Oregon California ranks 40th, just missing out … Continue reading →

Posted in California | 13 Comments

Go Phish.

Posted on February 27, 2006 by Russ

One of my clients called me this morning and asked about an email he received, purportedly from the IRS. I told him that, in general, the IRS doesn’t send out emails. The email he received told him that he had … Continue reading →

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People Who Live In Glass Houses…

Posted on February 25, 2006 by Russ

Do you remember when Intuit and H&R Block sued each other? Well, H&R Block now has some egg on their face. H&R Block admitted that they made some miscalculations on their own tax returns. They were only off by $32 … Continue reading →

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Offshore Trusts Shelters Snare Another Victim

Posted on February 25, 2006 by Russ

I keep saying that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Offshore trusts formed just to shelter income tax sound too good. For Michael Diesel of St. Marys, Kansas, they were. On the advice of Aegis … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | 1 Comment

We’ve Heard the Last of Irwin Schiff

Posted on February 25, 2006 by Russ

Irwin Schiff won’t be muttering “There is no income tax” to his gullible victims clients anymore. The 78-year old Schiff was sentenced yesterday to 13 years in prison. He must also make restitution of $4.2 million. Schiff, during his sentencing, … Continue reading →

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