Author Archives: Russ

One Week To T-Day

Posted on April 9, 2006 by Russ

Tax Day is Monday, April 17th…except for some municipal taxes in Ohio that are still due on April 15th. So, at this late date, what can you do to lower your taxes? 1. Make a contribution to an IRA, if … Continue reading →

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Pork

Posted on April 6, 2006 by Russ

A man condemning the income tax because of the annoyance it gives him or the expense it puts him to is merely a dog baring its teeth, and he forfeits the privileges of civilized discourse. But it is permissible to … Continue reading →

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No Joy In Toyland

Posted on April 6, 2006 by Russ

Toys “R” Us operates in California and, of course, pays California taxes. California uses a three-part allocation formula based on unitary taxation to determine how much a corporation operating in multiple states must pay. Toys “R” Us came to the … Continue reading →

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Being In Jail Is a Good Excuse

Posted on April 5, 2006 by Russ

The IRS wants to place a levy or a lien against you. The IRS says they mailed the notice, but it ended up at the wrong prison (you were in Attica, but the letter was sent to Gowanda; both are … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Court | Comments Off on Being In Jail Is a Good Excuse

Swearing at the Court Isn’t a Great Idea

Posted on April 5, 2006 by Russ

The IRS puts two liens against you. You fight the case, filing a lawsuit against the Commissioner of the IRS, claiming $4.5 million in damages for slander of title, inconvenience, aggravation, and generally annoying behavior. But you lose in District … Continue reading →

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You Get Your Money’s Worth

Posted on April 5, 2006 by Russ

The Government Accountability Office (formerly known as the General Accounting Office) (GAO) released a study yesterday titled, “Paid Tax Return Preparers: In a Limited Study, Chain Preparers Made Serious Errors.” The study was also mentioned in today’s Wall Street Journal … Continue reading →

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Mom and Dad Said I Didn’t Have to Pay Taxes

Posted on April 4, 2006 by Russ

No joking, that’s the argument a taxpayer used in Tax Court. Joe Kristan of Roth Tax Updates has the humorous details here. This Tax Court case is yet another entry in the “Don’t Try This Yourself” log. When you’re an … Continue reading →

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Protestor Strikes Out

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Russ

Many years ago, when I was running west coast operations for a telecommunications company, my office manger approached me with a problem. “There’s a gentleman out here who’s perfect for the in-house tech job, but he’s handed me these sheets … Continue reading →

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Stupid Sales Tax Tricks, California Style

Posted on April 3, 2006 by Russ

You’re a business owner, and you’ve just won a nice contract with the State of California. Don’t forget to add sales tax. Yes, if you’re selling to the State of California, you must charge California sales tax. Let’s look at … Continue reading →

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Reiner Resigns; Baca Supports Vegas, Denver & Phoenix

Posted on March 31, 2006 by Russ

Rob Reiner resigned as head of the First-5 Commission on Wednesday, as more pressure mounts to do a thorough investigation. Indeed, as the Chronicle story notes, both Democrats and Republicans believe something’s fishy with how the Commission spent money raised … Continue reading →

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