Author Archives: Russ

Loveland, OH Backs Down

Posted on November 8, 2005 by Russ

Many cities in the Eastern U.S. have city income taxes. One of these is Loveland, Ohio. Deborah Combs did not pay her $1.16 city income tax bill. Loveland decided to press criminal charges. For $1.16. Ms. Combs, who said she … Continue reading →

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Vote Early but Not Often

Posted on November 8, 2005 by Russ

…unless you live in Chicago (well, there’s no election in Illinois on Tuesday). Californians will go to the polls on Tuesday to decide several propositions. There are also some local ballot initiatives. Here in Orange County, we have Propositions B, … Continue reading →

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The Tax Reform Panel’s Report: Why It’s Irrelevant

Posted on November 2, 2005 by Russ

Yesterday, the Tax Reform Panel issued its final report (available here). I have come to the conclusion that no matter the merits of the reforms mentioned (which I previously commented on), this plan (really, plans) are dead-on-arrival in Congress. A … Continue reading →

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Supreme Court: NY Can Tax Worker in TN

Posted on November 1, 2005 by Russ

Suppose you work as a telecommuter in one state, but your corporate headquarters is in another state. To which state must you pay state income taxes? The obvious answer is the state you live in. Of course, if you visit … Continue reading →

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No Treat for Them

Posted on October 31, 2005 by Russ

The Tax Court delivered a trick on Halloween to these taxpayers. They operated a timber operation (perhaps), accounting services (although the husband was “…suspended from practice before the Internal Revenue Service since 1981”), real estate (although the wife asked, “[please] … Continue reading →

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“Please Tax Us,” Asks One Business

Posted on October 30, 2005 by Russ

You’re a successful business, with revenues over $1 million annually. Besides income taxes, your only regulatory fee is a $387 business license fee. The city you’re in proposes a 15% gross receipts tax (subject to voter approval on November 8th). … Continue reading →

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Berkshire Hathaway Wins One for the Big Guy

Posted on October 28, 2005 by Russ

Let’s say that your small corporation borrows some money. Let’s further suppose that you that that borrowed money and then purchased dividend paying stocks with that money. You can’t deduct those dividends. It’s considered a form of double-dipping, as you … Continue reading →

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A Humdrum Tax Opinion by the Next Supreme Court Justice?

Posted on October 28, 2005 by Russ

With the withdrawal of Harriet Miers as a nominee for the Supreme Court, speculation has centered on several individuals as a possible nominee, including Judge Michael McConnell. In this unpublished opinion, which is a model of brevity, Judge McConnell rejects … Continue reading →

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Saving Tax Returns, California-Style

Posted on October 25, 2005 by Russ

California currently has a four-year statute of limitations on income taxes, but no statute of limitations on collections of tax monies. As we previously noted, the Franchise Tax Board earlier this year sent out notices to taxpayers—asking for payments on … Continue reading →

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PayPal Record Subpeoned

Posted on October 22, 2005 by Russ

The IRS is attempting to find some foreign credit card holders who used PayPal to evade taxes. According to this story in the San Jose Mercury News, the IRS wants to find tax evaders who are using PayPal to illegally … Continue reading →

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