Author Archives: Russ

NIMBY and Home Prices

Posted on June 16, 2005 by Russ

In a comment to my post on real estate prices, Andrew asked if I had any backup for my statement that restrictions (environmental and otherwise) are increasing the costs of new homes. And there’s plenty available in the literature. This … Continue reading →

Posted in California | 3 Comments

Indepndent Contractors

Posted on June 16, 2005 by Russ

The Franchise Tax Board and the Employment Development Department don’t believe there is such a thing as an independent contractor. Indeed, California’s rules and regulations on independent contractors are much stricter than the IRS’s rules. So it should come as … Continue reading →

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A Bubble? Or Taxes? Or Supply and Demand?

Posted on June 13, 2005 by Russ

Real estate prices in Southern California (where I reside) continue on an upwards trajectory. The Los Angeles Times (one-time registration required) has an interesting article that speculates on why people are not selling their homes. The article notes property taxes … Continue reading →

Posted in California | 1 Comment

Bureaucrateze

Posted on June 8, 2005 by Russ

You’ll be happy to know that the IRS is closing 68 Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) as “…part of the agency’s continuing efforts to create efficiencies, modernize operations, and reduce costs while maintaining [our] commitment to public service.” Of course, as … Continue reading →

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I Don’t Think It’s Close…

Posted on June 7, 2005 by Russ

…But the Tax Court does. In a case released today, a man thinks he has some additional 1099s. He has not received copies of his statements on these accounts (they are education accounts for his children). He calls and writes … Continue reading →

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You Too Can Live Tax Free…

Posted on June 7, 2005 by Russ

…in jail. After having been gone for just under a week, I must thank Roth Tax Updates for the first of a few gems. It seems that Lynne Meredith received 121 months (10 years and a month) for conspiring to … Continue reading →

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Arthur Andersen: Not Guilty (Yet)

Posted on June 1, 2005 by Russ

Unless you’ve been hiding out, you’ve almost certainly heard the news that the US Supreme Court yesterday overturned the conviction of Arthur Andersen for destroying documents in the Enron fiasco. You can find news coverage here and here (one-time registration … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | 20 Comments

A Zero in More Ways than One

Posted on June 1, 2005 by Russ

Let’s assume you (erroneously) believe that the US has no write to levy an income tax on you. You are a believer in one of the many frivolous or groundless schemes that say, in short, that the US can’t levy … Continue reading →

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“I Haven’t Done Any Drugs or Alcohol in Eight Months.”

Posted on June 1, 2005 by Russ

Ok, what does that have to do with tax? That’s what I was thinking when I read this article (one-time registration required). Restaurateur Neil Stein plead guilty yesterday to federal tax fraud charges and will likely receive a term of … Continue reading →

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SB757: Let’s Drive Out Business (Again)

Posted on May 30, 2005 by Russ

Lurching its’ way through the Legislature is SB757, introduced by Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego). The bill has an innocuous title, “The Oil Conservation, Efficiency, and Alternative Fuels Act.” It is an efficient bill—if passed, this analysis indicates that 80,000 jobs … Continue reading →

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