Author Archives: Russ

The End of the AMT?

Posted on May 24, 2005 by Russ

According to published reports, several Senators plan on introducing legislation to repeal the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax). While every tax preparer I know would jump for joy if this happens, the chances are about the same as it snowing tomorrow … Continue reading →

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A New (Generally Dumb) Rule, Take Two

Posted on May 20, 2005 by Russ

The Treasury Department revised the new Circular 230 rules yesterday. The changes, detailed here, make some minor clarifications to the new rules. They also correct a problem that would have occurred with text-based emails (the requirement that the font size … Continue reading →

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No Unsettling the Settlement

Posted on May 20, 2005 by Russ

Yesterday, the Tax Court decided Slojewski v. Commissioner. In this case, the respondent (Slojewski) and the IRS settled before a scheduled trial in Tax Court. A hearing to finalize the matter was scheduled a month later. All seems well. Then … Continue reading →

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Bad Paperwork from the FTB

Posted on May 17, 2005 by Russ

For those of you in California, a warning. The Franchise Tax Board is having some computer issues, at least based on paperwork that my clients and I have recently received. One client recently received a two page bill from the … Continue reading →

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If at First You Fail…

Posted on May 15, 2005 by Russ

Fail, fail again. Yes, I know that’s supposed to be “try, try again.” But for this story, “fail, fail again” is so much more appropriate. >From the Baltimore Sun we have the story of John Baptist Kotmair, Jr. Back in … Continue reading →

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A New (Generally Dumb) Rule

Posted on May 14, 2005 by Russ

Here’s some text you will be seeing if you get any emails from your EA or CPA (and will probably be in every tax article you read): This opinion is limited to the one or more Federal tax issues addressed … Continue reading →

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A SuperSeminar

Posted on May 14, 2005 by Russ

This past week I attended the CSEA’s SuperSeminar in Las Vegas. Normally, continuing education seminars are dreadful events—dates on my calendar that I want to avoid. This one was very different. I learned a whole bunch of new things (which … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxable Talk | 2 Comments

Not So Brilliant Ideas (Part 2)

Posted on May 7, 2005 by Russ

Maybe it’s something in the water. But somehow we must look again to what is now apparently the hotbed of tax evasion: Cincinnati, Ohio. A federal jury in Cincinnati found “expert” tax preparer Walter Daulton guilty of assisting in the … Continue reading →

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Not So Brilliant Ideas…

Posted on May 7, 2005 by Russ

A man in Cincinnati, OH came up with a great idea (or so he thought). He decided to sell income tax evasion kits. Somehow the IRS and the Department of Justice didn’t think it was a great idea. Yeah, they’re … Continue reading →

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Firemen 1, Police 0

Posted on May 1, 2005 by Russ

Orange County Firefighters won their first court battle over an initiative (assuming no court losses, it will be on the June 2006 ballot) that would distribute about $80 million in taxes to firefighters that currently go to the Orange County … Continue reading →

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