Author Archives: Russ

If It Sounds Too Good to be True (1)

Posted on April 3, 2005 by Russ

The Franchise Tax Board arrested Jon Gunderson, the owner-operator of Outdoor Media Group, Inc., a California billboard company. Mr. Gunderson allegedly invented phony transactions to alleviate $53 million in tax he would have owed the state. Mr. Gunderson is being … Continue reading →

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Thievery and Cheating on Taxes

Posted on April 1, 2005 by Russ

Sometimes you just can’t win. Indeed, for local attorney Albert M. Graham, he was faced with a dilemma. His bookkeeper embezzled money from him. And that bookkeeper was the one who aided in your keeping of income away from the … Continue reading →

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They’re Alive, THEY’RE ALIVE!!!!

Posted on March 31, 2005 by Russ

By the thousands, by the tens of thousands, by the, well, you get the idea, Orange County has been invaded. The invader is Vanessa Cardui, the Painted Lady Butterfly. While the sun is shining (and it’s been shining a lot … Continue reading →

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$312 Billion (and counting)

Posted on March 30, 2005 by Russ

According to this story in the Boston Globe, the US’s “tax gap” is between $312 billion and $353 billion for individuals (not corporations). This gap consists of underreporting of income, underpayment of taxes, and nonfilers. While the IRS’s enforcement efforts … Continue reading →

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Tsunami: California Complies

Posted on March 22, 2005 by Russ

California has passed (and the Governator has signed) SB50, a law allowing tsunami-related charity donations made in January 2005 to be taken on your 2004 tax returns. The same conditions that apply to donations on the Federal (US) tax returns … Continue reading →

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Unorthodox Attorney’s Method: Don’t Pay the IRS

Posted on March 22, 2005 by Russ

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that J. Tony Serra, a criminal defense attorney, has been charged for “at least the third time” with failure to pay federal income taxes. He’s expected to plead guilty to at least one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 6 Comments

Un-Amnesty

Posted on March 16, 2005 by Russ

California currently has a tax amnesty program. It has a little carrot and a BIG stick. If you haven’t filed (or are otherwise delinquent) for a tax year before 2003, you can file an amnesty application by March 31st; you … Continue reading →

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If We Can’t Win, Let’s Change the Rules

Posted on March 15, 2005 by Russ

On the Federal level, the Democrats in the Senate want to filibuster President Bush’s judicial nominees. Whether the Democrats in the Senate like it (or not), there’s nothing in the Constitution saying that you can filibuster appointments. The Democrats are … Continue reading →

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Richard Hatch: CBS Should Have Withheld Taxes

Posted on March 13, 2005 by Russ

When we last left Richard Hatch, the $1 million winner from Survivor who didn’t pay his income taxes, he withdrew his plea of guilty. He now claims, in an interview with AP, that CBS should have withheld his taxes because … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | Tagged | 6 Comments

The Disneyland Impact

Posted on March 9, 2005 by Russ

According to the Daily News, Disneyland brings $3.6 billion annually to the local economy. This story details the positive impact of the theme park: $1.62 billion to Orange County (45% of the impact). That mouse brings in a lot of … Continue reading →

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