Author Archives: Russ

Bobble Away

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Russ

Are bobbleheads promotional items that are subject to Use Tax? The Cincinnati Reds fought the Ohio Department of Taxation’s ruling that bobbleheads were subject to Use Tax all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court. In this case, we are … Continue reading →

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Nothing for Something

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Russ

Have I got a deal for you! (It is, after all, the Holiday Season where we’re all looking for deals, right?) I can take your assets and hide them from anyone and everyone! Simply form one of my special Nevada … Continue reading →

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Gambling With an Edge Podcast

Posted on November 13, 2018 by Russ

I appear on this week’s episode of Gambling With an Edge. We discuss the new tax law, and tax topics of interest to gamblers, including how the new higher standard deduction will negatively impact gamblers.

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This Name Looks Vaguely Familiar

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Russ

I’m a tax nerd. I read Tax Court decisions. Today, one caught my eye: W.T. Snipes v. Commissioner. This name looks vaguely familiar. Yes, it’s the Wesley Snipes. Mr. Snipes, for those who don’t remember, visited ClubFed for failing to … Continue reading →

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Here We Go Again…

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Russ

A few years ago I penned a post titled “Taxes and Daily Fantasy Sports: The Duck Test.” To remind everyone, If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it just may be … Continue reading →

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Haste Makes Waste

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Russ

Or so the cliche goes. And for the IRS, it certainly does. A client filed his tax return on October 2nd. He had a balance due (he had made an extension payment, but he still owed some tax). He paid … Continue reading →

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A Letter on Redacted Transcripts

Posted on October 18, 2018 by Russ

About a month ago I wrote Nina Olson, the IRS National Taxpayer Advocate, regarding the IRS’s new policy on redacting transcripts. I noted several issues: 1. While an unredacted transcript is available, it is only available to taxpayers, not tax … Continue reading →

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It’s Time to Panic!

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Russ

If you haven’t done your taxes yet but have an extension, it is now officially TIME TO PANIC! The deadline is in less than one week (unless you’re in a hurricane disaster zone, and that will, unfortunately, likely include the … Continue reading →

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Let Us Entertain You (or Not)

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Russ

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) or, as I like to call it, the 2017 tax reform law, changed quite a few things for taxes. Most of these lower rates, or add a new deduction or credit. However, there … Continue reading →

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One Tiptoe Forward for Representation, With that Giant Step Backwards Still Coming

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Russ

The IRS released a Fact Sheet today on the new transcript redaction policy that begins on Monday. There’s one very slight piece of good news for tax professionals in the Fact Sheet: If necessary for return preparation, a client may … Continue reading →

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