Author Archives: Russ

A Train to Nowhere

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Russ

I haven’t posted on California’s bullet train in some time (I’m no longer a resident of the Bronze Golden State), but it’s time to once more post about the train to nowhere. In theory, this train will connect Los Angeles … Continue reading →

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FBAR Deadline Approaches

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Russ

Ten days from today is June 30th. That’s the deadline for filing Form 114, the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (the “FBAR”). There are no extensions available. The FBAR is a report. There is no tax to pay. … Continue reading →

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Identity Thief Gets 17 1/2 Years

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Russ

Frantz Pierre, formerly of Parkland, Florida but soon to be residing at ClubFed, was sentenced last week to 210 months at ClubFed and must make restitution of $906,556. What did he do? I’ll let the Department of Justice press release … Continue reading →

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Why You Use Certified Mail

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Russ

A client was in IRS Appeals contesting the late filing penalty for his 2012 tax return. His return, which was ineligible for electronic filing, was on extension. The extension was timely electronically filed. The client believes he went to the … Continue reading →

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Withholding Notice Snafu in California

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Russ

The Franchise Tax Board, California’s income tax agency, apparently issued a boatload of withholding mismatch notices. Some (but not all) of those notices appear to be in error; additionally, the FTB’s phone and chat lines have been swamped. The FTB … Continue reading →

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Answering Some FBAR-Related Questions

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Russ

The FBAR–the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (Form 114)–is due on June 30th. If you have $10,000 aggregate in one or more foreign financial accounts you must file the FBAR. There are no extensions available. Here are three … Continue reading →

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If You Want to Go to ClubFed…

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Russ

…The simplest, fastest, and easiest method (via the tax world) is to withhold employment taxes and not remit them to the IRS. This is always investigated. But at least once a month I see yet another example. Take the case … Continue reading →

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Lionel Messi On Trial For Tax Evasion

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Russ

Football–well, soccer for us colonials–is a big business. Lionel Messi is one of the world’s best players. The Spanish tax agency, Agencia Tributaria, accuses Mr. Messi (and his father) of evading €4.16 million of tax on his image rights. Mr. … Continue reading →

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Only the IRS Can Unite Democrats and Republicans

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Russ

Last week Congress held a hearing on the IRS refusing to return wrongly seized small business owners assets. Only the IRS could unite Democrats and Republicans this year, and once again the IRS managed to do so. As reported in … Continue reading →

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Individual F: Has Kermit Washington Fouled Out?

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Russ

Yesterday I wrote about the guilty plea of former San Diego Charger Ron Mix; today, the other shoe dropped. “Individual F,” as former NBA basketball player Kermit Washington was called in the Mix indictment, was arrested on charges of corrupt … Continue reading →

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