Author Archives: Russ

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 →

Posted in Tax Fraud | Tagged | Comments Off on Identity Thief Gets 17 1/2 Years

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 →

Posted in IRS | Tagged | Comments Off on Why You Use Certified Mail

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 →

Posted in California | Comments Off on Withholding Notice Snafu in California

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 →

Posted in International | Tagged | Comments Off on Answering Some FBAR-Related Questions

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 →

Posted in Payroll Taxes, Tax Evasion, Tax Fraud | Comments Off on If You Want to Go to ClubFed…

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 →

Posted in International, Tax Evasion | Tagged | Comments Off on Lionel Messi On Trial For Tax Evasion

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 →

Posted in IRS | Comments Off on Only the IRS Can Unite Democrats and Republicans

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 →

Posted in Scams, Tax Fraud | Comments Off on Individual F: Has Kermit Washington Fouled Out?

Mix Sacked: From Hall of Fame to ClubFed?

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Russ

Ron Mix is in the NFL Hall of Fame for his play as an offensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers. He was nicknamed the “Intellectual Assassin” for the combination of his physical play and his law degree. Mr. Mix’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Scams, Tax Evasion | Comments Off on Mix Sacked: From Hall of Fame to ClubFed?

Taxes and the WSOP: 2016 Update

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Russ

I’ll be heading to the Rio Hotel and Casino tomorrow for three days of continuing education. In a little over two weeks, the poker world will be descending on the Rio for the annual World Series of Poker. (I’m probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling | Tagged | 2 Comments