Author Archives: Russ

Where I Became the “Messenger of Doom” (My Final Comments on Turf Rebates)

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Russ

One of my friends coined my current nickname, the “Messenger of Doom.” It had to do with a year where he made a lot money, and then I gave him the bad news that he had only made about half … Continue reading →

Posted in California | Tagged | 3 Comments

Board of Equalization Excoriated for Ignoring the Law and Binding Precedents

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Russ

My thanks to Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee for pointing out a California case where the California Board of Equalization (yet another California tax agency; this agency administers sales and use tax) was rightly excoriated. Dan Walters begins: However, … Continue reading →

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North Carolina Added to Bad States for Gamblers

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Russ

North Carolina changed its tax law over a year ago. While I have professional gambling clients in North Carolina, I do not currently have amateur gambling clients. It’s likely I won’t be getting many of those, as North Carolina legislators … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling, North Carolina | 5 Comments

Phishers Target Tax Professionals

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Russ

I received the following email today: From: [redacted] [differentname@mail.csuchico.edu] Sent: Thu 2/11/2016 3:06 PM To: undisclosed-recipients: Hi, I and my Family are looking for a very Qualified CPA in your area. Please let us know if you can be available … Continue reading →

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Can a Resident of a Non-Tax Treaty Country (With Respect to Gambling) Get His Withheld Funds Back?

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Russ

Today, I received an inquiry from a citizen of New Zealand (he is not a US citizen or permanent resident). He had done well in a poker tournament here in the United States–well enough to have had 30% of his … Continue reading →

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IRS Must Pay Fees in Civil Forfeiture Case

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Russ

I’m a huge fan of the Institute for Justice. Last week, the Institute for Justice won a case for a man who had $107,702.66 seized from him. Last May, Lyndon McLellan won the right to get back his $107,702.66 that … Continue reading →

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Good News on the Practitioner Priority Service (PPS)

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Russ

It was with fear and trepidation that I picked up my phone and dialed the IRS’s Practitioner Priority Service (PPS). This is the telephone number that tax professionals use to obtain information from the IRS. Over the past year and … Continue reading →

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It Was Only a 13.33% Kickback

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Russ

Last year I reported on the case of Ronald Boyd. Mr. Boyd was Chief of Police of the Port of Los Angeles. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are two of the busiest ports in the world, and … Continue reading →

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“I Bestow on You the Title of Taxpayer in Good Standing…”

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Russ

A bit of humor to start the day. Courtesy of Spidell’s Tax Season Tribune, I discover that a video game has decided to emulate the Internal Revenue Service. Now, it’s been years since I played video games. Apparently the game … Continue reading →

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Maryland Suspends Processing Tax Returns from 23 Liberty Tax Service Locations

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Russ

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot announced on Tuesday that he has suspended processing from 16 more Liberty Tax Service locations (bringing the total suspended to 23). The decision was made based on suspicious characteristics found on the returns: Business income reported … Continue reading →

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