Author Archives: Russ

Cleveland Loses on Monday (and They Didn’t Even Play)

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Russ

Pity the poor Cleveland Browns. Last Thursday they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 31-10. This morning, the City of Cleveland lost at the US Supreme Court, 2-0. The Supreme Court refused, without comment, to hear Cleveland’s appeal of their “Jock … Continue reading →

Posted in Ohio | Tagged | 1 Comment

Chaka Fattah, Jr. Guilty of Tax and Fraud Charges

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Russ

Chaka Fattah Jr., son of Democratic Congressman Chaka Fattah Sr. (D-PA), was found guilty on Friday of 22 of 23 tax and fraud charges. As the Department of Justice press release notes, Between 2005 and 2012, Fattah Jr.: made false … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | 1 Comment

Time Running Out on the Miccosukee Tribe’s Battle with the IRS

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Russ

I have sympathy when taxpayers battle the IRS over legitimate issues. Indeed, I’m all for fighting the IRS when they’re (imho) wrong. However, fighting quixotic battles when you are wrong isn’t a good idea. The Miccosukee Tribe in Florida is … Continue reading →

Posted in Gambling, IRS, Tax Court | Tagged | 1 Comment

Where I Agree (In Part) With IRS Commissioner John Koskinen

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Russ

It’s rare for me to agree with IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. However, he spoke to some tax practitioners today and I do agree with some of what he said. From Accounting Today: Once again, Congress has been working on legislation … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged , | 1 Comment

I’m Sure Their Vacation in Arizona Will Impress the Sentencing Judge

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Russ

Back in October 2014, Ronald and Dorothea Joling were convicted of tax evasion. As the US Department of Justice noted in the press release, Evidence at trial detailed the Jolings’ illegal efforts over close to twenty years to keep the … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | 2 Comments

AICPA Has Standing Per DC Court of Appeals; IRS’s Annual Filing Season Program In Jeopardy

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Russ

The American Institute for Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) filed a lawsuit in July 2014 challenging the IRS’s Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP). Almost exactly one year ago, a District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that the AICPA did … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | Tagged , | 1 Comment

California DMV Deliberately Overcharging on Sales Tax

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Russ

When you purchase a car in California, you owe sales tax based on where the car is registered. The California DMV uses a table based on ZIP Codes to determine what that should be. For 90% or more of California, … Continue reading →

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Chaffetz Introduces Impeachment Resolution of IRS Commissioner Koskinen

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Russ

This past Friday the US Department of Justice announced that there would be no criminal prosecution of Lois Lerner related to the IRS scandal. I certainly wasn’t surprised. If you don’t remember, the Department of Justice won my Tax Offender … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS | 1 Comment

Over 1,100 Returns Filed from Two Addresses Lead to Two Heading to ClubFed

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Russ

Two separate cases out of Broward County, Florida highlight that if you submit lots of tax returns from the same address even the IRS will get suspicious. A former band director and another Floridian will be heading to ClubFed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Fraud | Tagged | 2 Comments

Monsters Under the Bed

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Russ

Two Florida tax preparers (I hesitate to use the word “professionals” based on what they’re accused of) are facing a lawsuit from the Department of Justice seeking a civil injunction to prevent them from owning a tax preparation firm and … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS, Tax Preparation | Tagged | Comments Off on Monsters Under the Bed