Category Archives: California

If Statesboro, Georgia Sent Me a Property Tax Lien

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Russ

Let’s suppose there was a company in Statesboro, Georgia called “Clayton Financial and Tax.” Let’s further suppose that they didn’t pay their property tax bill, and that the business folded. Statesboro tries to find someone to pay the bill, so … Continue reading →

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California Cap and Tax Hits a Snag

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Russ

Last November, California voters refused to overturn AB32. That misguided legislation imposed climate change as gospel and gave the California Air Resources Board a mandate to stop ‘global warming.’ Coincidentally, last fall CARB implemented a ‘cap and trade’ system for … Continue reading →

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California Disclosure Obligations

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Russ

There are rules regarding reporting a reportable transaction (including a listed transaction) to the IRS. The Franchise Tax Board wants to get the word out that there are rules about reporting such items to the FTB, too. This impacts both … Continue reading →

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How to be a Receptionist Without Trying at All

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Russ

I’m happy doing what I do. As my brother says, someone’s got to enjoy preparing tax returns. One thing that I’m not, though, is a receptionist. Neither is one Bakersfield woman. However, Bakersfield tax preparer Bertha Vaughn listed her as … Continue reading →

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Same Old Song and Dance

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Russ

Let’s assume you are the President of Acme, a business that makes all sorts of things. Your major customer suffers a financial reversal, and your sales are going to go down by 40%. Do you continue to spend at the … Continue reading →

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2010 California Use Tax Returns Due on January 31st

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Russ

If you own a business in California (including a sole proprietorship, an LLC, or a corporation) and you have had $100,000 of gross receipts or more in a year from 2008 through 2010 and do not otherwise have to file … Continue reading →

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Another California Non-Conformity Issue: Medical Insurance for Non-Dependent Adult Children

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Russ

I felt this important enough to update while relaxing in the Bahamas. (It helps that the sun is gone under a bank of clouds.) Anyway, from Spidell comes word that California is not going to conform to the exclusion of … Continue reading →

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Russ Fails Reading Comprehension: FTB Deadline Is April 18th

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Russ

My mother is a writer. My father was a writer. I’m the co-author of three books. My whole family are voracious readers. Yet I failed reading comprehension 101 when I looked at a set of instructions for a California tax … Continue reading →

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What Next for California?

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Russ

Jerry Brown will soon (again) be California’s governor. When he became governor in the 1970s, California was in excellent financial shape. When Jerry Brown becomes governor again on January 3rd, California will face something like a $25 to $30 billion … Continue reading →

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Shaming in Income Tax for the Fourth Quarter

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Russ

Not only has the BOE updated their list, but California’s Franchise Tax Board has updated its list of the top 250 delinquent in income tax. It took just $290,965 to make this list, but leading the way are Halsey and … Continue reading →

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