Category Archives: IRS

Bank Notice on IRS Tax Refund Fraud

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Russ

The IRS has been making noises that they are more aggressively pursuing identity theft and tax refund fraud. My bank (Bank of the West) sent me a notice on these issues. (I assume it was sent to all Bank of … Continue reading →

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IRS Interest Rates Unchanged for 1st Quarter 2014

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Russ

The IRS announced today that interest rates for the first quarter of 2014 will be unchanged: – 3% for overpayments (2% for corporations); – 3% for underpayments; – 5% for large corporate underpayments; and – 0.5% for the portion of … Continue reading →

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Don’t Try This at Home

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Russ

Thomas Thorndike was a tax preparer in Waterbury, Connecticut. I use “was” because earlier this year he was sentenced to six years at ClubFed for cheating on his own taxes and for helping clients obtain refunds using false deductions. Here’s … Continue reading →

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Pass the Popcorn, Please, II

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Russ

As ObamaCare and its troubles dominate the news, lurking in the background is the IRS scandal. The Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) wrote an op-ed on FoxNews that noted the lawsuit filed by the … Continue reading →

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Dear Mr. IRS

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Russ

I must commend CPA Tony Nitti on his “Request for Urgent Business Relationship.” It’s hilarious…but horribly sad. Why? TIGTA–the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration–came out with what is (for me) a scathing report on identity theft and phony tax … Continue reading →

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IRS Scandal Update

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Russ

The political news has been dominated as of late by the ObamaCare follies. However, the IRS scandal continues to percolate. There has been some news this past week: The National Organization for Marriage sued the IRS over the leak of … Continue reading →

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PTIN Follies, Year 4

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Russ

This is the fourth year I’ve had to pay for my PTIN (my third year to renew it). A PTIN is a Preparer Tax Identification Number–it’s a number I use when I prepare a tax return. It’s a means for … Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: When the IRS Writes New Law When They’re Not Allowed To

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Russ

The IRS is part of the Executive Branch of government. The Executive Branch can’t write law–they can issue regulations based on laws passed by the legislative branch (Congress) and then only when Congress authorizes it. There’s an issue percolating in … Continue reading →

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Sigh: 2014 Tax Season to be Delayed up to Two Weeks

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Russ

Just the news that every tax professional wants to hear: The 2014 tax season (2013 tax returns filed next year) will be delayed one to two weeks. It appears the start date for processing will be sometime between January 28th … Continue reading →

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44 Days

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Russ

44 days isn’t much time. It’s about a month and a half. Yet in the bizarre world of the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare), it’s a big deal. Over the coming weeks I’m going to be looking at various provisions … Continue reading →

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