Category Archives: Tax Court

Miccouskees Reach End of the Road

The Miccouskee Tribe runs a very successful casino outside of Miami.  The tribe itself is a sovereign nation and is exempt from federal taxation.  However, its members are US citizens and owe tax on all their income.  The tribe offered … Continue reading

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Bozo Tax Tip #7: Be Frivolous

I’d love to be frivolous during tax season. But the inbox is full, the piles of paper don’t go anywhere unless I move them, and my next day off is April 16th. I can get a good laugh when I … Continue reading

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Up In Smoke…Again

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Where there’s a marijuana business, there’s Section 280E and the desire to find a means around it. The Tax Court looked at two cases today involving semi-legal marijuana dispensaries (legal on the state level, but … Continue reading

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This Name Looks Vaguely Familiar

I’m a tax nerd. I read Tax Court decisions. Today, one caught my eye: W.T. Snipes v. Commissioner. This name looks vaguely familiar. Yes, it’s the Wesley Snipes. Mr. Snipes, for those who don’t remember, visited ClubFed for failing to … Continue reading

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When It’s Too Good to be True (Tax Shelter Edition)

When reading Tax Court decisions, always be on the lookout for the word “scheme.” It’s usually a heads-up that what you’re reading isn’t going to cut it (from a tax perspective). So when the decision begins, These consolidated cases involve … Continue reading

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A Thriller of a Decision Upcoming

The Wall Street Journal yesterday highlighted Judge Mark Holmes of the United States Tax Court. Judge Holmes’s opinions are extraordinarily readable even to those who know little about tax law. I’ve noted Judge Holmes’s writings in the past (on the … Continue reading

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What Portion of the Stipulation Didn’t You Read?

A company owes withholding tax to the IRS. The case goes to Tax Court, where the issues are resolved, including a stipulated amount of withholding. Somehow the IRS forgets about the withholding. It then goes to a collection Appeals, where … Continue reading

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The Shortest Tax Court Opinion I’ve Seen

I’ve seen opinions of the Tax Court run to hundreds of pages on complex cases. Today, I perused what might be the shortest Tax Court decision I’ve ever seen. The petitioner erroneously filed as “Head of Household” when she should … Continue reading

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Can a Tunnel Bridge Agent be a Professional Gambler, Too?

The Tax Court looked at whether someone who worked full time as a Tunnel Bridge Agent could also be a professional gambler. There is a lot in the decision, including some things that I believe the Court gets wrong. The … Continue reading

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The Law Isn’t Fair, But You Have to Pay the Tax

A California couple received an Advance Premium Tax Credit (part of the “Affordable Care Act,” aka ObamaCare). Through bureaucratic errors at Covered California, they’re unable to change their plan once they’re both employed to stop the credit, nor do they … Continue reading

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