The greatest threat facing America and American democracy is today’s Trump-embracing and Religious Right controlled Republican Party.
It is truly vital for the future of America that you vote
against EVERY Republican candidate in EVERY election on EVERY level today!
If Republicans win America loses.
Here is some good advice.
If you receive a notice from the IRS or a state tax agency relating to a tax return you filed - send it to your tax preparer ASAP.
If you had a balance due on a federal or state income tax return, which you paid with the filing of the return, and you receive a check from the IRS or the state relating to that return – do not cash the check.
The IRS or state agency will send you a notice that should arrive within a few days after receiving the check explaining why the check was sent. Send this notice to your tax preparer and do not cash the check unless the preparer tells you it is ok.
If you “self-prepared” the return in question - consult a tax professional before paying any balance requested on a notice or depositing any check received.
In my 50+ years of experience as a tax professional more often than not notices from the IRS and state tax agencies are wrong.
TTFN
* Jeff Stimpson brings tax professionals some good news with “PTIN season to kickoff with lower fees” at ACCOUNTING TODAY -
“The IRS Return Preparer Office conducted a biennial review of the PTIN user fee in 2025 and determined that the full cost of issuing or renewing a PTIN should be reduced from $11 to $10, plus $8.75 payable directly to a third-party contractor.”
$1.00 less – big whoop. I still do not understand the reason for the $8.75 paid to a third-party contractor.
* The IRS has released Rev Proc 2025-32 which “sets forth inflation-adjusted items for 2026 for various {Tax} Code provisions”.
Click here for an IRS IR-2025-103 “IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026, including amendments from the One, Big, Beautiful Bill”.
* Kelley R. Taylor reminds taxpayers with a “side hustle” of “Another IRS 1099-K Threshold Change to Know for Your 2025 Taxes” at KIPLINGER.COM.
Thanks to the Big but Not So Beautiful Bill -
“So, for payments you receive for 2025 (sent to you in early 2026), you should only receive a Form 1099-K if:
+ You receive more than $20,000 in gross payments and
+ You conduct more than 200 transactions on a single platform within a year.”
* The IRS has issued a draft form of a new much more complicated Form W-4 for 2026, reflecting the changes made to the BBNSBB, with new worksheets for deductions and multiple jobs.
It looks like a new income source for tax professionals.
* Peter J Reilly tells us “IRS Draft Form Confirms Tip Deduction Marriage Penalty” at FORBES.COM.
IMHO there should be neither a marriage penalty or a marriage benefit in the Tac Code.
* Financial Planner Sean Mullaney, THE F.I. TAX GUY tells us “it’s that time of year again” and discusses “2025 Year-End Tax Planning”.
THE LAST WORD
A reminder.
The current President of the Unites States, convicted felon and indicted traitor Donald J. “The Man Who Would Be King” Trump, is a totally worthless human being, completely devoid of intelligence, character, integrity, honor, humanity, sympathy, and empathy who does not possess a single redeeming positive human quality or value. He does not care one ounce about anyone or anything but himself and has never performed a single totally unselfish act in his entire adult life.
America and American democracy will not be safe until Trump is gone.
Hey – just calling a spade a shovel.
TTFN
All the BUZZ this time around comes from the IRS.
* “IRS extends relief to farmers and ranchers affected by drought in 49 states, other regions.”
* And “IRS to phase out paper tax refund checks starting with individual taxpayers” –
“The Internal Revenue Service, working with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, today announced that paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers will be phased out beginning on Sept. 30, 2025, as required by Executive Order 14247, to the extent permitted by law. This marks the first step of the broader transition to electronic payments.”
I had always recommended to my clients that they receive their refunds via Direct Deposit.
Also coming –
“Executive Order 14247 also applies to payments made to the IRS. Taxpayers should continue to use existing payment options until further notice. Additional guidance and information for filing 2025 taxes will be issued prior to the 2026 filing season.”
* Jeff Stimpson reports “IRS unveils new per diem rates” –
“The Internal Revenue Service, in Notice 2025-54, announces the special per diem rates effective Oct. 1, 2025, which taxpayers may use for expenses for lodging, meals and incidental expenses when traveling away from home.”
You can go here for the per diem rates.
THE LAST WORD
How appropriate that Republican states are called red and Democratic states are called blue.
Red is a symbol of danger used in warning signs. Blue has been called an “honest, reliable, and responsible color” that “makes us feel confident and secure”.
The greatest threat and danger facing America is today’s Trump-embracing and Religious Right controlled Republican Party.
I respect the beliefs of true conservatives and traditional Republicans. I have absolutely no respect for the MAGA morons of today’s Republican Party.
TTFN
* From Ashleigh Fields at THE HILL – “Here are the jobs covered by Trump’s ‘No tax on tips’ law” –
“There
are more than 60 jobs that will qualify for President [replace with
‘convicted felon and indicted traitor’ – rdf] Trump’s ‘no tax on tips’ law
ushered in through his ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act’.”
Here is the IRS publication of the individual Codes for qualifying “tipped” occupations.
* The IRS has issued drafts of the 2025 Form 1040, Schedule A, and a new Schedule1-A to reflect the tax law changes made by the Big but Not So Beautiful Bill.
The 2025 Form 1040 also enhances the section on Dependents, moves the check boxes for age 65 and blind to the Tax and Credits section on Page 2, adds additional check boxes for the Earned Income Credit, and makes the form 2 full pages. Page 1 ends with the Adjusted Gross Income, which is very appropriate.
The 2025 Schedule A expands the Taxes You Paid section to reflect the increased SALT limit and has a worksheet to calculate the phase-down of the deduction.
The new Schedule 1-A provides sections to calculate new the tip, overtime, and senior deductions reflecting the AGI phase-outs.
* Kelley R. Taylor reports that a “New Bill Would End Taxes on Social Security Benefits in 2026: What Retirees Should Know” at KIPLINGER.COM –
“On September 4, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), joined by Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, who introduced a parallel bill in the U.S. House of Representatives in April, unveiled the ‘You Earned It, You Keep It’ Act in the U.S. Senate.”
Kelley explains, “The bill would permanently abolish federal taxes on Social Security benefits”.
I have always said that Social Security benefits should be taxed the same way as any other contributory pension – but I do not oppose completely abolishing federal income taxes on Social Security benefits.
When I first started preparing taxes Social Security benefits were exempt from income tax. Benefits were first made partially taxable via the “Social Security Amendments of 1983”, signed into law by Ronald Reagan.
A reminder - this bill has not yet passed. So, no reason to celebrate yet.
* A warning from the NJ Division of Taxation –
“SCAM ALERT: If you receive an unsolicited text message claiming to be from the New Jersey Division of Taxation, it is a scam. We do NOT initiate text messages with taxpayers. We only send text messages if requested through our phone system. Never click links or share personal information in an unsolicited message. If you are unsure about a message, contact us directly through our official channels.”
THE LAST WORD
America no longer a Democracy – it is a Kakistocracy.
Look it up.
TTFN
