WHAT’S THE BUZZ, TELL ME WHAT’S A HAPPENNIN’

* An obituary for THE TAX PROFESSIONAL. 

* I am quoted in "New York State Proposes Regulating Preparers" at ACCOUNTINGTODAY.
 

* Christopher Bergin suggests “We Need a Tax Professional to Run the IRS”.

 

No thanks.  I am not available!

* Peter J Reilly tells us, as his promoting “tweet” says, “Saxophonist toots his own horn in TTax Court and wins” in his post “Musician Wins Hobby Loss Case” at FORBES.COM.
 

* Some good advice via Paul Caron, aka THE TAX PROF – “Don't Die in Maryland or New Jersey”.

I would add - don’t live in NJ.

Just received a payment from a Maryland estate – 10% of my inheritance went to the State of Maryland.

* Jason Dinesen finds another same-sex marriage tax opportunity in “IRS Guidance on FICA Refunds for Same-Sex Married Couples” –

“The IRS has released a streamlined procedure for recovering FICA taxes withheld on the pay of same-sex married couples in cases where benefits (typically health insurance) were counted as taxable income to an employee.”   

It would seem to me that employers would want to look into this topic and file amended 941-Xs and W-2cs – since they also pay FICA tax on this income.  This way employees would be able to get refunds of overpaid FICA tax directly from the employer, although they would still need to file amended 1040s to get a refund of income tax paid.

* Kay Bell reports “State Tax Amnesties Underway” in Connecticut, Louisiana and Arkansas at her Bankrate.com TAXES BLOG.  I had already told you about Connecticut’s amnesty program in an earlier BUZZ installment.  

* Nothing to do with taxes, but FYI – “U.S. Postal Service Announces New Prices for 2014”.

The proposed changes that would become effective Jan. 26, 2014 –

•Letters (1 oz.) — 3-cent increase to 49 cents

•Letters additional ounces —  1-cent increase to 21 cents

•Letters to all international destinations (1 oz.) — $1.15

•Postcards — 1-cent increase to 34 cents

* Check out the complimentary September 25, 2013 “issue” of “Parker's Federal Tax Bulletin” from PARKER TAX PUBLISHING.  

* Bruce McFarland, the MISSOURI TAXGUY, explains “How to Write Off Travel Expenses As Business Expenses”.

* AARP reminds us to “Beware of the Latest Health Law Cons” and provides “8 ways to protect yourself from crooks trying to cash in on the health insurance exchanges”.


TTFN