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

This statement does not just apply to the ACA (aka Obamacare).  I seriously doubt the idiots themselves actually read in full, or even understand, any of the bills they are asked to vote on.

 

Voters - our battle cry for 2014 is “Get a GRIP!”  Get Rid of all Incumbent Politicians!  A warning – in doing so DO NOT elect any members or supporters of the Tea Party!

* Wow!  I am one of the 5 finalists in the “Best Tax-Focused Personal Finance Blog” category of the 4^th Annual Plutus Awards!  Click here to see all the finalists in all the categories.

Vote for me and I’ll set you free!  You can click here to vote for THE WANDERING TAX PRO for the “People’s Choice” Plutus blog award.

* Yesterday was the 100th birthday of the federal income tax!  Read about it in "The Lake Region Something" (scroll down).

* ACCOUNTING TODAY reports on more victims of the shutdown in “IRS Suspends Tax Refunds and Tax Court Closes during Government Shutdown".

The item quotes the IRS as stating (highlight is mine) “Tax refunds will not be issued until normal government operations resume”, and goes on to say, “The IRS emphasized, however, that the underlying tax law remains in effect, and all taxpayers should continue to meet their tax obligations as normal”.

More from the IRS –

“Individuals and businesses should keep filing their tax returns and making deposits with the IRS, as they are required to do so by law.  The IRS will accept and process all tax returns with payments, but will be unable to issue refunds during this time.”

Very disturbing indeed.

The article also reports –

“While federal government offices are closed, people who have appointments with the IRS related to examinations and audits, as well as tax collection, appeals or Taxpayer Advocate cases should assume their meetings are canceled, the IRS noted. IRS personnel will reschedule the meetings at a later date once the government shutdown ends.”

* In “'Essential' Representatives, Senators Get Paid During Shutdown” Kay Bell reminds us another disturbing fact about the shutdown - “The people {should read idiots – rdf} who've shutdown the federal government are getting paid, and paid very nicely.”

There has been a bill introduced to fix this serious error -

“The Shutdown Member of Congress Pay Act of 2013 would suspend pay for members of Congress in the event of a government shutdown.”

But, as Kay points out, the chances of the bill passing are “slim . . . OK, nonexistent.”

As I have said before - All pay and benefits for all members of Congress should be withheld until they pass a legitimate “non-temporary” budget bill.

And, even more important - all current members of Congress should be voted out when they run for reelection for no other reason than the fact that they are current members of Congress.

* FYI, CNN.COM has a good “Where the Fakawi” chart in “Government Shutdown: What's Closed, What's Open?".

* The “other” NSA (National Society of Accountants) has a “Schedule D Questionnaire” you can download. 

* Tuesday’s MCTAX HANGOUT YouTube “tv show”, hosted by MISSOURI TAXGUY Bruce McFarland, covered “ACA Information You Should Know”.

* “Got Severance Pay? Supreme Court Will Decide How It's Taxed”.  So says Robert W Wood of FORBES.COM.

* Jason Dinesen of DINESEN TAX TIMES continues to keep us up-to-date on same-sex marriage tax issues.  His latest update – “Life After DOMA: Audits of Prior-Year Returns”. 

* This can’t be said often enough.  This time it is Professor Jim Maule who says “Failing to Keep Those Records Can Increase Taxes” at MAULED.COM.

The lesson to be learned –

“Determine what records need to be generated. Take steps to have those records produced. Keep those records.”  

* Michael Kitces provides great detail to help us in “Understanding the New Premium Assistance Tax Credit” of Obamacare at NERD’S EYE VIEW.

 

I was one of the millions of taxpayers who were totally frustrated trying to access the health insurance exchange online on Tuesday.  I finally gave up, after 6+ hours, and called the toll free number.  I did not have to wait on hold long.  The person on the phone was very helpful and patient and we finished the lengthy application process (not application for insurance, but application to get access to the information) in good time.

 

I was also pleased to find that the "call center" I had reached was located in the United States!

TTFN