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

* November’s “issue” of THE LAKE REGION SOMETHING has an article on “Evaluating Tax Exempt Investments”.  Did you see it?

* Have you taken advantage of my special Birthday Bonus Offer yet?  What are you waiting for?

* Quentin Fottrell explains “How the Tax Code is Squeezing Parents” at MARKETWATCH.COM -

“Child care costs grew at eight times the rate of household income over the last year, but child care tax credits haven’t changed in a decade.”

* Perhaps there is still hope - “Baucus Plans Release of Code Revision Drafts in Two Weeks: Taxes”.  So says BLOOMBERG.COM -

“Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said he intends to release his first draft for a comprehensive tax-code revision within the next two weeks.”  

But, like Professor Jim Maule, I am not holding my breath.

* Over at FREE ENTERPRISE, the Findlaw small business law blog, Betty Wang reminds us of the IRS’s “nifty list of factors” to help you figure out “if you've hired an independent contractor or an employee” in “Independent Contractor? IRS Looks at 20 Factors”.

* The Tax Foundation’s TAX POLICY BLOG tells us that “54 Million Federal Tax Returns Had No Income Tax Liability in 2011”.

* A Tax Pro alert – “IRS Sends Warning Letters to Preparers Suspected of Filing Inaccurate EITC Claims”.

“IRS also plans to visit some tax preparers to provide education and outreach on meeting EITC due diligence requirements. More information about the IRS’s compliance initiatives and EITC due diligence can be found at EITC Central.”

* Another blog list, this time from MOTLEY FOOL – “The 10 Countries With the Highest Income-Tax Rates”.

FYI – “The United States ranked only 23^rd”.

* Joe Cicchinelli and Jared Trexler of THE SLOTT REPORT discuss “Contributing to an IRA When You Are Married Filing Separately”.  

* And, at the same place, Jared Trexler joins with Jeffrey Levine to give us a “Year-End Roth Conversion Question-And-Answer”.

* Enrolled Agent Jason Dinesen admits “EAs Are Partly to Blame for Our Obscurity” at DINESEN TAX TIMES.

“It’s time for all EAs to say enough is enough and start demanding some respect for our designation. It’s time for all of us to proactively explain to our clients what an EA is.”

* Peter J Reilly discusses a recent court case in “Intrafamily Home Mortgage Not Recorded Not Deductible” at FORBES.COM.

His advice –

“Loaning money to your kids can be a great planning maneuver.  It is critical that you follow all the formalities to avoid nasty surprises.” 

* MISSOURI TAXGUY Bruce McFarland has a guest post by Audrey on “How To Write Off Travel Expenses As Business Expenses”.

* And Bruce’s “Tax Talk Tuesday” covered “2013 Biz Year End Tax Ideas”.

TTFN