* Check out my
article “Deducting Mortgage Interest on Your Taxes” at the MainStreet.com TAX
CENTER.
* Tax professionals
– I am still waiting to hear your thoughts on my “Solution to the Question of a Voluntary Tax Preparer Credential” in the August issue of THE TAX
PROFESSIONAL.
* Fellow tax and
personal finance bloggers – would you like a free review copy of THE NEW SCHEDULE C NOTEBOOK? It is yours for the
asking – email rdftaxpro@yahoo.com with “Review Copy Request” in the “subject
line”. Of course I will expect an honest
review of the book.
* Did you hear? “FTC Sending $16 Million to Former American Tax Relief Clients. Don't Fall for Tax Relief Scams in the First Place”. So Kay Bell tells us at DON’T MESS WITH
TAXES.
American Tax Relief
is one of those companies who promised in tv ads that they could settle your
tax debt for “pennies on the dollar”.
Don’t believe anyone who promises to settle your tax
debts for “pennies on the dollar”! If
you have tax debt do not pay attention
to tv commercials. Consult your own
tax professional first. Or seek out a
reputable, competent tax professional in your area who is experienced in tax
representation and resolution. You can
use the database searches available at FIND A TAX PROFESSIONAL.
Kay’s post quotes
some excellent advice from the FTC –
“Ignore promises from any company that says
you are ‘qualified’ or ‘eligible’ for a tax relief program to resolve your tax
debt. Only the IRS or your state tax officials can make that determination.
Walk away if a company requires a fee in advance for
tax relief services.”
If only those who were ripped off by American Tax Relief had sent the money they paid ATR to the IRS towards their debt instead.
* The following is
from the NATP TAXPRO WEEKLY email newsletter (highlight is mine) -
“In a recent IRS Approved CE Provider
conference call, it was announced that in the upcoming Directory of Federal Tax
Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications, those who have
obtained the Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) Record of Completion for that
tax season will be listed with AFSP after his/her name (i.e., Jamaal Harris,
AFSP). It was also mentioned that tax
preparers will be allowed to use the AFSP as a designation on business cards
and other marketing materials—for the tax season in which they have
received the Record of Completion.”
One of the major
objections to this new voluntary program was that it did not provide tax
professionals who meet the requirements with a legitimate “credential”, like
Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP).
This new development is not really a legitimate “credential”, although
it is some kind of “designation”.
If “EA” (Enrolled
Agent) is confusing, you can bet that “AFSP” will be even more confusing.
* Jean Murray lists
the “5 Biggest Mistakes Business Owners Make” at ABOUT.COM.
Of course in #5 she
really means to say “Not getting advice
from both an attorney and a tax
professional.”
THE FINAL WORD
Congratulations to
NJ Chapter of the National Association of Tax Professionals for winning Chapter
of the year in Community Betterment for 2013 at the NATP Annual Conference.
While I now live in
PA, my clients are from NJ and I still think of myself as a member of the NJ
chapter (and write for their newsletter).
And congratulations
to Marilyn H Ayers, NJ chapter President, for being named Tax Professional of
the Year! And to Jaimee Hammer, past NJ
chapter President, for winning NATP Chapter Person of the Year Honorable
Mention!
I am not at the
conference this year because it is in Orlando – I’ve already been there twice
before for conferences and that is enough.
It is hot enough here in PA! But
I will be in New Orleans for the conference next summer.
And I will be
attending NATP’s new Tax Forum & Expo in Atlantic City next month. This new event replaces the IRS east coast Nationwide
Tax Forum that used to be held in either Atlantic City or New York City but is
now in Maryland.
BTW – if you are a
member of NATP from NJ I recommend you join the chapter’s Spacebook group. Click here.
TTFN
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