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

“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”  Groucho Marx

Today’s BUZZ has a twofer theme – two posts each from most sources.

* It’s here!  The November issue of THE TAX PROFESSIONAL, my free online monthly newsletter for tax preparers that is.  Check it out – and please let me know your thoughts on the issues I discuss.   

* Check out my recent articles at MAINSTREET.COM - "IRS Announces 2015 Inflation Adjustments: Here's The Intel You Need” and “Which States Have the Best and Worst Business Tax Climates?”.

* CPA Peter J Reilly is certainly correct when he says the “AICPA Wasted Member Dues On IRS Lawsuit” at his FORBES.COM blog.

Peter quotes from a TWTP post.

* Also at FORBES.COM Ashlea Ebeling reports that “IRS Commissioner Predicts Miserable 2015 Tax Filing Season”.

The post tells us National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson is even gloomier –

“The filing season is going to be the worst filing season since I’ve been the National Taxpayer Advocate {in 2001}.”

Gee, I can’t wait.

* Read this post from Jean Murray at ABOUT.COM “Before You Barter Your Products or Services”.  It discusses “Tax Considerations for Bartering Your Products or Services”.

* And Jean’s weekly newsletter concerns year-end business tax planning.   

* Jason Dinesen continues the tale of Joe the Window Washer in “Joe the Window Washer Gets a Reality Check” at DINESEN TAX TIMES.

* Jason follows with the beginning of a new post series – “A Little Bit About Sole Proprietorships, Part 1”.

* Jim Blankenship helps to celebrate “Happy 40th Anniversary, IRA!”. 

When I started preparing taxes there was no such thing as an IRA.

* A recently "tweet-plugged" blast from the past from Jim’s colleague at DUCKS Sterling Raskie explains “A Nifty Little Trick to Increase Savings”.

* Over at ASK JK Mr. Lasser answers the question “I sold municipal bonds at a loss this year. Isthe loss deductible?” 

* Kay Bell follows up on her pre-election DON'T MESS WITH TAXES post with "Most of 2014's Tax Ballot Questions Approved by Voters"  

The answer – “Gain or loss on the sale of municipal bonds is figured in the same way as for any other asset.”

TTFN