Tuesday, June 30, 2015

WHAT’S THE BUZZ, TELL ME WHAT’S A HAPPENNIN’ – TUESDAY EDITION

ALERT - MY GMAIL ACCOUNT HAS BEEN HACKED.  DO NOT OPEN ANY ATTACHMENT ALLEGEDLY SENT FROM MY GMAIL ACCOUNT.  IN THE FUTURE PLEASE VERIFY WITH ME AT MY YAH00 EMAIL ACCOUNT BEFORE OPENING ANYTHING.

* The Obamacare decision was not the only one with 1040 preparation consequences handed down by the Supreme Court last week.  Kay Bell reports “Same-Sex Marriage Now Law of the Land” at her BANKRATE.COM blog –

In a 5-4 decision, the country's highest court ruled on Friday that no state can ban same-sex marriages or ignore such legal ceremonies performed elsewhere.”

Well, not exactly.  Kay points out –

Technically, the Supreme Court's decision only applies to the four states where the cases before the court originated, Adam Romero, senior counsel at UCLA's Williams Institute, told NPR. That's Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan.

Further court action is necessary for the Supreme Court ruling to apply to the other states with bans, but most same-sex marriage advocates expect the judicial system to move relatively quickly.”

The tax angle –

But thanks to today's Supreme Court ruling, now states that collect income taxes must offer federally recognized same-sex married filers the joint filing option at that level, too.”

Or, as Desmond Hudson, aka @MrIdotaxes, tweeted –

Now I don't have to ask what state were you married in for tax purposes.”

* As if the IRS wasn’t in enough trouble, over at her DON’T MESS WITH TAXES blog Kay reports “IRS Gave Tax-Owing Companies Contracts Worth $19 Million” -

“. . . according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the IRS has violated the federal law that prevents it from doing business with businesses that haven't paid their taxes. The IRS also ignored the other portion of that law, enacted in 2012, that prohibits agency contracts with companies that have been convicted of felonies.

In total, during fiscal years 2012 and 2013 the IRS awarded 57 contracts to 17 corporations that weren't eligible because of their tax debts or prior legal sanctions.”

* John Koskinen was appointed as Commissioner of the IRS to fix the agency after the Tea Party scandal became public.  He was described at the time as “an executive who has built his reputation on turning around troubled enterprises”.  However things have actually gotten worse at the IRS since his appointment. 

Granted the idiots in Congress bare some responsibility for continually cutting the budget – but Koskinen has not proven himself to be an effective administrator.

It has gotten so bad that, according to FOX NEWS, “Republicans Weigh Impeachment for IRS Commissioner”.

My colleague Joe Kristan, author of THE ROTH AND COMPANY TAX UPDATE BLOG, gave Koskinen’s predecessor Doug Shulman the title of “the Worst IRS Commissioner Ever”.  The current Commissioner is certainly a close second, if he has not already taken over the title.

* Kelly Phillips Erb lists “8 Signs That It's Time To Get A New Tax Professional”.
 
If you are looking for a new tax professional don't ask me - I no longer accept any new clients (I am actually trying to "thin the herd").  You can start your search at FIND A TAX PROFESSIONAL.

#2 is a no-brainer.  No PTIN – out the door.  Without a PTIN this person should have never been your tax pro in the first place!

* The TAX POLICY BLOG of the Tax Foundation provides us with “A Quick Primer on Personal Income Taxes (with gifs!)

THE FINAL WORD –

One of my clients is on the list of “N.J.'s Best Burger: 3 Great Spots in Jersey City and Hoboken”!

The Park Tavern on West Side Avenue in Jersey City opened, and became a client of my mentor Jim Gill, in 1972 – the same year that I began as an “apprentice” tax preparer with Jim.

TTFN

Friday, June 26, 2015

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


* The big tax news this week - Eric Reed explains “What Obamacare Supreme Court Decision Means for Consumers” at THE STREET –

The lawsuit focused on specific language from the Affordable Care Act's Definitions section, which says that subsidies shall be made available to individuals who enroll in exchanges “established by the state.” Under the plaintiff’s plain-meaning argument, this word choice should preclude subsidies for anyone except those enrolled on state-based insurance exchanges, specifically the federal exchange Healthcare.gov.

The Court rejected this interpretation, along with the plaintiff’s argument that this language was built into the law intentionally to coerce states into setting up their own exchanges at the risk of losing access to federal subsidies.”

The piece also explains –

Today’s ruling for the government will leave the system more or less in place, allowing subsidies to continue uninterrupted for enrollees on the federal exchange.”

While I support this SCOTUS decision, the law that is Obamacare is such a mucking fess that it truly needs to be drastically revised and rewritten.  If it is, I hope this time the idiots in Congress will actually read it.

* William Perez covers the issue of the “Premium Assistance Tax Credit”, and the Court decision, in detail at ABOUT.COM.

* Fellow tax pros – Have you reviewed, and commented on, my discussion of the proposed “Tax Practitioners Bill of Rights” at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL yet?  And have you checked out the MAILBAG Page lately? 

* Check out my article “Claiming Dependents: What Happens When Your Kids Fly the Coop?” at HOW MONEY WALKS.

* So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night.  Another blog bites the dust.  I say good-bye to BOB’S BABBLINGS, but not without providing the answer to my Trivia Challenge.

* MARKET WATCH provides a slide show of “The 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees”.

My current home state of Pennsylvania is #10.  I doubt I would want to live in any of the other 9 (except maybe New Hampshire).  Nevada is #1 on the list (enjoy visiting every 4 or 5 years, but wouldn’t want to live there).

* Now here’s an appropriate item for a BUZZ post (as Joe Kristan has suggested) – William Perez gives “Tax Advice for Cannabis Entrepreneurs” at ABOUT.COM

* Don‘t know what to get your child as a graduation present.  Here’s an idea from Beverly DeVeny of THE SLOTT REPORT – “Give the Graduate a Gift of a Roth IRA”.

Of course the graduate must have earned income - and at least $5,500 to make the maximum contribution.   

* And the beat goes on.  Jason Dinesen gives us “Part 11: Meet the ‘Single Penalty’” in his series on “Marriage in the Tax Code” at DINESEN TAX TIMES.
 
If you ask me there should be neither a Single Penalty or a Marriage Penalty in the Tax Code!


* In case you were wondering, “Yes, Your 529 Plan will Affect Financial Aid”.  So says Kathryn Flynn at SAVING FOR COLLEGE.

* I can’t believe that anyone takes self-important fool Donald Trump seriously.  But it seem that he will be included in the first Republican debate!  I guess they figured the debate needed some comic relief. 

THE FINAL WORD –

I recently saw an excellent production of DAMN YANKEES at the Forestburgh Playhouse in (where else?) Forestburgh NY.

The number that opens the second act, THE GAME, could only be sung in the context of the 1950s.  Individual members of the Washington Senators sing about how they fought temptation – women, liquor, etc - because they “thought about the game”.  Do any of today’s players actually think about the game?  Doing so certainly has not helped them fight off temptation?  Basically they just think about themselves, as do most professional team athletes today.

The concept of a player selling his soul to the devil, however, would certainly play today.

TTFN

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

WHAT’S THE BUZZ, TELL ME WHAT’S A HAPPENNIN’ – TUESDAY EDITION


Right on Ellen Degeneres.  She recently celebrated the date March 20, 1820 as the date Congress voted on the Missouri Compromise.  Why is this date important?

It was the last time the words Congress and compromise were used in the same sentence.”

Not really.  The inability to compromise began when Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House.

* Fellow tax pros – Have you reviewed, and commented on, my discussion of the proposed “Tax Practitioners Bill of Rights” at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL yet? 

* BTW – you can click here to sign a petition in support of the National Society of Accountants created “Tax Practitioner Bill of Rights”.

* No new post up yet at BOB’S BABBLINGS.  If you missed it, check out last Monday’s post and enter my Trivia Challenge.

* Caleb Newquist suggests “Donald Trump's Accountants Should Quit” at GOING CONCERN.

I love Caleb’s spot-on descriptions of the pompous idiot –

shaved orangutan

gold-dusted self-orgy of narcissism, Trump talked about his wealth at length because that's all he likes to talk about.”

scary orange oaf

I can’t imagine anyone in their right mind even thinking about voting for this fool.  How clueless is the Trumpster to think that anyone takes him seriously.

Need I remind you – he was chastised by Rosie O’Donnell for screwing his stockholders and his response to her criticism was “you’re fat”.

* Kay Bell tells us “Uber Ruling Underscores Contractor vs. Employee Conflict” (Uber is the name of a company, and not an adjective) at DON’T MESS WITH TAXES and advises “Make sure you are classified correctly, since it affects your taxes”.

* Kansas taxpayers be warned.  Trish McIntire reports on “The Largest Tax Increase" in the history of the state of Kansas at OUR TAXING TIMES.    


FYI, ABLE is the “Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014”.  CCH explains –

The ABLE Act permits states and state agencies or instrumentalities to establish and maintain a new type of tax-favored savings program through which contributions may be made to the account of an eligible disabled individual to meet qualified disability expenses. These accounts also receive favorable treatment for certain means-tested federal programs.”  

TTFN

Friday, June 19, 2015

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


* Fellow tax pros - I have a new post at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL that discusses the proposed “Tax Practitioner’s Bill of Rights”.  What do you think? 

If you haven’t seen last week’s post yet do so now! 

* On a similar topic – Michael Cohn reports at ACCOUNTING TODAY that “Senators Introduce Bill to Enhance Taxpayer Bill of Rights”.

Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and John Thune, R-S.D. have introduced the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act of 2015.  Apparently the act is more a reaction to the “IRS Scandal”, which Prof Paul Caron posts is now in its 771st day (can you say “obsession”).  It doesn’t look like it addresses the rights identified in my TAX PROFESSIONAL piece.

* Have you entered by Trivia Challenge at BOB’S BABBLINGS yet?  Why not?    

* The CCH TAX NEWS HEADLINES tells us “House Appropriations Panel Approves $10.1-Billion FY 2016 Budget for IRS” (highlight is mine) –

“The measure, which passed by a vote of 30 to 20, includes $10.1-billion to fund the IRS for FY 2016, which represents a cut of approximately $838 million, compared to FY 2015.”

This appropriation, which comes on top of FY 2014 cuts to the IRS budget of $526 million, would “would fund the IRS at 2004 levels”.

The FY 2014 budget cuts have caused IRS taxpayer service to be abysmal.  Cutting another $838 Million would make it almost non-existent.

This is another reason (as if I needed one) why I will never refer to the members of Congress without identifying them as idiots.  These fools continue to force additional inappropriate tasks on the Service, as in the case of Obamacare, but do not provide the proper funding for these tasks. 

When the idiots in Congress give the IRS additional tasks it should provide additional specific earmarked funding to pay for them. 

I believe that fiscal mismanagement of the budget cuts have added to the drastic reduction in taxpayer service.  I think that IRS management purposefully applied much of the budget cuts to taxpayer service to anger the public into complaining to Congress – but that is just my opinion.

* Jeff Stimpson quoted me in his TAXPRO TODAY piece “Retro Grade: What Went Right and Wrong This Tax Season”.

* Jason Dinesen is up to “Part 10: Filing Statuses Arrive in 1948” in his series on “Marriage in the Tax Code” at DINESEN TAX TIMES.

* And Jason begins a new series of blog posts on “Choosing a Business Entity” by defining some “Basic Terminology”.


Jason correctly observes –

Contrary to what the H&R Block and TurboTax commercials imply, there’s no magic that a preparer can work to give people a bigger refund — tax refunds are almost always determined by how much tax was withheld from wages during the year.”

The examples, and the solution, in Jason’s post apply to “traditional” married couples as well as same-sex married couples.

* Thankfully I will not have to deal with this aspect of Obamacare, but in case you do Barbara Weltman asks “How Many Employees Do You Have?" At BARBARA’S BLOG.

What am I talking about?  As Barbara explains –

Under the Affordable Care Act, you can’t rely on a head count. You need to determine an average each month throughout the year for purposes to know whether you’re subject to the employer mandate.”

* That tonsorially-challenged fool is at it again.  Political cartoonists and comics everywhere are giving thanks to God.  Tony Nitti tell us “Donald Trump Announces Bid For Presidency”.

As I “tweeted” to Kay Bell, I would vote for Homer Simpson for President before I would vote for “noted gasbag” (as Tony aptly describes him) Tronald Dump.

THE FINAL WORD –

Despite the sentiments of the popular song, back in the day when MTV was a legitimate cable station that actually provided legitimate entertainment, the musicians who appeared in the videos did really earn their money (although what they did with some of the money earned can be called into question).

Today it is truly the “featured participants” (I refuse to call them “stars”) of reality tv excrement that get “money for nothing”, and, with nonsense like THE BACHELOR, “chicks for free”

TTFN

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

FOUR REASONS TO REMOVE THE EITC FROM THE TAX CODE


Over at the TAX JUSTICE BLOG Kayla Kitson lists “Four Reasons to Expand and Reform the Earned Income Tax Credit”.

I contend that there are at least as many reasons to take the Earned Income Tax Credit out of the Tax Code and instead distribute the benefits through normal existing welfare programs. 

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear upfront – the Earned Income Tax Credit is a federal welfare program, perhaps the biggest federal welfare program currently in existence.  The direct cost of the EITC to the U.S. federal government was about $56 Billion in 2012.

Actually it is not Kayla but the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) that advocates expansion via a recently released “report that makes a strong case for making permanent EITC provisions that are set to expire in 2017 and also improving the credit for low-income workers without children.”

The first reason given for expansion is “EITC Increases Employment”.

I have my questions about this statement –

There is strong empirical evidence that the EITC increases labor force participation among single mothers. In fact, one study found that 34 percent of the increase in employment for this group between 1993 and 1999 can be attributed to expansions of the EITC.”

As the report suggests in reason #4, which covers the “reform” area of the report, there is indeed “complexity in eligibility rules and credit formulas” for the EITC.  In my opinion the only people who truly understand the workings of the EITC are tax professionals and tax cheats. 

I really doubt that a person decides to go to work, or work more, because they are aware of the fact that they will receive a bigger refund check from Uncle Sam at tax time.  A person decides to work, or work more, because he/she needs the money to feed their family. 

In most legitimate EITC cases, at least initially, the qualified individual (I cannot really say qualified “taxpayer” because a large majority of EITC recipients are not tax “payers”) first learns about the EITC in the process of having their tax returns prepared. 

I would like to see some concrete proof that individuals actually made the decision to go to work, or to work more, because of the EITC.

Here are my “Four Reasons to Remove the EITC from the Tax Code” –

1. The purpose of the federal income tax is to raise the money necessary to administer the government.  Period. 

It is not meant to be used for “social engineering” – distributing federal welfare or other social benefit programs or redistributing income – or to discourage or encourage specific behavior (other than possibly to encourage savings, investment, and growth).

2.  The benefits of the EITC, and any other government welfare or benefit program distributed via the 1040 (tuition assistance, energy credits, etc), are not received “upfront” when it is needed.

The benefit is actually paid as much as a year “after the fact”.  The credit for 2014 is based on 2014 income, but is not distributed until the spring of 2015 after the Form 1040 (or 1040A) has been filed and processed.  But the benefit is needed when struggling to pay bills or put food on the table due to low income and reduced earnings, when actually paying for college or trade school, or when actually purchasing energy efficient products.

Unemployment benefits are paid while the person is actually unemployed.  And traditional Aid to Families with Dependent Children is paid during the period of low income or un- or under-employment.  You do not have to wait 6 months to a year to get your unemployment or traditional welfare payments.

Parents of college age children receive traditional Student Financial Aid at the time when the tuition and fees are due, and when books need to be purchased.  You do not have to wait 6 months to a year to get your financial aid, after you have been forced to borrow money to pay for the tuition, fees, and books.

3.  The actual cost of federal welfare, and educational assistance, energy incentives, etc, as a percentage of the total budget is distorted.

The costs of benefits distributed through the Tax Code are not counted as expenses of the actual program activity – they are reported as reduced income tax collection.  It also distorts federal budget reporting by creating the infamous “47%”.  If properly done there would be much fewer Americans not paying any income tax.  Benefit recipients would actually be paying tax, but receiving more in direct federal benefits.

4. Probably the most important reason – Tax credits, especially refundable credits, are a magnet for tax fraud.

It has been determined, by various sources at various times, that 1/2 to 1/3 of all EITC claims are incorrect if not outright fraudulent.  1/3 of $56 Billion is almost $19 Billion in money stolen from the federal government.  Similar error/fraud rates have been attributed to other refundable credits. 

Delivering government benefits through traditional venues would provide for more scrutiny and examination of claims by the appropriate agency.  The IRS is not the appropriate agency.  And tax preparers should not be forced to become Social Workers (often uncompensated because they do not properly charge EITC clients for the time involved) and determine if a person qualifies for federal welfare.

Here is an additional reason (as if more were needed).  The complexity of the EITC, and of the various tuition tax benefits, almost requires claimants to seek paid professional help at tax time.  And the recent excessive due diligence requirements for tax professionals preparing returns with an EITC claim could substantially increase the fees charged.  So a low income individual, who truly needs the benefits of the EITC, is forced to pay a potentially substantial fee to be able to collect their federal welfare.  When a person applies for Aid to Families with Dependent Children does he/she have to pay an “application fee”?

So it seems clear – at least to me - that the Earned Income Tax Credit does not need to be expanded.  It needs to be removed from the Tax Code!

TTFN

Monday, June 15, 2015

THE FINAL WHERE THE FAKAWI - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH


I can't go on, I can't go on no more, no!

I have lost all interest and motivation to do GDEs.  I am basically sick of looking at 2014 Form 1040s. 

Since I returned to my desk on April 20th I have completed and mailed out 45 of the 49 GDEs I requested on April 14th.  And there are a few GDEs that the client themselves submitted but have not yet given me their “stuff”.  Getting myself to finish the last two GDEs was like pulling teeth – I kept singing that song from ANNIE (the procrastinator’s hymn).

I will complete the very few currently red-filed GDEs (returns I have started, but found I needed additional information) as the missing information arrives – but I am not going to work on any new GDEs that arrive for the rest of the summer.

Obviously I cannot avoid 1040s altogether, as I must respond to IRS and state tax agency correspondence as it arrives.  But I want to spend my summer writing about 1040s and not preparing 1040s.

And I want to spend my mornings sitting on the Observation Deck at Lake Wallenpaupack, or under the Narrowsburg Bridge in the Tusten Veterans Memorial Park, reading mystery novels.

I will return to GDE preparation in September.

TTFN

Friday, June 12, 2015

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


* I actually could not come up with a topic for discussion for THE TAX PROFESSIONAL this week.  Tax pros – any suggestions? 

If you haven’t seen last week’s post yet do so now!  

* And check out this week’s post at BOB’S BABBLINGS.  

* Howard Gleckman tells it like it is in “Obama-Era Tax Reform: RIP” at TAX VOX (the blog of the Tax Policy Center) –

If you still thought there was any chance Congress would pass tax reform before the next election, you can officially abandon hope.”  

It seems I can no longer dream.

Howard reports –

In an online interview published Sunday on Morning Consult, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) hammered the last nail in the coffin. Asked about his priorities for the rest of the year, McConnell replied, ‘We’re certainly not going to be able to be doing big, comprehensive tax reform with this president. The president is not interested in revenue neutrality, and he’s not interested in treating all taxpayers the same, so I don’t think we’ll get there on comprehensive’.” -  

The idiots in Congress have been talking big about the need for genuine and substantial tax reform for about 3 years now – but of course they have done absolutely nothing, and will do absolutely nothing until after the 2016 election (if even then).

It has always been obvious that BO never wanted genuine and substantive reform.  His proposals have always been to further complicate the already mucking fess of the Tax Code with expanded refundable credits.  He wrongly wanted, and wants, to continue the erroneous practice of distributing government welfare and other social program benefits via the 1040, and equally wrongly using the Tax Code to “redistribute” income.

Read my lips – the purpose of the income tax is to raise the money necessary to fund the administration of the government.  Period!  

The most we can hope for this year is that the idiots in Congress address the tax extenders before the end of the fall.

* Jason Dinesen continues his answer of the question “Are HRAs Always Appropriate for Sole Proprietors?” with “Part 3”.

* Tax attorney Darrin T. Mish deals with another important question at his IRS PROBLEM SOLVER BLOG - “How Easy Is It For Identity Thieves To Get Your Tax Information?”.

Personal tax return information is NOT public information.  Transcripts should be available only to the taxpayer, the Executor of the estate of the taxpayer, and a duly authorized tax professional with a Power of Attorney.  The IRS should not be allowed to provide taxpayer information directly to third parties for income verification.  If a mortgage company needs a transcript of a tax return it must get it from the applicant.

* The following appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of the NEW JERSEY STATE TAX NEWS -

The following jurisdictions are conducting tax amnesty programs. During the designated amnesty period, taxpayers have a chance to pay back taxes with reduced (or eliminated) penalty and/or interest. For more information, including eligibility requirements, or to obtain an application, visit the jurisdiction’s website.

Maryland 9/1/15 – 10/30/15 www.marylandtaxes.com

Missouri 9/1/15 – 11/30/15 http://dor.mo.gov/

TTFN

Thursday, June 11, 2015

SEE YOUR TAX PRO FIRST!


I have covered this issue here at TWTP before – but it bears repeating.

A recent discussion thread at a tax preparer Facebook group concerned a potential new business client with three partners and 5 already created “entities” (corporation, partnership). 

Pardon my cynicism (especially when it comes to lawyers) but I expect the 5 entities were created on the advice of an attorney without regard to the tax consequences – an attorney who would get 5 separate fees.

To be fair, an attorney may not necessarily be trying to pad a bill when providing incorporation advice and suggesting multiple entities – but the attorney may not be fully aware of all the tax consequences of the entities, and their interactions, that they propose.
 
Very, very important - if you are considering entering into a business enterprise visit your tax professional and your accountant (if not the same person or firm) before you visit your attorney.  Often times getting out of an entity formed in error can be more expensive than forming the entity. 

It may turn out that you don’t need the attorney at all – a one-person LLC or corporation can be formed easily and inexpensively directly with the appropriate state agency online without a lawyer.  And it is important to be aware that formal incorporation is not always the best way to go for a one-person business (although being an LLC, if not a corporation, is). 

However if there are more than one individuals involved in the business, more often than not you will need a lawyer to make sure that you are fully protected – from your potential partners in the enterprise.  You may need a lawyer to draw up the business agreements for the partnership and your own personal lawyer who represents you alone to review the agreements.

Bottom line – when considering going into business consult a tax professional first!

TTFN

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

WHAT’S THE BUZZ, TELL ME WHAT’S A HAPPENNIN’ – TUESDAY EDITION


Thankfully the IRS took the word “qualified” from their periodic tweet about the online database.  They now tweet – “#IRS launches a new public directory of federal #tax return preparers http://go.usa.gov/hsY4”.  I hope my complaints were one reason.  The description is still incomplete and misleading.  It should say “federal tax return preparers with IRS-recognized designations”.

* Tax pros – Is April 15th Sacred?  My answer at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL is yes. 

New posts will now appear on Wednesday – so be sure to check back tomorrow.

* And check out this week’s post at BOB’S BABBLINGS.  

* Kay Bell tells us “H&R Block Explores Virtual Tax Preparation” at DON’T MESS WITH TAXES.

Henry and Richard would do better to explore competent and reasonably priced tax preparation!

* Trish McIntire covers a timely topic in “Taxing Garage Sales”.

I have presented an alternative to the garage or yard sale that could actually end up putting more money in your pocket.  See my 2011 post “Spring Cleaning Tax Savings”.

Why I wouldn’t have a garage sale –

Do you really want the great unwashed masses tramping through your yard or garage, and possibly your house as well? This activity usually wastes a full day, is loaded with potential for agita, and in the end you never get what your stuff is really worth. During the last hour of the sale you often end up almost giving away what is left just to get rid of it.”

* At DINESEN TAX TIMES Jason Dinsesn continues his series of posts on “Breakeven Analysis for Small Businesses” with a discussion of “Service Providers and Not-for-Profits”.

THE FINAL WORD-

Let’s face it – the families who “star” in reality tv excrement are not chosen because they are average, or normal, or responsible.  They are chosen because they are self-absorbed and self-important, behave outrageously, and, to be kind, are not the brightest bulbs on the tree.
 
Let’s not be kind.  They are chosen because they are quite literally “no smarter than a fifth grader” (and I am talking about the parents and not any of the actual fifth graders).

The very fact that they involve their young children in such an enterprise is proof in itself that the mothers and fathers are bad parents.

So it should be no surprise when it turns out than some are bigots, religious fanatics, or perverts – not unlike many of their viewers.

TTFN

Friday, June 5, 2015

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


* Tax pros – have you seen the new post at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL yet?   And please tell your fellow tax preparers about THE TAX PROFESSIONAL.

* And check out this week’s post at BOB’S BABBLINGS for some I LOVE LUCY trivia.    

* Jason Dinesen continues his class in “History of Marriage in the Tax Code” with “Part 9: After Poe v. Seaborn” at DINESEN TAX TIMES.

* And Jason continues another discussion – of the question “Are HRAs Always Appropriate for Sole Proprietors?” – with “Part 2”.

* Ripped from the headlines.  Key Bell discusses “Deducting Transgender Medical Expenses” at her BANKRATE.COM blog.  As does Anthony Nitti in “Will CaitlynJ enner's Gender Reassignment Costs Be Tax Deductible?” at FORBES.COM.

With apologies to Caitlyn/Bruce – I cannot take anything done by a member of clan Kardashian seriously.  It is unfortunate that this issue did not have a more credible/serious role model – the value is truly tainted by the Kardashian connection.

* Joe Kristan quotes Paul Caron quoting the Wall Street Journal about recent TIGTA testimony to a Congressional hearing in Tax Roundup, 6/3/15: Oh, THAT Million-Dollar Rent Payment. And: the IRS Data Breach is on Management, Not Budget” - 

A government watchdog told lawmakers Tuesday that the Internal Revenue Service has failed to put in place dozens of security upgrades to fight cyberattacks, improvements he said would have made it ‘much more difficult’ for hackers to gain access to the personal information of 104,000 taxpayers in the spring.”

Joe explains that the IRS has its priorities FU-ed -

Yet the last two commissioners (and, sadly, the Taxpayer Advocate) have spent more effort trying to set up a preparer regulation scheme that would do nothing to stop fraud — but would increase IRS power and the market share of the big franchise preparers.


* Michael Branch warns parents to “Avoid This Trap When Using a Roth IRA to Pay For College” at the SLOTT REPORT.

TTFN

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

WHAT’S THE BUZZ, TELL ME WHAT’S A HAPPENNIN’ – TUESDAY EDITION


* Tax pros – have you seen the new post at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL yet?   And please tell your fellow tax preparers about THE TAX PROFESSIONAL.

* And check out this week’s post at BOB’S BABBLINGS for some I LOVE LUCY trivia.    

* Kay Bell celebrated May 29th (5/29) with “Five 529 Plan Facts to Celebrate 529 Day” at DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS.

* Howard Gleckman explains the truth behind why we have “The Perpetual, Immortal, Eternal, Never-Ending Tax Extenders” at TAX VOX, the blog of the Tax Policy Center (highlight is mine)    

An indelible image: It is pre-dawn in September, 1986. House and Senate tax writers have just completed their work on the Tax Reform Act.  A lobbyist friend sits forlornly in the corner of the majestic Ways & Means Committee hearing room. “What’s wrong,” I naively ask, “Did you lose some stuff?” Oh no, he replies, he got three client amendments in the bill. And that was the problem. After years of billable hours, his gravy train had abruptly derailed. The client got what it wanted. Permanently. And it no longer needed him.

Few make that mistake now. Lawmakers, staffs, and lobbyists have figured out how to keep milking the cash cow. There are now five dozen temporary provisions, all of which need to be renewed every few years. To add to the drama, Congress often lets them expire so it can step in at the last minute to retroactively resurrect the seemingly lifeless subsidies.”

It would be operatic, if it wasn’t so stupid.”

* Jim Blankenship of GETTING YOUR FINANCIAL DUCKS IN A ROW agrees with me (click here) in a blast from the past that it is a good idea to open a “Roth IRA for Youngsters”.  However he correctly points out one important fact –

The rules for making contributions to Roth IRAs (actually, any IRA) include the fact that the person who owns the account must have earned income.  This means that the individual whose account is being contributed to must have earned at least the amount that is being contributed from some sort of job – which could include self-employment or any sort of employment.”

Another area of concern for parents.  You may intend the ROTH IRA to provide retirement income for your kid – but the money in the ROTH IRA belongs to the kid, and once he/she reaches the “age of majority” he/she can “take the money and run”.


Can you guess the answer?  What else – it depends.  Jim explains in this post.

TTFN