Last Friday I attended the National
Association of Tax Professional’s annual “The Essential 1040” year-end tax
update workshop. Last year in October I
had compiled “What’s New For 2017” (click here to download) to report much of
what was discussed at this workshop. Today’s
post at THE TAX PROFESSIONAL, “The 2017 NATP Essential 1040”, has my “review”
of the event. And I will post items of
interest for taxpayers from the workshop here later this week.
* Speaking of NATP – the organization has
produced a good, but very general, comparison of the recently passed House “Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act” and the version approved by the Senate Finance Committee
that will be voted on after Thanksgiving.
Click here to download.
In case you are interested - in my opinion
the Senate version is worse than, or perhaps I should say not as good as, the
House version. Of the 2 I prefer the
House version, although it certainly has provisions that I oppose.
* Paul D Allen deals with an important but
little understood topic in “Interest Tracing Rules” at the PIMCO TAX BLOG.
“Like
many things in the tax law, this is one of those concepts that doesn’t seem
important to know until it applies to your personal tax situation.”
An excellent bottom line –
“Taxes
are definitely not easy, and interest tracing rules don’t make them any easier.”
* Kelly Phillips Erb, aka FORBES.COM’s
TaxGirl, gives us an “Ask The Taxgirl” post on “Dependent Care Expenses & Stay-At-Home Parents”.
* Kay Bell provides a timely warning - “Beware year-end ID theft and quick cash scams” - at DON’T MESS WITH TAXES.
* Once more, for
those who are interested – click here to download TAX BUZZ, the new monthly
e-newsletter for my 1040 clients.
THE FINAL WORDS
(1) I do not oppose, nor would I deny, an
individual’s right to possess genuine religious beliefs and convictions. I do
not, for example, question a person’s right to legitimately be a “devout”
Christian, or a “devout” Muslim, and lead their personal lives accordingly.
I may personally disagree with, challenge, or
oppose an individual's specific religious beliefs and convictions, and
interpretations thereof, and an alleged “devout” person’s hypocrisy in the
selective choice of specific beliefs, interpretations and convictions of a
religion to support.
But I certainly strongly oppose, and would
most certainly deny, an allegedly “devout” religious person’s attempt to force
his specific religious beliefs or convictions on me, or any other person, via
local, regional or national legislation. If nothing else, the separation of
Church and State forbids this.
(2) More Republicans in Congress are now
rightfully calling for Ray Moore to step down, based on the multiple credible
accounts of under-age women he assaulted.
Yet most of these same Republicans ignore the
15 credible accounts of women assaulted by Trump, and his unapologetic bragging
about sexual assault.
So, according to the Republican Party, it is
only wrong to assault teenagers. Once a woman reaches the age of majority she
loses her rights and it is okay to assault her without consequences?
But wait, Trump is also accused of sexually
assaulting a 14-year old.
An aside – it is odd that Hollywood has
higher standards for behavior than Washington.
Bottom line - the same Republicans calling
for Moore to step down should also be calling for Donald T Rump to step down!
TTFN
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