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

* Have you checked out my new non-tax blog – the return of THE LAKE REGION SOMETHING – yet?  Why not?

* From Kay Bell at DON’T MESS WITH TAXES – “Taxpayer Advocate, private debt collectors square off”.

Like Kay, I totally agree with Nina’s objections to forcing the IRS to use outside debt collectors.  This is a horrible idea, and it has failed miserably in the past.  The idiots in Congress apparently firmly believe in the old adage – if it doesn’t work, keep doing it. 

Collection agencies do not care whether money is actually owed – or about the financial condition of their “victims”.  They get paid only when the collect money – and will do whatever they can to get money from their “victims”, including continual harassment.  The IRS has an ethical duty to make sure that outstanding tax debt is legitimate, and to take into consideration the financial condition of debtors.

If you are contacted by an outside collection agency on behalf of the IRS tell them you refuse to deal with them – that you will only deal directly with the IRS.

* Jason Dinesen discusses “When and How to Fill Out a Form W-9” at DINESEN TAX TIMES.

* For those who are interested, the new issue of NJ State Tax News is out.  I like the new look.

The issue did clear up something for me.  Years ago I had been told by a reliable source that the original June 1^st due date for filing the PTR forms, identified on the cover of the application package, was established by statute, which is why each year the Governor had to “graciously” extend the filing deadline to October.  While tax professionals always anticipated the extension, I was afraid that one year the State, in need of money to waste on pork and entitlements for politicians, would surprise us all by not extending the deadline.   

This year’s forms package identified the due date as October 31st, so there was no need for magnanimous action by “Uncle Phil”.  According to an item in the newsletter -

“Administrative Changes to the Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) Program — P.L. 2017, c.370, signed into law on January 16, 2018, and effective immediately, changes the annual deadline for filing an application to October 31. Additionally, the law allows an individual who erroneously receives payment to set up an installment payment plan to repay any amounts owed.”

It is rare that I applaud the NJ legislature for actually doing something right.

* Speaking of NJ taxes – it has been verified to me by an employee of the NJ Division of Taxation that the increased maximum $15,000 deduction for property taxes on the NJ-1040 starts with the 2018 tax year (discussed in an earlier BUZZ installment).

* Kelly Phillips Erb tells us “Social Security Issues Warning About Scams Similar To Those IRS Phone Scams” at FORBES.COM.

THE FINAL WORD

Here is an interesting and insightful history lesson co-written by my long-time friend and client Ron Mehta, in response to Donald T Rump's deplorable immigration policies - "Lesson from India to Make America Great Again" at FAIR OBSERVER.

Of course, the lesson would be lost on Trump.  It has certainly been proven that he is ignorant of and unconcerned with history.

With great sadness, and disgust, I agree with the article's observation that under the Trump Presidency "the US has now become Trumpistan, a land that is not only cruel and intolerant, but also dishonest and hypocritical in almost all its claims and actions".

TTFN