Tag Archives: economics

Phooey on FUTA

Today TaxMama hears from Terri in the TaxQuips Forum with a question. “I am a California business. Each year we did an annual return for Federal Unemployment tax (FUTA) taxes as a reconciliation for the payments we make each quarter.  We did the same annual return for CA SUI.  Beginning in 2011 The State of […]

Signs of an Improving Economy?

US economy adds 54,000 new jobs in May – that sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? The WSJ’s perspective – Jobless Rate Rises as Pace of Hiring Slows USA Today adds – Unemployment rates jumps to 9.1% as U.S. economy adds 54,000 jobs The Huffington Post scoffs – U.S. Only Added 54000 Workers In May As […]

Should I File BK?

Today TaxMama hears from Bruce in the TaxQuips Forum who needs to make a decision. “My business failed last year and my wife and I are mulling over whether to declare personal bankruptcy due to this.  Towards the end of the life of the business, I put a lot of money on my credit cards, […]

Vacant Rental Property

Today TaxMama hears from Ed in the TaxQuips Forum who wants to know. “Can I still deduct my expenses on a rental house which sat vacant for 2010 on Schedule E?” 

Taxes Affect Insurance Rates

Today TaxMama hears from Frank Darsi, who sent a link to an interesting article. “Five Ways Taxes Affect Your Car Insurance.” Is the article true? Does it make any sense? Well, since the article only contains four points, not five, we’ve got to wonder about the rest of it… First of all, let me wish […]

Self Employment Surprise

Today TaxMama hears from Alyssa in the TaxQuips Forum, who is surprised. “I am a small business owner, a personal chef. But I also work for a catering company. Even though I made less this year on my adjusted gross income then last year, I owe $1,300; while I paid $200 last year! Could it […]

Sec 179 for 2 Cars

Today TaxMama hears from Pam in the TaxQuips Forum, with a good question. “1 purchased 1 new vehicle in 2010 that is used for both of my businesses (Sch C). How do I allocate the new vehicle Sec 179 deprecation expense to both businesses?”

Ten Facts for Mortgage Debt Forgiveness

Courtesy of IRS If your mortgage debt is partly or entirely forgiven during tax years 2007 through 2012, you may be able to claim special tax relief and exclude the debt forgiven from your income. Here are 10 facts the IRS wants you to know about Mortgage Debt Forgiveness.

Insolvency and COD

Today TaxMama hears from Katherine in the TaxQuips Forum, who gets it.https://www.thescanfoundation.org/wp-content/languages/new/viagra.html “I settled a debt today and am doing a list of assets and liabilities. My question is about assets “Interest in a pension plan.” My husband has been receiving an annuity retirement check for about 20 years. How would we know the value […]

Interns and Unemployment

Today TaxMama hears from John in the TaxQuips Forum, who wants to employ students.“ The business I work for is very small.https://pinnacle.berea.edu/wp-content/languages/new/dissertation-abstracts-online.html It is a nonprofit educational facility, and we are swamped with work, without financial leverage to hire additional staff.  I want to recommend the hiring of interns at a fair hourly wage.  I am […]

IRS says Medicare Part B premium deductible as SE health insurance

IRS says Medicare Part B premium deductible as SE health insurance (2-11-11) Unexpectedly, the IRS says the Medicare Part B premiums are deductible for purposes of the self-employed health insurance deduction. This is a reversal of their long-standing position, and it appeared in the instructions to Form 1040 without any other announcement. Spidell confirmed the […]