Dear Family,
This is shaping up to be a scary weekend. There are Howloween parties for costumed pets and Haute Dogs all over the place. The amusement parks have added special new attractions to spook the willing. And there are over 400,000 results when you search for Halloween parties for children.
But we adults have one less thing to fear – the wrath of the FTC. (different than the Wrath of Kahn, though that has been running on TV all week.) When you read IRS News, you will learn that the FTC has decided to hold off enforcing the ‘no retainer’ rule for tax professionals who are helping our clients deal with tax debt. Some of us paid Kallie and Mark Guimond of the National Policy Group to present our case to the Federal Trade Commission. At the same time, the legislative team at NAEA was working on this as well.
Last week, NAEA reported that The FTC attorneys (of which there were many) received NAEA’s presentation well and clearly made a good faith effort to understand the role of enrolled agents as federally licensed tax practitioners and the high ethical standards set forth under Circular 230. At the end of the hour-plus meeting, the attorneys were clearly still in information-gathering mode and suggested we continue the discussion. Well, after getting all this great information, the FTC has decided to exempt us their new Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR or “the Rule”) – for now.
Why should you care if you’re not a tax professional? Because if you, or someone you know, needs help with an IRS or state tax debt, tax pros would have been reluctant to work your case. The FTC’s TSR rules would have put the tax pro community into a position to do 20-50 hours of work – without any ability to get paid for it. We’re nice people. And we do want to help you. But…we want to decide when to do it free – not be forced to give away our services.
Keep watching. In November, you’ll see a new launch of Suze Orman’s Money Minded Moms website. You’ll be meeting a team of passionate writers to help you deal with money, family, health, wealth and more.
Upcoming Events
November 11, 9:00 am PT Roger B. Adams, EA
November 9, 11:00 am PT – Eva Rosenberg, EA Doing Tax Research Online for Free
Upcoming on CPE LINK – with CPE for CPAs, EAs, and more
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/earn-cpe-without-leaving-the-office/
Preview the series on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCMdSFFTwI8
The IRS Practice Series (all times in Pacific Time)
Team taught with Eva Rosenberg, EA, Tom Buck, CPA and Sonya Wilt, EA
Nov 1, 10:00am – Hands-on Collections Workshop
Dec 7, 10:00am – 6 Simple Steps to an Offer-in-Compromise (form 656)
Dec 10, 9:00am – The Un-agreed Collection Alternatives and Appeals
https://www.cpelink.com/teamtaxmama
SELF-STUDY at CPE LINK:
Homebuyers Credits for Tax Professionals
The specific laws related to your clients. How to get it rigth the first time. What to watch out for. And how to overcome IRS Rejections.
IRS Practice Series: Overview of Collection Issues – Price = ZERO:
This on-demand webcast provides a broad overview of the collections process. From preparing the Power of Attorney – IRS Form 4868, to freezing the collection activity, to Offers-in-Compromise and Appeals, the course will explore the numerous collection issues a practitioner may encounter and lay the ground work for the IRS Practice Series. Topics will be covered in more detail in the dozen courses of The IRS Practice Series – leading to a Tax Mediary (CTM) Certificate upon completion of the series.
https://www.cpelink.com/teamtaxmama
EA Class News
We’ve had a lot of fun this week, learning collections issues, and how to fill out forms. We learned how to make a really good living as an EA. This weekend, we’ll do the fourth and final, Final Review for Part 3. And we’re done! All the live classes are over.
We will be having hand-holding sessions every other week in November and December for those folks still studying for the EA Exams. https://irsexams.com/registration/
Remember, you can get a 10% discount on the EA Class if you register for TaxMama’s Family first.
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/membership/family-membership/
The discount code can be found in the Family Look-Ups resource.
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/family-member-resources/
Other TaxMama News:
At Equifax this week, TaxMama tells you how to optimize your retirement contributions; Ilyce Glink gives you 4 tips to buy a HUD home. Dan Solin gives you strategies to outsmart Uncle Sam at Tax Time. Linda Rey discusses pet insurance. The Equifax Credit Experts explain how closing an account affects your credit score. https://www.equifax.com/blog/tax/en_ff
This week’s AccountingWeb.com blog tells you how amusing Tax Court can be.
https://www.accountingweb.com/blogs/accountingweb/talk-taxmama
In IRS News, IRS has released the new limits for retirement plans. And the FTC has released tax pros from a needless burden.
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/category/asktaxmama/irs-news/
In Money Funnies today, we meet a 98-year-old woman making an accounting of her life in church.
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/category/asktaxmama/money-funnies/
In TaxQuips this week, we start the week with Jacqueline who sold an option to someone to buy her land. He paid her for a few years. But never bought the land. How does she handle the payments she received? We have an argument going on this one. How do YOU think this should be reported? Land Option . Jon is ill and in pain. His doctor told him it was time to apply for Social Security Disability. But they keep turning him down. What’s a guy to live on until SSDI wises up? Nothing to Live on . Riki is tired of getting stuck with bills after the holidays. Isn’t there a better way to spend? Holiday Credit Cards . We end the week with Mike who won the lottery and wants to share some money with Mom. Won Lottery .
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/category/tax-quips/
This month’s MarketWatch column is to come. What do you think I should write about?
https://www.marketwatch.com/Journalists/Eva_Rosenberg
As always, we love your feedback, opinions and ideas.
You are what makes all this fun – and interesting!
Please use the Comments link online.
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/asktaxmama/ask-taxmama-issue-574
TaxNerd gear makes a bold statement year-round.
It helps attract the opposite sex!
Shop at www.taxnerd.net or https://www.zazzle.com/taxmama*
Hugs from your favorite TaxNerd,
https://www.zazzle.com/taxmama*
Eva Rosenberg, EA
Your TaxMama® is watching…out for you.
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TAX CALENDAR
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/tax-calendar-2010/
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11/01/20103rd Quarter Payroll Taxes Due
11/01/2010Employer’s Deposit Federal Unemployment (FUTA)
11/01/20103rd Quarter Federal Excise Tax Return & Payment Voucher 11/15/2010Employers Make Monthly Payroll tax deposit on the 15th of each month 12/15/2010Employers Make Monthly Payroll tax deposit on the 15th of each month 12/15/2010Corporations – 4th Quarter Estimate Due
12/31/2010Last Day to Open KEOGH account for 2010 deposits
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From TaxMama® to You!
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Follow TaxMama®’s Tweets – https://twitter.com/TaxMama
You are invited to put a TaxQuips Widget on your phone, social networking page, website, or… You’ll get the TaxQuips as soon as they published – long before they are distributed in by e-mail. It’s a nifty gadget. Just pick up the code and paste into your site or application.
https://www.widgetbox.com/widget/taxmamas-taxquips-daily-tax-podcasts
Download TaxMama’s 2010 iphone Tax Calendar. My gift to you.
Never miss a tax deadline again!
The customizable tax calendar is here.
Add or Remove dates. Add your own reminders – get alerts.
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SPECIAL DEALS
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EA EXAM NEWS & SOLVING THE TAX PUZZLE
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Take TaxMama®’s 2010 EA Exam Review Class
Tomorrow we will do the Part 3 – second Final Review session.
I got a funny note from a student who just passed the hardest part – Part 2, and is now done. He told me how my class not only helped him pass the EA Exam, but also to lose 10 pounds. I’ll tell you about it in next week’s EA Exam News.
– sign up now – and join the FUN!
https://irsexams.com/registration/
A flood of Tax Professionals are interested in
taking the EA Exam. We still have a few handy
dandy totes to hold all your books, notes and discs.
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Read the ebook – Everything You Wanted to Know About the EA Exam
https://taxmama.wpengine.com/free-member-resources/
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