Author Archives: TaxMama

True Wisdom of the (s)ages

  “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.” —Albert Einstein  

Mileage and LLC

Today TaxMama® hears from Randal in the TaxQuips Forum with a sensible question. “I am an outside salesperson working as a sole proprietor, getting 1099s each year. My largest deduction is mileage. I earn less than $30k most years. If I setup an LLC to run my business through, will I lose my mileage deduction?”

OIC – Slashing Tax

Today TaxMama® hears from Sallie in the TaxQuips Forum who is puzzled. “I am trying to prepare an offer in compromise. When I go through the computations in the updated Form 656 package, the offer amount equals more than the tax they owe! I’m missing something. Please help.” Hi Sallie, What you’re saying is, that […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 643 – Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Dear Family , What a historic week in space. We had a rare annular eclipse (see photos) on Sunday. The next one will be in 2030. And this very morning, the SpaceX capsule, Dragon, docked with the International Space Station. (See updates here.) For the first time in history, private enterprise is successfully entering the […]

IRS Announces 43 Small Offices to Close, Others to be Consolidated

…Agency Sheds More than One Million Square Feet of Office Space Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a sweeping office space and rent reduction initiative that over the next 2 years will close 43 smaller offices and reduce space in many larger facilities. These measures will save […]

IRS Announces More Flexible Offer-in-Compromise Terms

…to Help a Greater Number of Struggling Taxpayers Make a Fresh Start Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced another expansion of its “Fresh Start” initiative by offering more flexible terms to its Offer in Compromise (OIC) program that will enable some of the most financially distressed taxpayers […]

Are YOU the Weakest Link?

Here is a very simple little test comprising of four questions to determine the level of your intellect. Your replies must be spontaneous and immediate, with no deliberating or wasting time.  And no cheating.  On your mark, get set….GO! 1: You are competing in a race, and overtake the runner in second place.  In which […]

Adoption

Today TaxMama® hears from Hilde in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “My son and daughter-in-law just adopted a special needs child from China. We know that there was a tax credit avail last year. Is there a tax credit for 2012? If yes, how much is the credit for? Some of the expenses were […]

Mileage Method

Today TaxMama® hears from Walter in the TaxQuips Forum with a most astute question. “Is there a limit to how many miles of standard mileage auto/truck expense a self-employed taxpayer can take on their Schedule C for a given year? The portion of the business standard mileage rate treated as depreciation is on average about […]

Bookkeeping

Today TaxMama® hears from Mary in the TaxQuips Forum who remembers. “During one of the registered tax return preparer (RTRP) presentations on May 15, or 17th, the instructor mentioned getting clients familiar with bookkeeping software. Several names were mentioned. Can you give me the name of the software?”

Self Employment and Canada

Today TaxMama® hears from Tony in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “I have a friend / client who had self employment income in both US and Canada. He has already filed in Canada and is asking me to use the same income amount declared there, here in the US. He now owes the Canadian […]