Author Archives: TaxMama

Interest on Multiple Homes

Today TaxMama hears from Karen in the Tax Quips Forum, with a complex problem. “Her client owns three homes: A primary home, a vacation home and a home for Mom. They bought the vacation home with a mortgage. After paying cash for their residence, they refinanced it buy Mom’s home. The question is – can […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 618 – If Only I Had Known

  Dear FAMILY, The other day, I was talking to someone and he said something that really hit a chord with me. I’ve made mistakes, or bad decisions. There are times when I wish I had something differently. Over the years, in my career, in my business, in my tax practice, there were choices or […]

Free IRS Phone Forums – Employee Plans

  Free phone forums featuring IRS employees discussing retirement plan topics. Upcoming Phone Forums Determination Letter Issues Regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans – October 28, 2011 The presentation will cover topics such as technical issues affecting ESOPs and recurring issues noted in ESOP determination letter submissions. Presenters are Don Kieffer and Rick Parker in the […]

IRS Urges Tax Professionals to Prepare Now for New e-File Rules

[TaxMama Note: This is wise advice, my friends. The time has come, the Walrus said…to get with the program. If you plan to prepare tax returns next year, and get paid to do so, you must be filing electronically, now.  It may be hardship for folks who have been preparing tax returns manually, or who […]

Tax Extension Reminder – Things Not to Overlook

Courtesy of the IRS Don’t Overlook Special Individual and Small Business Tax Benefits; Choose e-file, e-pay  [TaxMama Note: Be careful. If you have disclosure statements that you want to go to IRS with your tax return, make sure your tax software company is transmitting those pages or forms.  If you cannot reach them in time, […]

Ready for the Paddy wagon

  Paddy goes to the vet with his goldfish. “I think it’s got epilepsy” he tells the vet. Vet takes a look and says “It seems calm enough to me”.  Paddy says, “I haven’t taken it out of the bowl yet”.  

Antique Coins

Today TaxMama hears from Dallas in the Tax Quips Forum, with a disturbing question. “My mother has been collecting antique gold coins for years now. She got a call from one of her dealers telling that at the first of the year, the tax laws for these coins will change.  They will no longer be […]

Flipping Off

Today TaxMama hears from Marina in the Tax Quips Forum, with this situation. “Two separate clients have purchased houses to flip in 2010.  One is a R.E. agent the other is the owner of a construction co. (C corp).  Both have purchased a house, and after renovating them, both were able to flip their houses […]

Virgin Islands Investing

Today TaxMama hears from Tom in the Tax Quips Forum, who has gotten bad advice. “I started investing in an online program that is registered in the British Virgin Islands. They say that this program is exempt from the US Securities Act of 1933, the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the US Investment Company […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 617 – Reflections

  Dear Family, This week, we’ve been busy trying to finish up tax season before the October 17th deadline. It’s odd that people we’ve been working with for a decade or two have suddenly forgotten the fundamental things needed to complete their own tax returns. Things they have been gathering year-after-year…they just don’t remember. Are […]

Surviving Spouses to Benefit from Portability Election

Courtesy of IRS. [TaxMama note: IRS issued this announcement on Sept 29, 2011. Not quite enough time to post this, much less for you to use this information by October 3rd. If you missed the deadline and didn’t get to file for an extension, try to get the extension anyway.  The rules for last year […]