Category Archives: *Tax Quips

Divorce Rip-off

Today TaxMama hears from Kathy in the TaxQuips Forum who is in despair. Let me summarize her problem – and you can read the details, here. Her husband’s ex-wife keeps claiming their children on her joint tax return with her new husband, even though the divorce agreement says Kathy’s husband gets the children. Kathy and […]

Tax on Lump Sum

  Today TaxMama hears from Cindy in the TaxQuips Forum with some great news. “I have recently been approved for disability through Social Security.  I will receive a lump sum (retroactive back to the date I became disabled) as well as start receiving a monthly check. Is the lump sum taxable, and if so, at […]

Student Loan Waived

  Today TaxMama hears from James in the TaxQuips Forum with a disturbing problem. His fiancée got a bill from IRS for a student loan that was cancelled because she had excellent grades. Why is that taxable?  

Red Flag on Business

 Today TaxMama hears from RW in the TaxQuips Forum who is concerned about the new 1099-K reporting. “I am faced with either closing my e-commerce accounts or getting a tax ID number. I have no problem getting the number and making my business legitimate. But will this send up a red flag to the IRS […]

Fish for a Day

Today TaxMama managed to crash the TaxQuips Forum. We’ll get it back up this morning. In the meantime, let’s talk about some of the issues that keep cropping up in the questions that I’ve seen these past few weeks.  

Cannot Get Refund

    Today TaxMama hears from Geoff in the TaxQuips Forum who is frustrated. To make a long story short (you can read the long story here), Geoff didn’t file his tax return on time because he couldn’t afford to pay for the preparation fees. When he filed, more than three years later, IRS denied […]

Disability Wages

Today TaxMama hears from Leslie in the TaxQuips Forum who makes an excellent point. “When a Member of the Screen Actors Guild becomes disabled, in order to receive their Pension, they must sign paperwork. One of the acknowledgments is that “You have been made aware that FICA should not be taken out of your residuals […]

Emotional Distress

  Today TaxMama hears from Teddy in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “What is the tax rate on a settlement that is classified as emotional distress?”  

Buying a Business

  Today TaxMama hears from Josh in the TaxQuips Forum who is concerned. “I’m interested in purchasing a business which was owned by a sole proprietor. He owes back taxes. Would I be liable for those back taxes if I purchase this business?”

Gift Tax Giddiness

Today TaxMama hears from Thomas in the TaxQuips Forum who is in a bind. “Thomas bought a used car from a rental agency, paying by wire transfer, then suddenly got called out of town before he could pick it up. They cannot wait the one, itsy-bitsy, extra day for him to return, so his girlfriend […]

It’s a WAHM Thing!

Way back in the beginning, when the commercial Internet opened up, working mothers found that it was a great place to interact and share information. A variety of sites sprang up, help out, and fizzled out. Some survived.   Today, let me introduce you to the launch of a Work at Home Mom site that will […]

Selling Rental House

  Today TaxMama hears from Debra in the TaxQuips Forum who wants to know. “How can I sell my rental home without paying taxes on the profit?” (Actually, the question is much longer. You can read the details, here.)