Tag Archives: fiscal follies

Property Taxes and Trusts

Today TaxMama® hears from Lee in the TaxQuips Forum who wants clarification. “Are property taxes lower when a house is in a trust?” 

Ask TaxMama Issue 656 – Bearing Up

 Dear Family, Well, California just made Kiplinger’s Worst State to Live In lists – Twice. The 10 Least Friendly Tax States, and the 5 States with the Highest Income Tax. Yup…it’s time to think about moving somewhere else. But where? I have this article right at hand, from nearly a year ago. But haven’t had […]

Taxpayer Advocate Service Changes Case Acceptance Criteria

  [TaxMama Note: This is important for people in IRS  tax trouble to know.  Also, read today’s It’s A WAHM Thing article about how to do things yourself.] The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is designed to be a “safety net” for taxpayers who are experiencing problems with the IRS. However, because we couldn’t possibly help all […]

IRS Provides Tax Relief to Victims of Hurricane Isaac

IRS Provides Tax Relief to Victims of Hurricane Isaac; Return filing and Tax Payment Deadline Extended to Jan. 11, 2013 (courtesy of the IRS)  WASHINGTON –– The Internal Revenue Service is providing tax relief to individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Isaac. Following recent disaster declarations for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management […]

Daffynitions

  Here are some funny interpretations of words you already know and love. Coffee (n.), a person who is coughed upon. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained. Flatulence (n.) the emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

Fighting Abusive Employers

Today TaxMama® hears from Nick in the TaxQuips Forum who is angry. “This year I saw some disturbing instances where independent contractors were issued 1099-MISC for higher amounts than they were actually paid. Some of contractors were paid in cash and there are no supporting documents on how they were paid. The reason for these […]

Outsourced Payments

Today TaxMama® hears from Lloyd in the TaxQuips Forum with a little problem. “I paid someone in Thailand approximately $15K a year to do data entry for me. IRS is not happy that I did not issue a 1099-misc to her. Until now, she did not have ITIN or Social Security Number. However, this year […]

Late Gift Tax Return

Today TaxMama® hears from Ivan in the TaxQuips Forum who seems to be concerned. “I have found lots of info on filing gift tax returns – penalties – life time exclusions. But what I cannot find is, what if someone makes a gift(s) to a child, or anyone else, in an amount well over the […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 655 – Happy Labor Day Weekend

Dear Family, Everyone is getting ready to take off early for the long Labor Day Weekend holiday. I know you have lots of distractions. So we will make today’s issue short and sweet – just one Money Funny – all about what our children are learning in science class. We’ll return on Tuesday with IRS […]

Science Lessons

Interpretations of nature from junior high, high school, and college  test papers and essays submitted to science and health teachers (spelling  errors preserved)… “When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire.” “H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water” 

Partnership Penalties

Today TaxMama® hears from Lara in the TaxQuips Forum who is helping get a partnership out of trouble. As it happens, this seems to be the week for questions from tax pros about the penalties IRS imposes on late-filed partnership tax returns. So let’s talk about those.