Tag Archives: fiscal follies

Where Federal Taxes Stand for 2012

January 1, 2012 –   by Barbara Waltman   As 2011 came to a close, there was considerable uncertainty about specific payroll and federal income tax rules affecting small businesses and their owners. Here are the rules effective at the start of 2012.buy strattera online alvitacare.com/wp-content/languages/new/where/strattera.html no prescription   Payroll tax cut extension On December […]

There is no Egg in Eggplant

Let’s face it – English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant or ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. There’s no bread in breadfruit.

The Future Retirement Home

Today TaxMama hears from Gary in the TaxQuips Forum with a planning question. “We need advice on the logistics for purchasing a home to presently rent, with the intention of living in this home when we retire in a few years. We need more information on this topic to ensure we make wise decisions.”

Nursing Home Costs

 Today TaxMama hears from Susan in the TaxQuips Forum with an ever more common  situation. “My dad (age 88) is in a nursing home because my mom can no longer care for him. I wanted to know which nursing home expenses are considered medical expenses.”  

Commuting or Mileage

Today TaxMama hears from Guy in the TaxQuips Forum with an interesting situation. “My wife took a part time job at the local community college campus about two miles from our house in 2010. Once every week or two she would travel to the campus at another town about 40 miles away. For this travel […]

What is my Refund?

Today TaxMama hears from Alex in the TaxQuips Forum who is confused. “I’m wondering what my refund would be if I claimed exempt status for about half of 2011.I’m a full-time student, filing as single, with a gross income of about $10,000. I tried doing some of my taxes on TurboTax, but it said my […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 624 – Happy Holiday Season

Dear Family, Although this time of year is meant to be sort of slow, and laid back, so we can just enjoy the buzz from the whole year and the holidays…it’s been quite the opposite. These last couple of months have been a whirlwind – kind of a blur, actually. And there are still a […]

IRS Offers Tips for Year-End Giving

Courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service WASHINGTON — Individuals and businesses making contributions to charity should keep in mind several important tax law provisions that have taken effect in recent years. Some of these changes include the following: Special Charitable Contributions for Certain IRA Owners This provision, currently scheduled to expire at the end of […]

Meals Deduction Barely Covers Price of Coffee

If you think American tax laws are tough on meals and entertainment, read this story recently reported by Chelm on the Web. The Israel Tax Authority finally updated the amount that the independently employed can put down on their tax returns as expenditures for wining and dining a business associate. It took a High Court […]

Hiring Grandma

Today TaxMama hears from Jason in the TaxQuips Forum who wants to get it right. Let me summarize his issue – and you can read the details, here. He has hired Grandma to provide child-care in his home. He’s pretty sure that he is not required to treat her as an employee, according to various […]

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 […]