Tag Archives: Internal Revenue Service

Change in Accounting Method

Today TaxMama hears from Rick in South Carolina with this question. “We have a small business producing conveyor replacement parts. We believe our physical inventory is grossly under valued. How can we re-evaluate this inventory and what permission do we need from the IRS?”

Penalties are not Taxes

Today TaxMama hears from Mike in North Carolina who just won – nothing. “ I recently got the penalties for a 1999 tax return abated. The IRS claims that any penalties over two years old are not refundable and referred to IRS publication 556. I contend penalties are not overpaid taxes and therefore are refundable. […]

Oct. 17 is Last Day for Businesses to Request Tax Credit Certification for Some New Hires

[TaxMama note: For any business needing employees who cannot afford them, this is a good alternative. The government subsidizes your hires for the first year or two. You hire and train someone who would otherwise have a hard time getting a job. You end up with either a devoted and grateful employee – or, realistically, […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 524 – Obama at Peace

Dear Family, The news of day. You are hearing (seeing) it everywhere. President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize. Wow! All anyone can talk about is ‘why’? Perhaps he will earn it someday. Perhaps President Obama really will achieve peace, somewhere. So far, he’s just in the beginning stages. Frankly, this must have come […]

Child Care Decision

Today TaxMama hears from Brad in Missouri who needs to decide. “I’ve got a question about childcare while we work. I can either pay a local teen $60/week cash or a mom $75/week. The teen doesn’t file taxes and thus I don’t think I can deduct it without forcing her to file, correct? The $75/week […]

Short Sales et al

Today TaxMama hears from Lori in Florida with a depressing question. “Can you please tell me where I would find more info on the tax implications from doing a short sale of primary residence? I have quite a few Florida clients that are doing this vs foreclosure. I know that it is cancelled debt, but […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 523 – Exotic Climes

Dear Family, A wonderful, charming, delightful and otherwise irresistible gentleman just called to pay for his tax return via credit card. Which reminded me about something funny that happened. Lulu and I were all excited about getting a new student from Micronesia. Talk about way out there! We wanted to call here, but at 7:00 […]

IRS Approves New Per Diem Rates Effective October 1 2009

Courtesy of David and Mary Mellem, EAs IRS has approved new per diem amounts for meals and lodging effective October 1, 2009. These are the same rates which the Federal government uses to reimburse Federal government employees and that we referred to in an email sent out on September 10, 2009. Here are some of […]

New Taxpayer

Today TaxMama hears from Jerad in California who wants to know. “What would you advise someone who is a 23 year-old student who never had a job until late 2008, but didn’t pay taxes until today? I would like to get things straight and have it done.”

California Wildfire Tax Relief

Today TaxMama hears from Teri in California with this question. “Do you know if there is authority for relief from the 10% penalty on early distribution of IRAs due to the California wildfires?”

IRS Issues Guidance on 2009 Required Minimum Distribution Waiver

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service today provided guidance for retirement plan administrators, plan participants and retirees regarding recent legislation affecting required minimum distributions. The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 waives required minimum distributions for 2009 from certain retirement plans.http://www.ijasrjournal.org/wp-content/languages/new/resume-writing-services-atlanta.html Generally, a required minimum distribution is the smallest annual amount that must […]

Ask TaxMama Issue 522 – The Book of Life

Dear Family, This week has flown by. We’ve all been so busy. Lots to catch up, finishing up tax returns for the end of tax season, designing new tools for you to use next year, designing a new TaxMama site to replace the old, stagnant version that’s been up for a decade or more…and processing […]