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 […]
Tag Archives: tax answers
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It’s birthday time. You see the greeting to Dame Judi Dench – easily one of my all-time favorite actors. But it’s also Lulu’s birthday, and David’s and Barbara’s and Harlan’s and Tony and Tracy and Alicia and lots of other great people this first half of December. So happy birthday to you all! Sometime […]
IRS Seeks to Return $153 Million in Undelivered Checks to Taxpayers; Recommends e-file, Direct Deposit to Avoid Future Delivery Problems WASHINGTON — In an annual reminder to taxpayers, the Internal Revenue Service announced today that it is looking to return $153.3 million in undelivered tax refund checks. In all, 99,123 taxpayers are due refund checks […]
FS-2011-13, December 2011 The IRS is aware that some taxpayers who are dual citizens of the United States and a foreign country may have failed to timely file United States federal income tax returns or Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBARs), despite being required to do so. Some of those taxpayers are now […]
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?
A little Jewish woman, calling Mount Sinai Hospital, said, “Hello, darling, I’d like to talk with the person who gives the information regarding your patients. I want to know if the patient is getting better, or doing like expected, or is getting worse. The voice on the other end of the line said, “Could you […]
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 […]
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 […]