Tag Archives: tax questions

Patent Fees

Today TaxMama hears from Douglas in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “How does one deduct the attorney fees related to obtaining a patent? The patent is for a video game. The taxpayer is not in the business of creating video games. The plan is to sell the patent to a video game company once […]

Ready for End-of-year Tax Planning?

CCH Suggests Steps to Consider Before Time Runs Out (RIVERWOODS, ILL., November 2, 2011) ­ As the clock winds down on the 2011 tax year, now is the time for taxpayers to look at their financial situations, consult tax and accounting experts and determine if they can be better positioned for filing income tax returns […]

New Mortgage

  Today TaxMama hears from John in the TaxQuips Forum with a sweet question. “We are re-financing a loan on a 2 flat. Our daughter, who lives in one unit, will be the primary borrower on the loan; my wife and I will be co-borrowers.  My wife and I will be making the entire mortgage payment.  May […]

Pay Off or Refi?

  Today TaxMama hears from Tom in the TaxQuips Forum with an interesting problem. “I have a $270,000 mortgage on my primary home.  It is a 30-year loan at 5 3/8% fixed. My home is worth substantially more.  Should I refinance at today’s rates? I could pay off the loan, but that would drain our […]

Spouse as Employee

Today TaxMama hears from Russel in the TaxQuips Forum who wants clarification. “At the end of the show on KFWB 980 today (10/31) Bob McCormick asked you a question regarding small businesses employing spouses.  I missed the answer.  If a spouse is employed by a sole proprietorship do you have to carry workman’s comp insurance? […]

Hypothetical Questions

  Today TaxMama hears from someone in the TaxQuips Forum with another question about a barter. Rather than going into the details of her question (which you can read here), let’s talk about hypothetical questions.

IRPAC Issues Annual Report for 2011

[TaxMama Note: In fact, a developer at Intuit just told me this week that the 1099-K form (the new merchant and 3rd party payer reporting form) for 2011 is not being used. She says IRS will not ask taxpayers to enter any info from 1099-K. Probably a results of the IRPAC recommendations. This was going […]

Goldilocks With a Twist

Goldilocks was walking along one sunny afternoon when she found a beautiful house in the woods. The door was open, so she walked right in. There she found a table set with three bowls of steaming porridge. “Hello?” she called out, but no one was home.

Ouch!

Today TaxMama hears from Seth in the TaxQuips Forum who is recovering. “I had an accident where I sustained multiple fractures (pelvis, ribs, and wrist).  My medical insurance will pay 80% of my bills, which is great.  In addition, I have personal accident insurance.  There is a dollar amount associated with each type of fracture […]

Homes and Attributes

Today TaxMama hears from Cathy in the TaxQuips Forum with this question. “Are taxpayers required to file Form 982 when their Principal Residence is foreclosed on? If so, would they check off Part 1, 1e “Discharge of qualified principal residence indebtedness”? If the Cancellation of Debt for a foreclosure is a principal residence, attributes do not […]

Terrifying Tax Tales

Today TaxMama wants to ask you. “What is your most terrifying tax tale? What is the worst thing that IRS or your state tax agency ever did to you? Or the most embarrassing thing? Did your ex-spouse or ex-lover get you in trouble? Or did your tax professional mess up big time?” Please tell us […]