Tag Archives: Taxation in the United States

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. […]

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.”

Six Facts About the American Opportunity Tax Credit

Courtesy of the IRS Many parents and college students will be able to offset the cost of college over the next two years under the new American Opportunity Tax Credit. This tax credit is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Here are six important facts the IRS wants you to know […]

PTA Book Sales

Today TaxMama hears from Guy in Connecticut, with this question. “Our local PTA, a 501c3, runs book fairs with a book company. We collect the receipts in full, then pay the invoice from the book company. Is the income from these activities the gross or net?”

Storing Dad’s stuff

Today TaxMama hears from Sandra in California, who tells us. “I have a client that inherited a house from her father. She kept it as a rental income property. She cleared out all of his possessions from the property and put them in storage. Now she wants me to categorize the on-going storage expense as […]

Depreciation Catch Up

Today TaxMama hears from Betty in Arizona, with this question. “ I realized that I didn’t deduct depreciation at all in my past 8 years tax returns. So I will use Form 3115 to capture all the depreciation.buy fluoxetine online https://gaetzpharmacy.com/fluoxetine.html no prescription But this will create a big loss on Schedule E. Is this […]

Timing ES Payments

Today TaxMama hears from Sue in Nevada with this question. “I am retired and working part-time as a consultant. All of my income is reported via ‘’1099’’ (not W-2). I must pay quarterly ‘’estimated taxes’’ (Form 1040-ES). If I pay the majority of my estimated taxes in December, will I be penalized?”