Tag Archives: USD

Cashing Out Retirement

Today TaxMama hears from Jessie in California, who’s broke. “ I am 22 years old and unemployed. I recently hit a financial snag and am really considering cashing out my 401(k) plans. In total it would amount to $4,995.85. Because of state and federal taxes as well as the fee for cashing out early, how […]

TIGTA Audits IRS’s Administration of First-Time Homebuyer Credit

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may have allowed thousands of taxpayers to claim millions of dollars in First-Time Homebuyer Credits (the Credit) to which they were not entitled, according to a new report publicly released today by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). TIGTA found that some taxpayers claimed the Credit for homes […]

New Form Aids Processing of Mortgage Applications, Makes Ordering Tax Transcripts Simpler

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued a new form to aid the processing of mortgage applications under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) as part of the Making Home Affordable Program. The new form will make it simpler for people, especially homeowners trying to modify or refinance their mortgages, to order copies of […]

2009 Home Purchase

Today TaxMama hears from Ray in Kansas who tells us. “My wife and I were first time home buyers on 08/20/09. We have been informed that if we amend our 2008 taxes, the first time home buyers credit will be treated as an interest-free loan that will have to be paid back. But if we […]

Video Rentals

Today TaxMama hears from A.H. in California who is frustrated. “How does one classify video rental inventory in accounting software? This is inventory that depreciates very quickly – the cost of a DVD from a distributor is $17 on average, to have it the day it comes out; but after just 3 months they are […]

Investment Advice

Today TaxMama hears from Anne in Minnesota with this question. “With a $10,000 CD maturing, am I better off paying down the $40,000 mortgage on my condo; or to reinvest in some other vehicle? I am almost 70 years old and do not have much more than an additional few thousand dollars saved for whenever […]

COBRA Assistance Repayment

Today TaxMama hears from Dan in Massachusetts with this question. “The new COBRA premium assistance is phased out if the employee’s AGI is greater then $145K. It must be paid back when the employee files their taxes. How does the employee know what the premium assistance was?”

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]