Wednesday, April 29, 2015

So What to Tax?

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As described in several recent stories, including this one , some Philadelphia business and political leaders are proposing a major change i...
Monday, April 27, 2015

Perhaps a Reason the Rich Think They Don’t Have Enough?

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One of the forces that has shaped federal and some state tax policies during the past decade is the unflagging efforts of the ultra-rich, or...
Friday, April 24, 2015

A Failure-to-Immunize Tax?

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An economist, Mark Pauly, has presented an interesting tax proposal aimed at offsetting the costs imposed on society by parents who refuse ...
Wednesday, April 22, 2015

An Immoral Tax?

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Let’s talk about taxes and immorality. Usually, that connection arises when debates are underway with respect to taxes on alcohol or tobacco...
Monday, April 20, 2015

Another Tax Simplification Idea

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According to this recent article , Philadelphia’s City Controller has determined that many real estate agents doing business in Philadelphia...
Friday, April 17, 2015

Here’s A Tax Reform Idea . . . That Probably Won’t Fly

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As described in a recent article , Congressional tax writers are looking for a way to give to partners and S corporation shareholders the be...
Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Free Houses, Free Land: Gross Income?

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For those seeking free houses and free land, The Penny Hoarder has a list of cities that are giving away houses that need fixing up, cash r...
Monday, April 13, 2015

Another “Tax the Poor More Than the Rich” Plan

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Alaska, like most other states, is facing education funding shortfalls. So a Republican state senator, Click Bishop, has proposed a new tax....
Friday, April 10, 2015

Success for the Anti-Tax Crowd: Closing Down Education

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The anti-tax crowd dislikes taxes, dislikes government, dislikes government services other than those provided to themselves, and delights i...
Wednesday, April 08, 2015

Retirement and Taxes

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It is no secret that there exist provisions in the tax law designed to encourage saving for retirement. The exclusion of employer and employ...
Monday, April 06, 2015

Tax Advice for Millennials Isn’t Just for Millenials

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Recently, Refinery29 published “The Millennial’s Guide to Doing Taxes – In 5 Easy Steps. Each of the five steps, and the guidance provided ...
Friday, April 03, 2015

When Those Who Hate Takers Take Tax Revenue

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One of the arguments put forth by the anti-government-spending folks is that it is bad morally, socially, and politically to collect taxes f...
Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Taking Without Giving: A Tax Con Reawakened

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They’re at it again. The folks who are skilled at making themselves appear financially oppressed even though they are swimming in wealth hav...
Monday, March 30, 2015

Battle Over Highway Infrastructure Taxation Heats Up in Alabama

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The highway funding situation in Alabama isn’t all that different from what exists in most other states. Roads are falling apart, funding is...
Friday, March 27, 2015

Yes, Tax Uncertainty Hurts

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In a recent commentary , Tom Giovanetti of The Institute for Policy Innovation explains that tax uncertainty causes economic harm. Tax unce...
Wednesday, March 25, 2015

When Social Security Benefits Aren’t Social Security Benefits: When They Meet Tax

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A recent case, McCarthy v. Comr. , T.C. Memo 2015-50, illustrates why it is easy to become confused when retirement plan benefits, social se...
Monday, March 23, 2015

Tax Credit for Purchasing a Residence Requires a Purchase

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A recent case, Pittman v. Comr. , T.C. Memo 2015-44, hammers home the point that a taxpayer is not entitled to claim the credit for purchasi...
Friday, March 20, 2015

Moving to Prison? Let the IRS Know Unless It Helped Put You There

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Last week, in Moving? Let the IRS Know , I explained why it is important for taxpayers to keep the IRS informed of changes in address. Becau...
Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Back to Taxes and Potholes

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It amazes me that Americans, given the choice between paying $100 in some sort of road use tax and paying $500 for uninsured vehicle repairs...
Monday, March 16, 2015

Who’s to Blame for Tax Fraud?

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A recent commentary by Tom Giovanetti of the Institute for Policy Innovation takes the position that it is wrong to blame tax software for...
Friday, March 13, 2015

Moving? Let the IRS Know

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A recent case, Gyorgy v. Comr. , No. 13-3363 (7th Cir. 2015), provides a good example of why taxpayers need to let the IRS know their new ad...
Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Tax Courses and Food

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A reader directed me to an article reporting the results of a study examining the connection between food consumption and the type of movie...
Monday, March 09, 2015

Federal Income Tax Filing: Fewer Than Half Have Filed

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On March 4, the IRS released information on the progress of the 2015 income tax filing season. The highlight is the IRS estimate that “thre...
Friday, March 06, 2015

The IRS and the Taxpayer: Both Wrong

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The facts in the recent case of Morles v. Comr. , T.C. Summ. Op. 2015-13, at least as they related to one of the issues, are simple. During ...
Wednesday, March 04, 2015

It’s Not Your Principal Residence If You’ve Never Lived There

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A recent case, Villegas v. Comr. , T.C. Memo 2015-33, demonstrates a very basic principle applicable to the section 121 exclusion from gross...
Monday, March 02, 2015

Tax Revenue and Structural Deficits

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As mentioned in this article , Pennsylvania faces a deficit of $2.3 billion in its budget. The deficit is structural, that is, it reflects r...
Friday, February 27, 2015

Testing Tax Knowledge

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According to a report on a recent NerdWallet survey , “[m]ost American adults get an ‘F’ in understanding income tax basics.” The survey pos...
Wednesday, February 25, 2015

So Who Should Pay for Roads?

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According to a recent report , the decision by the Michigan legislature to come up with road repair funds by asking voters to approve an inc...
Monday, February 23, 2015

Using the Tax Law to Administer Health Care: An Unwise Idea Again Proves Itself Unwise

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Almost five years ago, in a series of posts including IRS Ought Not Be the Health Care Enforcement Administrator , Health Care: Enlarging th...
Friday, February 20, 2015

The Parade of Tax Horribles Never Ends

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The depreciation deduction is not one of my favorites. Too often, it permits taxpayers to report, and pay tax on, a taxable income amount th...