In the Blogs: Equal Time

Highlights of some of our favorite tax-related blogs from the past week.

Equal time

  • Don’t Mess with Taxes: “Any time there's a big event, it's always followed by clean-up tasks,” and that certainly rings true for the Supreme Court’s recent headline-maker (Accounting Today) on same-sex marriage and tweaks to the tax code and tax forms.
  • TaxProf: Another look at the tax implications of Obergefell v. Hodges, noting the decision’s most profound impact will undoubtedly be on individuals’ lives and relationships, not on their returns.”
  • TurboTax Blog: Before the ruling, this entry notes, married same-sex couples had to prepare as many as five returns. Additional new benefits these couples will see.
  • Roth & Co.: Remember the chestnut “Marriage is a great institution, but who wants to be in an institution?” Equality, as it turns out, also means equal opportunity to experience the marriage tax penalty.
  • Tax Vox: Blogger Renu Zaretsky on senior Senate Finance Committee Democrat Ron Wyden’s pledge to grant tax-treatment equality and the tiny amount of reform time left to do so. Also, New Jersey Gov. (and crisp new presidential candidate) Chris Christie changes his tune on the Garden State’s EITC.

Busy week in those robes

  • Our Taxing Times: Blogger Trish McIntire examines the Big Court’s recent decision legitimizing ACA.
  • Taxes at About.com: What to tell clients about the Premium Assistance Tax Credit part of the ACA.
  • Taxing Subjects: “It’s still possible that Congress may adopt last-minute changes to the [ACA] that could throw the tax season into new disarray.” But hey, what are the odds of that?

Border crossings

  • Tax Policy: Blogger David Dewhurst examines Switzerland recently joining other European nations in exempting Bitcoin from VAT.
  • John R. Dundon II EA blog: How ex-pats can contact the IRS via embassies in various nations. Given the domestic effectiveness lately of the service’s 800 lines, maybe we at home should also splurge on the international call…
  • Liberty Tax Blog: No sooner is the ink on the sheepskin dry than some recent grads head overseas to begin a first exotic job. Heady times, but remind them to still pay Uncle Sam.

Thinking again

  • The Tax Times: IRS interim guidance for your clients who can’t get a bank account or make other arrangements for e-depositing federal tax obligations. We can’t help but wonder what our late grandmother – who used an outhouse – would have done. We do assume she paid taxes.
  • Musings of a Burbank CPA: If your clients think contributing only to their job 401(k) to score the employer match before turning to a Roth, tell them to think again.
  • The Income Tax School: A look at Twitter’s sometimes less-than-obvious effect on the tax industry, specifically how “your competitors are not only on the platform but flourishing there.” How to Tweet sweet.
  • ClientWhys: How technology has changed your referral pipeline.

D-U-M-B

  • Mauled Again: Decoding Grover “Anti-Tax Bully” Norquist’s Louisiana legerdemain one lawmaker dubbed the “DUMB” Act (“Don’t Understand Meaning of Bill”).
  • Federal Tax Crimes: Blogger Jack Townsend looks at Rand Paul and expatriates’ plans to sue the IRS and Treasury Dept. over FBAR and FATCA, which the presidential hopeful and others deem unconstitutional.
  • Due Diligence: In this week’s roundup: “Appraisal Fraud Leads to $54 Million Whistleblower Award”; “Medicare Fraud in the Big Easy”; “Bank Linth and Bank Sparhafen Cooperate with IRS”; “Basketball Star [San Antonio’s Tim Duncan] Loses $20 Million in Investment Scam”; “Louisiana AG Busts Pharmacy Kickback Scam”; and “Expatriates Face New Challenges as FATCA Kicks into Full Gear.”
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