In the Blogs: Goofs Galore

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

Where do I pay?

  • John R. Dundon II EA blog: Whichever side of the fence you fall on regarding immigration of undocumented aliens, it amazes almost everyone that a large number of such immigrants actually want to pay their taxes. Apparently they have a lot to learn about being real Americans.
  • Tax Analysts: Question of the week: If you polled the American public, would a vast majority say that retroactive tax laws are wrong? A look at recent cases involving such laws.
  • Taxjar: A list of which states charge sales tax based on click-through nexus. In other words, “another in a series of tax headaches that ecommerce sellers have to deal with as states try to collect revenue.”
  • Taxes at About.com: Nuts and bolts of tax amnesties this year in Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Easy money

  • Tax Policy: Clean energy credits are a heck of a good idea, especially considering that warmth records globally continue to melt faster than a sprinkles cone on an August afternoon. But who benefits immediately? A look at a new paper showing that the wealthy reap most of the plusses, at least in terms of money.
  • Taxable Talk: Tax fraud doesn’t dispirit you. What sinks the heart is the ease of the mushrooming crime.
  • Procedurally Taxing: A last roundup of summary opinions for July.
  • Don’t Mess with Taxes: Has The Donald finally dropped a hint about his potentially presidential tax policy by publicly trashing tax breaks for “paper-pushing” money managers (Accounting Today)? If nothing else, he’s anything but the same-old same-old among candidates.

Back at the office

  • Musings of a Burbank CPA: You’re not so much losing a client as gaining an engagement: What to remind clients about concerning deductions when moving for a new job.
  • Taxing Subjects: The benefits of the looming Windows 10 for small businesses, including pricing for the Pro version and the differences between it and the Home software.
  • ClientWhys: You know you do excellent work. Most of your clients know the same. Why should you spread the word online? Here are five solid reasons, from attracting new clients to ultimately raising your fees.
  • Mauled Again: So your clients got the house and two of the cars, but what about next April? Care’s needed with divorce tax planning (Part 2).
  • Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders: Ironic Words in This Profession Dept.: It’s very nice to assign accountability in your firm, but how can you make sure it’s possible? Start with spelling out expectations.

Goofs galore

  • TaxProf Blog: Imagine That Dept: TIGTA’s recent report that the IRS Office of Appeals may have botched abatement penalties in 83% of cases (Accounting Today) and, the real stunner, not in favor of taxpayers.
  • IRS Problem Solver Blog: How half of all health care subsidies had to be returned last year. The average boomeranging amount to the IRS, the culprit “miscalculations on estimated income,” aka lowballing. Note: “Another study done by the Office of the Inspector General found that the current website also does not currently have the proper measures in place to calculate and authorize health care subsidies for those who apply for them.”
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