Voices

In the blogs: Of buds and bits

Back to school; a possible bitcoin bubble; good uses for reverse audits; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

Setting dates

  • The Wandering Tax Pro (http://wanderingtaxpro.blogspot.com/): Lesson one for parents of new college students: The U.S. Tax Code provides several benefits to help pay for a college education but you better save that documentation.
  • Tax Girl (http://blogs.forbes.com/kellyphillipserb): The start of a new school year and an apparently growing economy make for a busy time for the housing rental market. Here’s what to remind your tenant-clients about possible tax benefits for renters.
  • TaxMama (http://taxmama.com): TaxMama reminds all in the gig economy about estimated tax payments being due, and some tips for maintaining both a livelihood and some dignity.
  • TurboTax (http://Blog.turbotax.intuit.com): What to tell them when they miss the deadline for paying estimated tax.
  • Solutions for CPA Firm Leaders (http://ritakeller.com/blog/): How to combat those late-summer, laid-back lazy days.
  • Rubin on Tax (http://rubinontax.floridatax.com): Applicable Federal rates for September.
  • John R. Dundon II EA (http://johnrdundon.com/): Fiscal 2018 per diem rates, the standard of which is up two bucks.

Of buds and bits

Cases in point

  • Due Diligence (http://www.mahanyertl.com/mahanyertl/): In this week’s collection: “SEC Charges FEBC (Federal Employee Benefits Counselors) for Targeting Federal Employees in Variable Annuity Scheme”; “ICBC Prosecution: Intersection of Customs Duty Evasion and Money Laundering”; “Medicare Fraud Investigation – Always Best Care of Michiana.”
  • Procedurally Taxing (http://www.procedurallytaxing.com/): Trimmer v. Commissioner provides good news for taxpayers who fail to roll over their IRAs on a timely basis -- and perhaps good news for taxpayers in other circumstances who have a good equitable argument.
  • Houston Tax Attorney (http://www.irstaxtrouble.com/category/tax-blog/): Passive activity loss rules can prevent real estate investors from being able to deduct their real estate losses — but rules and how they have been interpreted “draw some known but arbitrary lines in the sand” as addressed in the recent Hickam v. Commissioner.
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